MAM
ACKO launches ‘ACKtually Speaking’ featuring R Madhavan
Mumbai: ACKO, an insurtech company, has launched a podcast series, ‘ACKtually Speaking with Maddy’, hosted by their brand ambassador, R Madhavan. The podcast series aims to address challenges and questions that individuals face in their financial lives that often remain unanswered. The series will have honest and upfront conversations with prominent guests and experts across industries who will navigate socially relevant topics that may also have a financial impact, such as untimely illness or death, stress, parenting, etc with R Madhavan. The podcast series is designed to be thought-provoking, while offering actionable insights, making it a reliable and authentic knowledge base.
Through this innovative platform, ACKO is committed to driving positive change for all. The podcast series aims to cover topics that are most relevant and not covered or comprehensively addressed across many other sources and also offer actionable insights to the listeners that can be easily understood and implemented. This is aligned to the company’s overall strategy of making financial decisions convenient, transparent, and accessible to all Indians.
The first episode of the series tackles the disconnect between the way life insurance is sold and what the product is meant for. Host R Madhavan dives deep with Varun Dua, challenging the perception of insurance as a tax-saving scheme that can provide returns. Instead, it positions insurance as a crucial tool for securing one’s future. The episode goes beyond product features and addresses the social stigma around death and the troubles that families go through when a loved one passes away without a will. It offers a comprehensive and empathetic exploration of life insurance.
Varun Dua, sharing his thoughts on the podcast series, said, “Acktually Speaking tackles the complexities and grey areas that all of us face in our financial lives. Our goal is to break the taboo or social stigma around these conversations and help listeners understand the impact that their financial choices can have on their lives.” R Madhavan echoed the same sentiments and said, “A lot of us refrain from asking questions because we feel we might be judged or we might offend those close to us, so we hesitate. We also end up feeling lost or unsure in terms of whom to ask or trust with such advice. But what if we could unpack these questions together, in a way that’s authentic and honest? That’s the spirit behind Acktually Speaking. We’re starting with life insurance, a topic that sparks confusion for many but this is just the first chapter. Acktually Speaking aims to be your guide, fostering conversations around the questions we’ve all grappled with but never quite dared to ask.”
The first episode also addresses various other critical themes of life insurance, shedding light on significant disparities between Western and Indian perspectives on death planning, common mistakes Indians make while purchasing insurance, the importance of refraining from seeking investment returns on insurance, and practical advice on estimating life insurance needs. Additionally, the episode highlights the potential financial vulnerabilities faced by Indians in their 30s due to inadequate planning.
Each episode promises to offer valuable insights and actionable advice, delivered in an engaging and accessible format. The series will be available for viewing on ACKO’s YouTube channel.
MAM
ITC YiPPee! Rolls Out Food Carts to Empower Uttarakhand Women
ITC’s YiPPee! gets the wheels turning for Uttarakhand’s newest micro-entrepreneurs.
MUMBAI: Forget the old adage about putting the cart before the horse, in the hills of Uttarakhand, the cart is the driving force. In a move that proves there’s more to instant noodles than just a quick snack, Sunfeast YiPPee! has cooked up a fresh initiative to turn homemakers into breadwinners. Under the banner of its ‘Better World Program’, the brand has rolled out a fleet of food carts to aspiring businesswomen, proving that the best route to empowerment is often a street-side view.
This January 2026, the programme set up shop in Uttarakhand, where it identified ten women ready to swap uncertainty for entrepreneurship. But this wasn’t a case of simply handing over the keys and hoping for the best. In partnership with the NGO Prayatna, the initiative treated the selection process with the rigour of a Masterchef audition. Candidates were screened for motivation and grit, ensuring that the beneficiaries weren’t just looking for a job, but were ready to run the show.
Once selected, the cohort underwent a bespoke training regime that would put many culinary schools to shame. The curriculum covered everything from financial management and customer handling to the nitty-gritty of food safety. By the time they hit the streets, these women were armed with FoSTaC Basic Catering Course and NSDC dual certifications, courtesy of the Food Industry Capacity & Skill Initiative (FICSI). To top it off, they were guided through the FSSAI registration maze, ensuring their businesses are as compliant as they are capable.
The result? A brigade of fully equipped, branded food carts hitting the streets, accessories included.
Snacks & Noodles unit at ITC Ltd. chief executive Ali Harris Shere noted that true dignity stems from economic independence. “We are focused on enabling women to achieve economic independence by equipping them with the capabilities, confidence, and resources needed to build resilient micro-enterprises,” he remarked, highlighting that the expansion into Uttarakhand is about cementing inclusive growth.
The local government has certainly developed an appetite for the scheme. Uttarakhand State Commission for Women president Kusum Kandwal praised the corporate-NGO tag team, noting that such efforts “complement government initiatives and strengthen our shared mission.”
This isn’t ITC’s first rodeo or rather, first roll-out. Over the past two years, the programme has been a lifeline for migrant women in Delhi NCR, helping them navigate out of vulnerable conditions and into self-reliance. It is a slice of a much larger pie; ITC’s multi-dimensional social investments have now touched the lives of over 6 million women across India, spanning education, employability, and enterprise.
For these ten women in Uttarakhand, the future is looking distinctly brighter. They finally have the ingredients for success, and for once, it’s not just about what’s on the menu, it’s about who owns the kitchen.
