MAM
DDB Mudra Group advances gender equality with Phyllis India Project
Mumbai: DDB Mudra Group has launched ‘The Phyllis India Project’- a year-long mentorship program to enable and encourage women to thrive in leadership roles and drive professional growth.
The comprehensive training program includes a customised career plan for each participant based on their goals and development areas. The idea is to help participants navigate mental and societal challenges such as experiencing motherhood guilt-free, overcoming the imposter syndrome, courage, and self-belief, making your voice heard, and other such themes. Each participant’s career plan and development is tracked and reviewed monthly with the leadership team.
The program also includes one-on-one and group mentoring sessions conducted by several industry leaders including Titan Watches CEO Suparna Mitra, Sequoia Capital CMO – India & SEA Gayatri Yadav, Jio Saavn VP – brand solutions Virginia Sharma, Inmobi MD- APAC Vasuta Agarwal, Mirchi – national content director –digital Indira Rangarajan as well as DDB Worldwide global business director Varsha, DDB Germany CCO Diana Sukopp, DDB Chicago VP and strategy director Noelle Baer among others.
“Gender gaps influence the society, culture, economy, and the way in which we shape our world for the next generation. Supporting the advancement of women and non-binary individuals by addressing the challenges they face is a global priority for the Group, and we in India have taken it very seriously. It’s inspiring to watch the participants of the Phyllis program grow personally and professionally, take on new roles, and steer the company towards a future with unbound potential,” said DDB Mudra Group CEO and MD Aditya Kanthy.
The DDB Mudra Group first entered participants into the global Phyllis Project in 2017, and later introduced the Indian edition that addresses the cultural challenges that women leaders face in the country. The Phyllis India Project pilot kicked off in 2020. The program has since been training its pilot batch of women leaders. The program is named after Phyllis Robinson – DDB Worldwide’s first copywriter and the first female copy chief in US history, who was known for her rebellious creative spirit, for challenging the rules, and opening the doors for women in the industry.
Brands
Sony Pictures Networks India names Shruti Aneja as lead – agency partnerships & key network initiatives
Aneja takes charge to deepen agency ties and boost revenue across Spni channels
MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India has appointed Shruti Aneja as lead – agency partnerships, signalling a fresh focus on closer collaboration with advertising agencies and a sharper push for revenue growth across its channel portfolio.
In her new role, Aneja will chart strategic engagement with agencies, unlock new revenue streams, and nurture long-term partnerships. Her mission includes driving sales performance, adding value for clients, and delivering inventive solutions for advertisers — cementing Spni’s position as a preferred media partner.
Aneja brings over 12 years of experience with Spni, having risen through the ranks from manager to associate vice president. She has led high-performing sales teams across key clusters including sony hindi gec, free-to-air channels, and english entertainment channels like pix, axn and bbc earth.
Her track record includes driving integrated ad sales for popular shows such as Celebrity MasterChef, Indian Idol and Superstar Singer, pioneering first-time brand integrations, and repositioning channels for maximum impact in both urban and rural markets.
Aneja’s approach combines content-first thinking with solution-led selling, focusing on empathy, insight and storytelling that resonates with audiences and brands alike. Colleagues praise her knack for building trust with agencies and clients while spotting innovative ways to convert ideas into revenue.
With this appointment, Spni aims to strengthen its agency relationships and continue delivering compelling advertising solutions that combine creativity with performance.
