Brands
Join 5Star’s Nothing University to become future-ready by acing the art of ‘Doing Nothing’
Mumbai: Cadbury 5Star, India’s beloved chocolate brand, has always stood out as an advocate for taking time in our fast-paced lives to Do Nothing. Currently, as technology continues to evolve, a lot of work in future will be done by AI. With a lighter and fun take on this trend, the brand is adding a spin to how people will have more time to chill in their office because of which the art of ‘Do Nothing’ will become an essential skill. Therefore, to help people become future-ready and set themselves apart in the corporate setting, Cadbury 5Star has taken an unconventional route to navigate the trend by introducing the Nothing University, where those who sign up can learn the art of “Doing Nothing” and get a certification. As long-time champions of ‘Doing Nothing’, the brand has declared that we should welcome AI instead of fearing it.
Speaking about this unique approach on Cadbury 5Star’s long-standing brand identity, Mondelez India VP- marketing Nitin Saini said, “Cadbury 5Star’s Do Nothing ideology has stood as a proud and humorous counter to the modern culture of living life on-the-go. Currently, the advent of AI is taking the industry by storm and making everyday job easier thus, leaving more room for people to ‘Do Nothing’, and as the cultivators of this ethos we want to help people ace it. The introduction of Nothing University is a cheeky take on this concept and our attempt to help everyone upskill in ‘Doing Nothing’. This will not only elevate the brand’s purpose but also establish an unforgettable and fun experience for the consumers of today.”
Ogilvy India chief creative officer Sukesh Nayak added “With AI dominating the news almost every day, there is a lot of debate and speculation about the impact it will have on every industry. In its signature irreverent style, Cadbury 5 Star has taken a crazy dig at it by celebrating the prospect that when AI does most of our work, we’ll get a lot of time to chill and do nothing. We have conceived and crafted the Nothing University and developed an entire curriculum around doing nothing efficiently in the future workplace, complete with interactive video lectures and a diploma.”
Wavemaker India chief client officer & office head, West, North & East Shekhar Banerjee said “In the era of AI, 5Star’s Nothing University is revolutionizing norms with a witty curriculum on ‘Doing Nothing.’. In collaboration with top comedians, influencers, and brand partnerships, we aim to amplify the delight of ‘Do Nothing’, with a counterculture narrative. From enrolment to graduation, our media campaign is brimming with playful essence, embarking on a journey into the art of doing nothing, reshaping skill development with a touch of humour across multiple media touchpoints”
The innovative campaign was launched with a humorous and relatable digital film envisioning a future where while AI does its job, humans can embrace the art of doing nothing.
People can participate and experience this one-of-a-kind course online through the microsite 5staruniversity.com which hosts interactive video sessions. Once registered, people can take courses in modules taught by corporate employees turned comedians Atul Khatri and Rahul Subramanian, equipping people to become future-ready and focus on the exciting possibility of AI making people’s jobs easier and leaving more room to enjoy Doing Nothing in the midst of getting ready for an AI-powered future workspace. At the end of the course, students will also get a certification as a fun take on the completion of this activation. That’s not all! Cadbury 5Star will also set up a physical campus for a short duration for people to experience the course on-ground through workshops, practice labs, research facilities for researching techniques in Doing Nothing while also being able to join the completion ceremony and collect their certificates.
Brands
Faber-Castell India appoints Sunaina Haldar as director – marketing
With stints at Tata, SleepyCat and ADF Foods under her belt, Haldar is primed to redraw Faber-Castell’s brand story
MUMBAI: Faber-Castell India has poached Sunaina Haldar from ADF Foods, appointing her director – marketing as the German stationery brand looks to muscle up in a category that is rapidly reinventing itself around creativity and self-expression.
Haldar hit the ground running. “My first couple of weeks have been incredibly energising, understanding consumers, visiting markets, engaging with retailers and immersing myself into the world of Faber-Castell Group,” she said.
She arrives with considerable firepower. At ADF Foods, Haldar ran marketing across India and international markets for a portfolio spanning Ashoka, Aeroplane, Camel and ADF Soul. Before that, she was vice-president – marketing at direct-to-consumer mattress brand SleepyCat, where she helmed brand, content and performance marketing. Her résumé also includes a stint leading marketing, new product development and CRM for Tata SmartFoodz at Tata Consumer Products, no small proving ground.
Between corporate roles, Haldar also operated as a fractional CMO for early-stage startups, building marketing strategy and operational structures from scratch, a signal that she knows how to move fast with limited resources.
With 18 years straddling FMCG, D2C and the startup world, Haldar now takes the reins at a brand that has long owned the classroom but is clearly hungry for the living room. In a stationery market where the pencil has become a lifestyle statement, Faber-Castell has picked someone who knows exactly how to sell that story.
