Kashmira Chawak

Celebrating Children’s Day: The Child as the Father of the Man On this day, as we remember Chacha Nehru’s love for children and his belief in their boundless potential, I find myself reflecting on how children truly are “the father of the man.” Watching my own child grow has reminded me of the simplicity, curiosity, and resilience we sometimes lose in our adult lives, especially in a field as dynamic as PR and marketing. Children teach us invaluable lessons about communication—they’re unfiltered, honest, and bold. In the world of brands and storytelling, these qualities are rare gems. Whether it’s the fearlessness in trying something new, the persistence in asking “why,” or the joy in simple victories, every interaction with children renews my perspective on work and life. Over the years, I’ve learned that staying connected with this childlike spirit fuels our creativity and helps us approach challenges with fresh eyes. Chacha Nehru believed that children are the architects of the future, and today, as I watch the next generation grow, I feel inspired to approach my work with the same innocence, passion, and wonder. Wishing everyone a Happy Children’s Day! May we continue to learn from the young minds around us and remember the child within ourselves. #ChildrensDay #ChachaNehru #PRLife #MarketingProfessionals #TheChildWithin #Storytelling

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It is so important to appreciate the diversity of views and opinions but also important to bring people together in a way that they are looking at the same thing with the same objectives and goals before beginning a task. This is the role of a leader. To harness the #diversity of views and talents within a team in service of a common goal. In the world of #publicrelations, this holds too, the work we do helps frame a narrative that builds a #reputation and is often about shifting the audience’s perspective. Changing perceptions need people to look at the same thing and see it afresh. This requires a shift in perspective.

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Two fun moments in a single evening — thanks to #ICS2024 put together by the thoughtful Team ET BrandEquity: — 1. Wizikey’s lovely Imara affirmed Reliance Industries Limited as #1 in the AI-led Top 10 Newsmakers list for Q1, 2024** 2. My own plenary titled “AI & reputation” — despite an out-and-out academic peg — triggered an insightful conversation on learnings from Prof Daniel Kahneman’s “Thinking Fast & Slow” https://lnkd.in/dYt23REB. I argued to the effect that our present use of AI is “System 1 thinking”. Instead, i used 10 key observations from Kahneman to make a case for “System 2 thinking”. My cryptic slides https://lnkd.in/dhBRHjVk — #ICS2024 https://lnkd.in/dpgHuABR 🇮🇳 — **A total of 500K+ news articles sourced over the period of Jan-2024 to March-2024 are used for analysis in this report These are online articles, spread across 50000+ distinct publications Wizikey have considered the top 25 listed companies & Startups (Sourced from third party research & News platforms) out of which the best performing top 10 were selected with News Score 30 & above Wizikey has extensively studied the data & has applied NLP, Data Mining, Text Analytics, & relevant statistical concepts to formulate the data points in this report. Full https://lnkd.in/dJRuX6Tb #AI4aBillion

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Thank you Shantanu Ghosh for choosing to go on a #coachingjourney with me over the past couple of months. It has been a privilege to walk by your side and watch you find clarity. It felt like you soared above the clouds and the blue skies of #purpose became visible. The lines you shared (below) as a testimonial to the power of coaching are received with much gratitude... "I was a wandering soul, searching for a purpose—something that would drive me forward. This need to find direction led me to seek out someone who could help channel my thoughts and energy toward discovering my true purpose. After each session with Nikhil, I realized that he doesn’t just guide or teach; he walks beside you. Whether it’s finding a solution to a problem or seeking guidance, the answers emerge as a result of our collective effort. I came to understand that the answers lie within us. Sometimes, we just need a friend, coach, or guide to help us reflect. In my case, Nikhil played that role, more as a friend than a coach. 😌" #coaching #leadershipcoach #lifecoach #selfawareness #alignment #growth

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In 2024 alone, healthcare and education contributed a significant portion to the number of deal activities in both India and SE Asia. Regardless of any kind of headwinds, people need good education and healthcare. So anyone can venture into these fields, but only a strategy to create tangible values will set them apart from the crowd. #privateequity #healthcare #education Quadria Capital Tower Capital Asia

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Not all days begin with me shining my best and brightest colours out into the world. When the shades of grey emerge and a darkness exudes, it invariably invites similar behaviours and colours from others. When I find myself in this zone, I have learned to accept and allow this to emerge. I sit with it and examine the colours. Who sent them and why? One thing I am careful of is not to let it stay for too long especially when I need to venture out into the world, as my colours can and do colour others. Framing the story is where #PublicRelations plays a powerful role. There is research that proves emotions are contagious and that words and other stimuli can impact behaviours. The music played in a restaurant and the volume it is played can make patrons leave sooner or stay longer. The power of words to frame my worldview can be a simple shift to “I still need to learn how to do that” instead of “I can’t do it”. The responsibility a PR professional has to choose which colour to colour the world is tremendous. The possibilities for PR to be a catalyst and a force of good when it comes to colouring the world are exciting. The need for ethical, professional public relations to be practiced in a world that is leaking misinformation and malice, is more than ever before. Time to paint some new and beautiful pictures in vibrant colours. The world could do with some brightness and lightness.

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As I gear up to return to work after a few days of festival break, I am reminded of a thought on effective #delegation. Many leaders delegate by assigning tasks, setting deadlines and expecting results. But real #transformation only happens when we delegate more than activities—we #delegate #authority. Handing over tasks creates task managers. But when we entrust people with #decision making, we build leaders and foster #true #ownership. Imagine a team confidently making decisions, tackling challenges head-on, and fully #committed for #outcomes. It’s not just about getting tasks done—it’s about empowering them to make the call. The essence of delegation is to build #stronger #teams by creating leaders, not just productive task-doers. #Leadership #Delegation #Empowerment #Ownership Flipcarbon: Strategy, Change, Consulting and Fractional CHRO

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In the rapidly evolving world of hashtag #content creation, the rise of AI brings both challenges and opportunities for original #writing. Our recent article in AI Magazine explores the delicate balance between human creativity and AI-generated content.

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Bharat Ki Baat. An industry-first study by the PRCAI on the hopes and aspirations of Indian citizens was launched at #PRana last week. The results reveal their views and expectations in 10 key areas — growth and prosperity; geo-political influence; infrastructure; healthcare; sustainability and environment; education; skilling, employment and livelihood; ease of living in cities and digital governance; technology and innovation; and communications and information. The study was conducted by Local Circles, using a community platform that received 180,000 responses from over 40,000 citizens located in 396 districts of India. To know more and get yourself a copy, click here: https://lnkd.in/gD8cTDJx We hope to revisit these questions year-on-year to understand the voices of the people and their expectations from government, private sector and civil society. Deeptie Sethi Atul Sharma Nikhil Dey Kunal Kishore Neha Mehrotra Santanu Gogoi Amit Misra https://lnkd.in/g6cY9dHQ

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𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗥 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 #𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝗣𝗥𝗗𝗮𝘆! Over the past two years, I've had the privilege of leading communications across India and supporting APAC markets. While securing media placements and running successful campaigns is crucial, the real magic lies in the often unseen skills of PR professionals. Through countless conversations with colleagues around the world, I've discovered the secret sauce of global PR: - 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀: Crafting messages that resonate in different regions. - 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Ensuring our campaigns are compliant and impactful. - 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲: Staying knowledgeable about the ever-changing international landscape. My secret weapon in all of this? LinkedIn. Here's why: - 𝗔 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺: Connecting with colleagues across continents is like a constant crash course in international PR, from cultural sensitivities to regional regulations. - 𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲: This platform enables the open exchange of ideas and best practices. I've learned from PR veterans across the world, gleaned insights from rising stars, and collaborated with diverse teams worldwide. - 𝗔 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿: LinkedIn fosters genuine connections that transcend borders. These relationships form my support system, a network of trusted advisors navigating the global landscape together. This #𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝗣𝗥𝗗𝗮𝘆, I urge you to: - 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Use platforms like LinkedIn to connect, learn, and collaborate with global PR professionals. - 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿: Continuously explore geopolitics, cultural nuances, and the global communications landscape. - 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲: Contribute to the community by sharing your expertise and insights on LinkedIn. Together, let's rewrite the PR narrative, one insightful post, one global connection, one shared story at a time. #communications #publicrelations #mediarelations #globalcommunity #linkedin #pr #reputation

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Deepa 3.0. Life @ L E G O land Thirty five years ago, while standing at the tail end of a long line at the Employment Exchange near my house in Calcutta, I was clueless about my professional life. After 45 minutes in the hot sun, I filled up a form which resulted in two interview calls – one in suburban Rishra and another off tony Russell Street. It’s no brainer which one I chose to go for! That was the first time I entered an office outside of the one that housed our then declining family business The Radiant Process. While I was jobless, I turned down the first job offer – something did not seem right. I continued with MPhil and occasional column for a prestigious pink paper till I stumbled on a tiny ad, asking for a sub editor, which took me to ABP and then, on my way to The Statesman, in a sharp U turn, to PR and The Park Hotels. Little did I know that the day I walked into that magnificent mansion on Park Street, my life would change. What followed was a roller coaster reel of a life - From hospitality and book retail to real estate and e-commerce to supporting clients in Infrastructure, Tourism Board to Philips India Limited to starting the comms function for a transnational with interests in a range of industries including Tea and Shipping. Then came leadership roles at SpiceJet, Airtel and GSK – in quick succession – expanding the scale and complexity of the learning. From marketing communication to traditional PR to online reputation management to culture building to industry orchestration to crisis management to global M&As, across India and a few countries in South Asia. Finally, I came to HUL- supporting the largest merger in the food space in India! What started as a stumbling step towards PR, over 3 decades, became a breathtaking, and sometimes sleepless, journey, full of learning, connecting, nurturing and custodianship of change & culture management - with inspiring bosses, exciting mandates, close knit teams and wonderful partnerships. Today I am again at the cusp of a change. To building my future with L E G O blocks of Learning; Earning, Giving and One-life living. I am excited with what is ahead - from “Being Someone” To “Being Someone Else”. And in the process, seamlessly embracing AI – the ubiquitous - Always ‘I’ !  Ping me if you have something exciting to collaborate on or if you have time for a coffee – I will bring the cheer. ps - image generated by AI. Lego is an acronym. #Learrning #Earning #Giving #OneLifeLiving

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I always try to find the connection between something that happens in my life and the work that I do. In the context of public relations and reputation building, I guess the analogy would be about too much visibility being a bad thing. Finding the right balance that makes you and your organisation valued and appreciated versus overexposed and criticised or under-appreciated is the key. How much is too much? For me, two weeks of continuous travel was just right to bring home the value of home. For others, this could be different so there is no one right answer. Just the need to keep vigilant and ask the right questions seems to be the learning. Is the spokesperson getting too accessible to the media? Are they posting too much on social media? Does what they offer seem to be valued or is it starting to feel like the walls are closing in and nobody is listening anymore? The ability to truly listen and understand the pulse of an audience seems to be the answer that emerges. #reputation #publicrelations

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A ritual requires intention, attention, and repetition. As a PR professional, this makes me think about the power of having a simple message (based on deep insight – with good intention) and using that to hold attention by repetition. Like many other aspects of life, the power of compounding holds true in PR as well. Find an interesting and worthwhile story to tell and keep repeating it and over time, it builds into a ritual and becomes a habit or a tradition. Our thoughts become our words and they frame our actions. Cheers to the power of PR and birthdays as moments to reflect on life with intention and attention. A new year beckons, all that’s left is for me to ask myself what part of my life I want to build with repetition, and that over time will define my reputation. #rituals #reputation

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Why corporate executives ought to jettison dreary management tomes that endlessly pontificate on 'how to be a good leader, inspire others, survive office politics, navigate cultural differences and win negotiations', and instead dive deeper into exciting classics for eternal lessons. A great piece in The Economist on this (Literary-minded executives and professionals will already have identified their predicament with those of their immortal counterparts in classic literature). https://lnkd.in/dscCEZct For a spot-on description of middle-management types, nothing surpasses Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness: "He inspired neither love nor fear, nor even respect…He originated nothing, he could keep the routine going—that’s all.” For navigating HR or the finance department - Joseph Heller’s “Catch-22” or Franz Kafka’s “The Trial”. For IT support, enjoy Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” (pure nothingness). For lessons on digital transformation, read Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.” #classics #literature #management #corporate #fiction #innovation

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PR Lesson in Visual Communication: How Transparency Helps Spiritual Figures Build Lasting Credibility • Power of Visual Consistency: In PR, aligning visuals with messaging is key. For spiritual figures, every choice—down to a luxury bag—carries weight in shaping public perception. • Transparency as a PR Tool: Openness about lifestyle choices can help leaders manage expectations. Osho, for example, was transparent about materialism and his opulent lifestyle. • Selective Scrutiny in the Digital Age: Younger, relatable figures like Jaya Kishori face heightened scrutiny, underscoring the importance of a consistent narrative in building credibility. • Visual Cues and Audience Trust: Effective PR involves recognising that visuals—especially in social media—require careful alignment. • Lasting Impact Through Authenticity: Leaders who proactively address and align their public image with their teachings and personal lifestyles can strengthen their brand.

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Support comes from family, from the organisation, and from your own self.  Often, the problem is not with the family or the office, but with your own mindset. You should have a strong mindset—look within first and see whether you have asked for what you want and whether you are clear where you want to be, says Subhasri Sriram MD & CEO of Shriram Capital Ltd in an candid interaction with Forbes India. Read for more insight. #womenleadership #womenempowerment #finance #businesswoman #leader Shriram Group Of Companies https://lnkd.in/dUfDRwRU

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𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓 Solitude can often bring answers to the most difficult of dilemmas, or can simply be your time with you. Last to last week, during an interactive session at a friend’s house, an ISKON temple speaker’s words hit a chord: “When you meditate, you disconnect to connect again.” The thought of ‘disconnecting to connect’ stayed with me. When you are used to running every day, even a day of rest can feel unsettling. As leaders, and especially as multitaskers- something women are naturally skilled at- it’s easy to keep pushing forward without pausing. Even during breaks, we find ourselves planning the next task, responding to questions, or endlessly checking notifications. While I am yet to consistently practice meditation, the habit of disconnecting to reconnect with myself has become more meaningful over time. For me, this goes beyond physical breaks. It’s about creating mental clarity and space. Two practices have particularly helped me reconnect: 1. Letting go of the overload: Stepping away from what feels overwhelming to focus on what truly matters. Tip- Not easy at all. Mind clutter gets us all, but consistent reminders to self get you there slowly. 2. Rejuvenating with purpose: Taking time to recharge fully so I can return with fresh energy and perspective. Tip - Sometimes just focusing on the beach, the adventure, the family, the movie or the book is just what you need. Be present. This idea of disconnecting also reminds me of Toffler’s unlearn-relearn theory, which emphasizes how stepping back creates space to see things differently and approach challenges with fresh perspectives. Finding balance is never easy, and I don’t always get it right. However, small steps like avoiding my phone right in the morning or right before bed have helped. I have cheat days! :) Honest confession. But I keep reminding myself. Prioritizing oneself over the noise around is important and I am learning that sometimes, the best way to move forward is to stop, step away, and breathe. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary. And it makes all the difference. 𝐏.𝐒: Writing this from a 9-day long vacation. #ReflectionsByRMC #DisconnectToConnect #TakeAPause

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Mobile phones for tweens and teens has been a constant battle. But it doesn't have to be. Teracube Thrive is a smartphone designed for kids and teens to ensure parents’ peace of mind when it comes to online safety and healthy digital balance for their kids. By blending advanced technology, comprehensive parental controls, a durable design and a trusted warranty, Teracube Thrive creates a secure, enriching and balanced digital experience for children. Thanks you Pirie Jones Grossman and Katie Goldstein

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“Strategy was simple, get them (opponents) to keep hitting against the wind”. That’s how Rohit Sharma summarized the strategy against Team South Africa, especially in the last five overs. And it was well executed which is why South Africa were losing wickets, despite being in a comfortable position of needing 30 runs from 30 balls. I love watching the finals of any tournament since that’s where strategy usually trumps talent. Most other factors are either table stakes or just stats. One of the most crucial questions in an offensive strategy is - How well do you know your opponent? In most cases, you’ll need to 'play the man' (or person). During the ICC Men’s One-Day WC Final in November, Team Australia’s strategy was the element of surprise. Get the batsman comfortable with the first few balls and just when the batter thought he knew what would be coming his way, spring the surprise. Get a few early wickets and Team India would be on the defensive. It worked. A lot of people seem to point to one good catch (in both the finals matches) as the game changer. Not taking away the credit where it is due but isn’t good fielding table stakes? Like how can you get to the finals without it! Kudos to the coach and captain, the brains behind the strategy, and to the players for consistently delivering on it. And for those who are yet to watch the post-match conference by Rohit Sharma, it is a masterclass.

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