MAM
Portfolio Evening champions the next wave of strategists
MUMBAI: The country’s strategy scene got a lively shake-up as Warc and DDB Mudra Group hosted the first-ever Portfolio Evening: Strategy Edition in Mumbai, giving young planners a rare chance to put their ideas under the spotlight.
The industry-first initiative brought together 40 emerging strategists with 0–5 years of experience and 20 seasoned jurors from leading agencies and brands. Each participant showcased two pieces of work, diving into problem-definition, insight-mining and strategic recommendations. The atmosphere felt part masterclass, part creative speed-dating, with participants receiving direct, practical and candid advice from some of India’s sharpest strategic thinkers.
DDB Mudra Group national strategy head Shashank Lanjekar, said the new format offered the kind of springboard young talent often misses. He added that having strategy veteran Madhukar Sabnavis in the room uplifted the evening, as he broke down what defines a truly powerful strategy using well-loved brand examples.
From Warc, India Editor Biprorshee Das highlighted the growing recognition of strategy as the engine of modern marketing, noting that the event mirrors Warc’s mission to build braver and more effective thinking through evidence-driven practice.
At the end of the reviews, three rising stars: Khushi Sharma, Chintan Mehta and Khushi Karve, were named the winners of the debut edition. Their prize: exclusive access to Warc’s Creative Impact Unpacked from Cannes, giving them a close look at global creative effectiveness.
Warc also presented insights from its new report, The Future of Strategy 2025, outlining how AI, culture and creativity are reshaping the strategist’s role in today’s fast-moving marketing landscape.
The evening drew an impressive jury lineup featuring Aditi Patwardhan, Anirban Mozumdar, Dheeraj Sinha, Ekta Relan, Ganapathy Balagopalan, Jitender Dabas, Kawal Shoor, Kirti Meera Sharad, Layla Khan, Mehak Jaini, Menaka Menon, Noor Samra, Prem Narayan, Rajesh Sharma, S Subramanyeswar, Sabiha Khan, Sanchari Chakrabarty, Shashank Lanjekar, T Gangadhar and Toru Jhaveri.
With its mix of mentorship, industry insight and real-world critique, Portfolio Evening: Strategy Edition set a fresh tone for how the next generation of thinkers can learn, grow and shape the future of effective marketing.
Brands
Malaika Arora launches Maejoy accessories brand with Myntra partnership
New label debuts with 250 plus handbags and lab grown diamond jewellery.
MUMBAI: When style meets sparkle, a new brand is ready to take centre stage. Actor and entrepreneur Malaika Arora has launched a lifestyle accessories label called Maejoy, developed in collaboration with Exceed Entertainment and Myntra Jabong India Private Limited (MJIPL), the B2B wholesale arm of Myntra. The brand enters the market with a debut collection of more than 250 styles spanning handbags and lab grown diamond jewellery, two categories that continue to define everyday personal style for modern consumers.
The handbag lineup includes crossbody bags, structured shoulder bags, bucket bags, totes, backpacks, clutches and workwear inspired designs. The pieces are crafted using materials such as synthetic leather, raffia, braids, satin, rhinestones and metallic finishes.
Alongside the bags, Maejoy has introduced a jewellery range featuring lab grown diamond rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets and tennis bracelets. The pieces are set in 925 sterling silver bases with gold, silver and rose gold tones, and include diamonds certified by IGI and GCI.
Positioned as a premium yet accessible accessories label, Maejoy is built around the philosophy “The Joy of Being Me”, aiming to blend aspirational fashion with everyday usability. The brand’s positioning centres on three pillars: authenticity, empowerment and accessibility.
Arora described the venture as a natural extension of her long association with fashion and personal style.
“Maejoy is a labour of love. Throughout my career, whether on screen, in business or through personal style, I have always believed fashion should feel empowering yet effortless. The Joy of Being Me celebrates individuality while making global fashion trends more accessible,” she said.
MJIPL, CXO and head of house of brands Suman Saha said the brand brings together Arora’s style perspective with a strong opportunity in the accessible premium accessories segment.
“Maejoy combines Malaika Arora’s distinctive style sensibility with fashion forward designs that we believe will resonate strongly with consumers looking for elevated yet wearable accessories,” he said.
Exceed Entertainment CEO Afsar Zaidi added that building celebrity led brands requires balancing authenticity with market viability.
“Malaika commands respect both as a fashion icon and a businesswoman. Bringing her creative vision together with Myntra’s brand building expertise creates a strong foundation for Maejoy,” he said.
The collection is available exclusively on Myntra through its website and mobile app, making the brand accessible to millions of shoppers across India as it steps into the competitive lifestyle accessories space.
