Aparna Bharadwaj

Put Vikram Damodaran into any scenario, and he sets the trend. The #Alcobev industry wasn't waiting for tech or craft revolutions, but leaders like him create those pivotal moments. And such trendsetters ensure, we dont do catch up games. ( Evidence = Single Malt) Vikram, this is incredible! Your ability to anticipate and shape the future is not just inspiring; it's infectious. And I am not the lonely victim, the ones copied below too :) #Innovator #trendsetter #passion Vijay Subramaniam, Kiran Kumar Yamalakonda, Krishnaraj CK, Girish Gopalakrishnan, Abhinav Mishra, Ramesh Venkatesan, Chaitanya Sarawate, Abhishek Kothari MD,MBA, Dr. Harsh Chopra, Ravi Bhardwaj Annamraju, Paritosh Dhawale, Rahul Cordeiro, Sitara Unni, Shivakumar Hosangadi, Asha Poulose Johnson,Kshama Supreeth Kankanady, Karishma Patel,

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In our recent McKinsey Future of Asia Podcast episode, Jacob Johnson and I delved into the transformative potential of generative AI. The key takeaway? The success of AI isn't just about the technology itself but how effectively we adopt it. By 2030, we could see up 98 percent of tasks automated, significantly boosting productivity. But the real impact will depend on our boldness and strategy in adoption.   Join the conversation and explore how we can turn potential into performance here: https://lnkd.in/gaAKbtAX

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Lessons from the MDH-Everest row: Navigating foreign waters and engaging the conscious Indian consumer in afaqs! by Nisha Qureshi Bhaskar Majumdar, head of marketing communication, CSR & Digital Egis - India and South Asia says that it's imperative for these brands to communicate effectively with their consumers. He adds that brands should immediately issue transparent statements addressing the bans and assure consumers of their commitment to quality and safety. According to him, clear communication about the steps being taken to address the issue and any potential risks is essential. “Both brands must conduct thorough investigations into their supply chains and manufacturing processes to identify any sources of EtO contamination. If necessary, the brands should initiate recalls or offer product exchanges for affected batches. Rebuilding trust with their consumers will be essential for these brands to regain their reputation and continue serving their loyal customer base.” Mrinall Dey (He/Him) Jyotsna Dash Nanda Minari Shah Amrit Ahuja Seema Shah Ahuja Manu Kumar Aalap Desai Lloyd Mathias Nisha Sampath Sridhar Ramanujam Tarunjeet Rattan Ameer Ismail (He/Him) https://lnkd.in/g8BZ5tHc

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What’s most important to consumers today is what’s always been important: trust. Explore the six key trust imperatives companies can execute on to strengthen the confidence consumers have in them: https://lnkd.in/g_9YFRGk

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In India, opinions on GenAI are varied: 36% of consumers are enthusiastic, while 63% express mixed feelings or concerns.    Leaders looking to navigate the evolving landscape of GenAI effectively should consider the following strategies:    > Build trust by transparently communicating both the advantages and potential pitfalls of AI.  > Manage the mix of misinformation, enthusiasm, and apprehension.  > Leverage enthusiasm by introducing new ideas and products in AI-friendly markets. For further insights, explore our comprehensive report: https://on.bcg.com/3UtXhRM 

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Interesting perspectives from #BCG on how the next evolution of #GCCs are Capability & Innovation Hubs (CIH) playing a bigger role in driving core business strategies. India expected to capture a third to half of the CIH opportunity

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Having stayed in Kerala for an year & covered all seasons, there is plenty of incredible observations, derivations, implications that the researcher in me has been noting. So much of opportunity for FMCG brands to expand footprints, for Durables companies to introduce categories & variants, for Service Providers to get into a completely untapped market, so much for the Fashion industry, Construction industry and much more. All I see around me is opportunity & opportunity. And so I thought I must share this with my LinkedIn connections. Disclaimer: What I will be sharing in the upcoming posts are my observations & analysis. I am based in Trivandrum so there may be some location bias, though I have travelled extensively through all districts of Kerala in the last 1 year and my attempt is to bring to you an overall Kerala urban picture. So here’s bringing to you a series on Kerala. Post 1: Let us start by knowing the state from cultural, historical & economic viewpoint Kerala, often referred to as "God's Own Country", is known for its high human development indicators, including literacy rate and life expectancy. The culture of Kerala is diverse and reflects the amalgamation of various influences, including Dravidian, Aryan, Arab, and European. Peeping into the history, Kerala's geographical distance and its distinct cultural and political landscape meant that it was not directly invaded by Mughals in the same way as other regions of India. Kerala remained largely independent or under the control of local rulers throughout much of its history, until it came under British colonial rule in the 18th century. The rulers of Travancore, Cochin & Malabar (the 3 states that formed Kerala in 1956) maintained a friendly relationship with the British East India Company. All the kingdoms signed a subsidiary alliance with the British, which allowed the British to provide protection in exchange for control over their foreign relations, while allowing the rulers to maintain internal autonomy. Notably, Kerala did not have a unified resistance movement against British colonization. Fast forward to current times, economically, Kerala has transitioned from an agrarian economy to one driven by services, tourism, remittances, and industry. The state's natural beauty, including its backwaters, beaches, and hill stations, attracts tourists from around the world. Additionally, Kerala has a significant diaspora population, particularly in the Middle East, which contributes to its economy through remittances. The consumption patterns in Kerala, influenced by its unique socio-economic and cultural context, do have some notable differences when compared to other states in India. I will be talking about it in my upcoming posts. Stay tuned! For consultation on strengthening business in Kerala, DM or write to me at [email protected] #kerala #opportinuties #growth

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Top tier market research firms need to get their act straight! The Synopsis of the article reads: "Consumer companies in India are struggling with declining urban middle-class spending due to inflation and unemployment. Major firms, including Reliance and Hindustan Unilever, have reported weaker demand and challenging conditions. Urban demand growth has been falling for five quarters, affecting key sectors like entry-level cars, fashion, and lifestyle products." While it may be true consumer demand in India has dipped in the past couple of quarters, but market research firms like Kantar & certain OTT platforms make a fundamental error in defining premium consumers/audiences, lets's look at an excerpt from the article below: "To be sure, the top-end affluent population in Indian cities continue to splurge, spurring a pivot toward premium segment for all consumer goods. Sales for luxury cars to latest iPhones have been strong, while concerts and cricket matches are fully sold out." The above can't be further from the real picture: 1. Luxury car buyers and iphone buyers in India can't be bucketed in the same category. While high end luxury cars are truly for the super rich, iPhones can be bought easily by the young middle class working professional who has a good debit card which offers EMIs and not to forget, the availability of short term app based loans for one time high ticket consumer durable purchases. Not to mention, the surge in disposable income, especially amongst Gen Z plays a big role in high ticket consumer durables. 2. Most middle class folks buy cricket match tickets and concert tickets - again because of high disposable income and the longing for live experiences because either they are fans or they are influenced by peers, either ways these are mostly middle class Gen Z folks who are spending. Moreover, if one tracks the GMVs of Blinkit, Zepto & Swiggy Instamart, one would clearly see that the growth of #qcommerce in India intrinsically linked to the young urban population ordering more via these apps. Therefore, while it is true that the consumer demand has dropped if you apply the traditional lens with an overlay of brick and mortar platforms, but in reality the consumer demand has shifted in the sense urban India has become highly digital in their consumption, driven by the growth in disposable income of the #GenZ populace. Why do i care? The correct definition of consumers/audiences is fundamental to the #media #investment industry. Time for market research companies like Kantar to be more nuanced in their analysis. Affluence has degrees in each socio-economic category and a generational shift in consumer behaviour ought to be captured in the data and analysis #consumerbehaviour #marketresearch #digitalmedia #mediaplanning #audiences #mediastrategy #socioeconomics #economy #demand #data #analysis Reliance Retail Unilever

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📣 Arc Analysis: What's happening in FMCG and smart durables? My colleague Aditi Shrivastava has a sharp analysis on what might have triggered the sales drop in India's consumer markets. 📌 In Q2 FY25, Honasa Consumer saw a 7% ⬇ in revenue to Rs 462 crore, 📌 As did Wow Skin Science in FY24, ⬇ 23% to Rs 233 crore, 📌 Smart wearable brand Boat ⬇ 5% in revenue, 📌 Noise 🎧 - flat sales, 📌 Licious' revenue ⬇ 8% in FY24.   These companies did one thing in common. Aditi has the deets in this Arc Analysis. And for regular updates, don't forget to subscribe to our WhatsApp channel. The link is in the comments section.

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While there is much debate about converged offerings in the US, in the end the consumer will make the call. My Kearney colleagues Sridhar Narasimhan, Anbu Sollin Selvan, Mayank Lokwani and I believe that with the ongoing expansion of fixed broadband to the home, now is the time to explore FMC as a growth opportunity. US customers are looking for a converged offer that delivers on price without compromising on quality, provides convenience without complexity, and enriches their experience with added benefits. For telcos and MSOs, the call to action is clear: blending these elements into the FMC offerings will position them to not only meet but exceed customers’ expectations, capturing a bigger share of household spending and building a loyal following.

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Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for #women in the Asia-Pacific region, home to more than 60 percent of the world’s 8 billion inhabitants. Asia accounted for 60% of all #cardiovascular deaths recorded globally, and cardiovascular mortality is forecast to double by 2050 increasing the cardiovascular burden for the region. In particular in SEA, Cardiovascular diseases remain the #1 cause of death among women in SEA; Stroke (17.71%), Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) 11.51%, Hypertensive Heart Disease (HHD) 2.84%. While the number of women participating in randomized #clinicaltrials has increased, ethnic and racial minorities continue to be under-represented in research published in peer reviewed medical journals, resulting in less evidence-based clinical care compared to men. Hospital sub-specialization on women’s cardiovascular health is also limited to the most advanced institutions across asia and particularly Southeast Asia, preventing immediate access to platforms to raise awareness among patients and physicians on sex-specific cardiovascular disease symptoms. Excited to share the launch of an extremely important report on cardivascular #inequity for women in the asia pacific region. Addressing this would require much more than health syatems scale up, it will require deliberate efforts to keep the underrepresented population in mind through innovative public and private partnership and operating model designs to bridge the inequity and improve health outcomes. #kearney #healthcare #womenhealth #healthequity https://lnkd.in/ga9BD5fp Dr. Stephanie Allen Roopa Mehta Paula Bellostas Muguerza Shirley Santoso Saumya Krishna Ryohei Goto Jules Falzado Lea D. Candace Chui Soon Ghee Chua Nithin Chandra

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India is strategically positioned to capture 35-50% of the estimated $400 Bn. Capability & Innovation Hub market. These centres have come a long way from being mere outsourcing units to cutting-edge innovation centres and value creators. Globally FIs are increasingly shifting operations and capability building to these units- time for Indian FIs to think boldly as well? Hear BCG’s thoughts from my dear friend and colleague Sreyssha George

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What an engaging session it was and such privilege to share the stage with Marshall Goldsmith at the India CHRO round table. The theme was reskilling and leadership in the age of AI. I shared my perspectives on practices I’m seeing that drive clear RoI from reskilling efforts and Marshall shared his perspectives on leadership and coaching in the world of AI. 3 insights that I took away from all the discussions 1. Learning & Doing is the new L&D. This is the biggest gap and biggest opportunity to unlock the impact from skilling - link the learning immediately to the application to integrate the learning and work 2. GenAI can be a game changer in the field of learning and coaching. See Marshall’s AI bot if you are not convinced yet on its power https://lnkd.in/g4n26thK 3. “Let it go” mindset can solve 90% of the pain we carry on things that we perceive but are not really within our control or sphere of influence #reskilling #coaching #leadershipdevelopment

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#574. Search for the Truth. Not what you feel the organisation wants u to find ! A Japan Detective novel is an highly unlikely place to find management lessons But the exact below is brilliant ! It's exactly what my philosophy has been that has led me to uncover unexpected insights, challenge the status quo and deliver breakthrough innovations. We often get so caught up in what we believe our superiors believe in, we forget that eventually all that everyone is seeking is business performance and success And the only route to business performance is to uncover the truth whether it's been anticipated or not. What do u think? #brandupwithbajaj

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Advertising has the power to shape perceptions and inspire action. In an age of conflict and uncertainty, harnessing this power for good becomes crucial. Heartfelt congratulations to the finalists and winners of the 18th APAC Tambuli Awards. It has been an honor serving as the Grand Executive Jury President, witnessing Tambuli's remarkable growth firsthand – from my early days as a participant in 2016 to becoming a jury member. The dedication and passion driving this community are truly inspiring. I take immense pride in my fellow jurors, the organizing committee, participating companies, agencies, and every marketing professional striving for impactful advertising. Hats off, especially to the vision and drive behind Tambuli since 2005, Jerry Kliatchko, Ph.D.. This year's theme, igniting HOPE, resonates profoundly amidst turbulent times. The finalists and winners exemplified how brands committed to social good can genuinely ignite hope and inspire profound change within individuals and communities. Particularly inspiring was honoring Mr. Hans T. Sy, Chairman of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Executive Committee, with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for his positive societal impact. Mr. Sy shared his optimism, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts in building a more sustainable and prosperous world. Let us carry forward the spirit of innovation and hope, creating campaigns that resonate while making a meaningful difference. #TambuliAwards #marketingexcellence

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As the Diwali season draws near and the digital landscape is flooded with promotions, brands face a crucial question: how to truly stand out? Amidst the abundance of discounts and offers, differentiation lies not in what is sold but in how it’s delivered—through the power of customer experience (CX). In today’s market, it’s no longer enough to rely on price points. The modern Indian consumer is seeking more—personalized engagement, meaningful interactions, and a sense of connection.  Personalized experiences are key. They can transform a simple offer into a moment that resonates. Tailoring recommendations or crafting exclusive Diwali bundles isn’t just about driving sales—it’s about making each customer feel valued and understood. Equally important is creating immersive digital experiences. Virtual celebrations, augmented reality product demos, and interactive content offer a unique opportunity to engage with customers in fresh, creative ways. This isn’t just about being seen—it’s about being remembered. As we look ahead to Diwali, those brands that invest in thoughtful, customer-centric strategies will not just capture attention—they will build enduring loyalty.   #Diwali2024 #CustomerExperience #BrandDifferentiation #StrategicCX #FestiveSeason

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While Growth Hacking started as an approach for optimizing marketing, its relevance and effectiveness in continuously improving key business metrics has been proven across business areas within financial services industry. The core of this growth engine lies in the rigorous use of data and analytics to generate insights, identify opportunities, conduct experiments, track performance and optimize approach. With recent advancement in AI, banks and insurance companies are now capable to sift through vast amount of datasets extracting valuable insights about customer behavior, market dynamics, and competitor strategies at significant accuracy and speed. By continuously harnessing these insights, “growth hacking pod” can be much sharper in targeting the right customers, tailoring its campaigns, personalizing content and optimizing the conversion – all in short cycles! Please read our latest report on “Revving up the growth engine” that describes the key components of Growth Hacking and a playbook on how to drive up business growth. https://lnkd.in/gAMf7YGx Do reach out for any thoughts, comments or in case you need any help!

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Are we innovating to solve a problem OR do we already have a solution that's looking for a problem? In the 102nd episode of CoBB | Conversations on the Business of Brands, Puru, Manas and Sapna weigh in with their definitions of innovation & its types, investment philosophy behind innovations and what is the right way of looking at them in an organization. While Sharavana & I tend to agree with them, if you have an alternative point of view to what is expressed in the episode (links in comments below👇), do comment and let us know.

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