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Weekend Unwind with: DiamondXE’s Deepali Vijay Jain
Mumbai: With another weekend upon us, it is time to unwind with the latest Q&A edition of Indiantelevision.com’s Weekend Unwind—a series of informal chats that peek into the minds of business executives through a fun lens in an attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better.
In this week’s session, we have DiamondXE’s founder chairwomen Deepali Vijay Jain.
With DiamondXE, she has given India its first online diamond exchange that revolutionises the way diamonds are bought and supplied. She is based out of Dubai where she has established Meraki, an upscale jewellery boutique catering to discerning clients in the high-end market. Her entrepreneurial spirit extends to the culinary realm, where she owns and manages an Indian-Mughlai restaurant chain renowned for its authentic cuisine. Hailing from a family of diamantaires who have been in the business for generations, Jain has inherited the passion, expertise and network integral for success in the trade.
Embracing the cosmopolitan lifestyle in Dubai, she finds joy in travel, shopping, and socializing. Living life on her own terms, she relentlessly pursues her dreams and ambitions, leaving an indelible mark on both the diamond industry and the realms she ventures into.
Without further ado, here it goes…
Your mantra for life
A. Live, learn, love, and leave a legacy. I believe this summarizes the four dimensions of a fulfilling life- physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It’s a reminder to make the most of our time and talents, while striving to make a positive impact on the world.
A book you are currently reading/plan to read
A. I’m currently reading “The Diamond Cutter: The Buddha on Managing Your Business and Your Life.” It’s a fascinating and inspiring book that applies the ancient wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism to the modern world of business and success.
Your fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic
A. Stay active, stay healthy, stay happy. I made sure to exercise regularly, eat healthy, sleep well, and I also indulged in some self-care and pampering such as spa days at home, and digital detox.
Your comfort food
A. Hands down, it has to be Dal Makhni and rice. It’s my ultimate comfort food and evokes a deep connection to my roots and culture.
When the chips are down a quote/philosophy that keeps you going
A. “Diamonds are made under pressure.” This quote always motivates me to face the challenges and overcome the obstacles, and to emerge stronger and brighter.
Your guilty pleasure
A. My ultimate indulgence is collecting the rarest fancy color diamonds. The charm of expanding my treasure trove is simply irresistible. In my view, one can never have too many of these amazing jewels!
When was the last time you tried something new?
A. I tried making sushi all by myself a few days ago, and it was a fun and satisfying experience. I enjoy experimenting with different cuisines and recipes, and making sushi was a skill I had always wanted to acquire. It was not as hard as I thought, and I enjoyed the process and the result.
A life lesson you learned the hard way
A. Trust your instincts, and don’t let anyone take you for granted. I learned this the hard way when I faced a major setback because of someone I trusted. It was a difficult and eye-opening experience, but it also taught me to be more careful and discerning.
What gets you excited about life?
A. The endless possibilities and opportunities that life offers. I get excited about learning new things, meeting new people, exploring new places, and creating new experiences.
What’s on top of your bucket list?
A. To learn and understand different cultures. I think it is a fascinating and enriching way to expand my knowledge and worldview. I have this curiosity and passion to explore the diversity and beauty of human expressions, values and traditions. I hope to travel to less-visited countries, interact with the local people, and immerse myself in their culture.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
A. Believe in yourself, and don’t let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do. You have the potential and the power to achieve anything you set your mind to, and you don’t need anyone’s approval or validation.
One thing you would most like to change about the world
A. I would most like to increase education and literacy levels worldwide. Education is the key to empowerment, enabling people to develop skills, knowledge, and confidence. It cultivates critical thinking, creativity and innovation, contributing to global socio-economic development, peace and prosperity.
An activity that keeps you motivated/charged during tough times
A. Cooking is my solace and inspiration during challenging moments. It’s not just a hobby, it is my creative outlet and a genuine source of joy. Experimenting with new dishes and flavours, and sharing them with loved ones brings fulfilment and energy, making even the toughest times more manageable.
What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?
A. My family and friends. They are my support system and my cheerleaders, and they always provide comfort and encouragement when life gets tough. They are always there for me; to listen, to advise, and to uplift me.
Your go-to stress buster
A. None other than spending quality time with my two dogs! They are my perfect antidote to stress, lifting my spirits with their playful and affectionate nature. Their amusing antics bring joy and laughter, while moments of relaxation come easy with cuddles on the couch or leisurely walks in the park. They are not just my pets but cherished stress relievers, always ready to brighten my day.
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Madison World to launch AI platform M BrAIn for media planning
Agency group invests about $1 million as it shifts to AI driven growth planning.
MUMBAI: If media planning once ran on spreadsheets and gut instinct, the next chapter may run on algorithms and curiosity. Madison World is preparing to roll out the first version of its proprietary artificial intelligence platform Madison M BrAIn in early April, as the independent agency group accelerates its transition toward AI driven planning and product led media services.
The platform, expected to involve an investment of around $1 million, is designed to reshape how the agency approaches strategy by combining internal knowledge, external data sources and advanced AI models into a single intelligence ecosystem.
According to Madison Media, OOH and Hiveminds partner and group CEO Ajit Varghese the initiative forms part of a larger structural rethink within the organisation. “Traditionally agencies built frameworks around media planning and allocation. We are redesigning that structure into what we call a Growth Planning System (GPS),” Varghese said.
The shift reflects a growing belief that effective media strategy must begin earlier in the decision making process. Instead of jumping directly to channel allocation, planners must first decode the market itself identifying consumer barriers, purchase triggers and the core challenges facing a brand.
Once those insights are mapped, agencies can build clearer growth agendas for clients and design media strategies that connect more closely with business outcomes.
To support that approach, Madison has built Madison M BrAIn as what it describes as a human AI cognitive ecosystem. Acting as a central intelligence hub, the platform aggregates proprietary insights alongside external data sources and large language models, enabling planners to access deeper market intelligence before building campaign strategies.
Varghese said one of the core objectives is to democratise knowledge across the organisation. “In the past, this level of understanding was largely available to senior leaders or experienced strategists. With Madison M BrAIn, even a junior planner should be able to access the same intelligence and approach clients with a far more informed perspective,” he said.
The agency has already implemented the new planning philosophy internally and completed three months of testing for the AI platform, with early trials showing encouraging results in terms of learning capability and system performance.
While the first version relied on global large language models, Madison is now developing its own proprietary Small Language Model (SLM) to serve as the core of the M BrAIn ecosystem.
“The SLM will be able to read global LLMs, but the LLMs cannot read the SLM,” Varghese explained. “That ensures all the intelligence we build remains within the Madison ecosystem and strengthens our proprietary knowledge base.”
The first version of Madison M BrAIn is expected to go live in early April, with a more refined version targeted by the end of June. Over time, the platform will integrate additional external data streams and APIs including consumer insight platforms, social listening tools and client datasets.
These integrations are expected to enhance the system’s learning capability and enable it to generate increasingly sophisticated strategic recommendations.
Although the platform is currently being deployed for internal use, Madison sees potential for it to evolve into a licensable product in the future.
“At the moment, our focus is to stabilise and strengthen M BrAIn internally. But over time there is potential for this to become a product that could be licensed externally,” Varghese said.
The AI platform is also part of a wider technology transformation underway at the agency group. Alongside M BrAIn, Madison is building a broader digital infrastructure called the Catalyst operating system, which aims to integrate operational processes, data and product platforms into a unified ecosystem.
This broader technology stack could require an additional $1 million to $1.5 million investment over time, though spending will be phased and reviewed regularly.
“We are evaluating progress every three months and prioritising the most critical capabilities first,” Varghese said.
Madison expects the full AI and operating ecosystem to be fully functional within 12 to 18 months, positioning the agency to combine human strategy with machine intelligence as the advertising industry enters its next data driven phase.
