Brands
Sweet deal as Mandira Bedi joins Healthy Mithai Co.’s sugar-free mission
MUMBAI: Here’s some sweet news that won’t spike your sugar levels. Healthy Mithai Co., the homegrown disruptor in sugar-free indulgence, has roped in actor, fitness icon, and entrepreneur Mandira Bedi as its official brand ambassador but this isn’t your usual celeb flash-in-the-pan. This alliance, driven by BeyondSeed’s BeyondInfluence platform, is less about selling and more about storytelling, one that blends tradition, health, and emotional indulgence.
Mandira Bedi resonated with this cause deeply. “To me, fitness is not merely about the body, it’s about balance,” she states. “I used to celebrate with laddoos and pedas during childhood, but later on, the time came for tough decisions. Healthy Mithai Co. is filling that emotional void for all of us who wish to celebrate without sacrifice. I’m honored to be a part of something so meaningfully delicious.”
That ‘joy minus the regret’ is precisely what the company is built on. Founded by Prabhinder Singh and Deepak Jain, Healthy Mithai Co. uses only plant-based stevia, crafting mithai that is sugar-free, low on the glycaemic index, and high on nostalgia. For India’s 10 crore diabetics and 25 crore pre-diabetics, it promises sweets without the sting.
But this mission isn’t stopping at sentiment. The company has its sights set on becoming one of the top three sugar-free alternative brands in India, eyeing Rs 125 crore in revenue by FY 2027–28. With an omnichannel model from partnerships with Nature’s Basket and Kokilaben Hospital to kiosks and e-commerce, it’s making guilt-free celebration a doorstep affair, with 24-hour delivery in major metros.
This collaboration was made possible through BeyondInfluence, a new platform that enables purpose driven startups to connect with voices that actually believe in their journey. “We started BeyondInfluence because we believe in creating partnerships that go beyond marketing, they’re built on meaning” states Beyondseed CMO Fiza Malhotra. “Mandira and Healthy Mithai Co. align on values that are deeply centered on wellness, impact, and trust. This partnership exemplifies these aligned values and serves as a catalyst for high-impact growth.”
For Healthy Mithai Co., this is not a marketing campaign, it’s a movement. “We’re not here to sell sweets,” explains Healthy Mithai co founder Prabhinder Singh. “We’re here to change daily habits. And habits are not changed by data alone. Habits change when people feel something. With Mandira joining our journey, we are not only adding an ambassador, we are adding a partner who resonates with this mission deeply too.”
So if you’ve ever passed on a peda for fear of sugar guilt, this might just be your cue to bring back the box. Healthy Mithai Co., with Mandira in tow, is writing a new recipe for joy where heritage meets health, and every bite is both mindful and magical.
Brands
Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen to step down after 18 years in role
Board begins CEO search as Narayen prepares to move to chair role
SAN JOSE: After nearly two decades at the helm, Adobe’s long-serving chief executive Shantanu Narayen is preparing to pass the baton.
The company announced that Narayen will transition from his role as chief executive officer once a successor is appointed, ending an 18-year run that reshaped Adobe from a boxed software seller into a global cloud and AI powerhouse. He will remain chair of the board following the leadership transition.
Adobe’s board has formed a special committee to oversee the succession process, led by lead independent director Frank Calderoni. The committee will evaluate both internal and external candidates.
“Shantanu’s leadership has been instrumental in Adobe’s transformation and in positioning the company for the AI-driven era,” Calderoni said in a statement. “As we begin the next phase of succession planning, our focus is on identifying the right leader for the company’s next chapter while ensuring a smooth transition.”
In a note to employees, Narayen described the moment not as a farewell but as a pause for reflection after a long journey with the company.
“I love Adobe and the privilege of leading it has been the greatest honour of my career,” he wrote, adding that he will continue to work closely with the board over the coming months to ensure a seamless leadership change.
Tributes from the technology industry quickly followed the announcement. Microsoft chairman and chief executive officer Satya Nadella congratulated Narayen on what he described as a “legendary run” at Adobe.
“Congrats Shantanu, on a legendary run at Adobe! You’ve built one of the most important software companies in the world, and expanded what’s possible for creators, entrepreneurs, and brands everywhere,” Nadella wrote on LinkedIn.
“What has always stood out to me is the empathy you’ve brought to the creative process and the example you’ve set as a leader. Grateful for your friendship, mentorship, and for all you’ve done for Adobe and for our industry.”
Narayen’s career at Adobe spans nearly three decades. He joined the company in 1998 as vice president and rose steadily through the ranks before becoming chief executive officer in December 2007.
During that time, he orchestrated one of the most significant reinventions in the software industry. In 2013, Adobe made the bold decision to abandon traditional boxed software sales and move its flagship creative tools such as Photoshop to a subscription-based Creative Cloud model. The shift initially rattled investors but ultimately transformed Adobe into a predictable recurring revenue business and a case study in digital reinvention.
Narayen also pushed Adobe beyond creative tools into the world of marketing technology and data-driven customer experience, spearheading acquisitions such as Omniture and Marketo. Those moves helped build Adobe’s digital experience division and broaden its reach far beyond designers and photographers.
The numbers tell the story of that transformation. When Narayen took over in 2007, Adobe generated roughly $3 billion in annual revenue. Today the company reports more than $25 billion. Over the same period, its workforce expanded from around 3,000 employees to more than 30,000.
In recent years, Narayen has steered Adobe into the generative AI era with the launch of Adobe Firefly, aiming to keep the company ahead in a rapidly evolving creative technology landscape.
Born in Hyderabad in 1963, Narayen studied electronics and communication engineering at Osmania University before moving to the United States for a master’s degree in computer science from Bowling Green State University. He later earned an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.
Widely regarded as one of Silicon Valley’s most steady and effective leaders, Narayen has earned multiple honours during his career, including India’s Padma Shri in 2019.
For Adobe, the upcoming leadership change marks the end of a defining chapter. For Narayen, however, the story is far from finished. As he told employees, the company’s next era of creativity, powered by AI and new digital workflows, is only just beginning.
