MAM
Brands re-learning how to stay connected internally
MUMBAI: COVID-19 has drastically changed the way we live and work. Brands and agencies are finding virtual ways to stay connected with the internal teams and clients.
In a virtual panel discussion organised by indiantelevision.com, industry experts spoke at length about adopting the work from home culture and how they have transformed themselves to adapt to this medium.
The panel included Timex Group India head market Ajay Dhyani, Duroflex Mattresses India VP-marketing Smita Murarka and Mirum India joint CEO Sanjay Mehta.
The panel was moderated by Indiantelevision.com founder, CEO and editor-in-chief Anil Wanvari.
According to Murarka, it has enabled to bridge the gap between different generations using technologies like Zoom and activities like virtual town halls, etc.
She also highlighted the importance of upskilling and learning new courses. “We also asked our team members to sign up for digital courses and upskill themselves. It is very important to keep your people and network around you positive because it is easy to get carried away with all sorts of discussions that are happening,” she added.
The first and foremost thing that the Timex Group did was to shut down the factories operating around the globe in order to safeguard the health of the employees. According to Ajay Dhyani, the main challenge as an organisation was to stay connected with each other.
“Initially safeguarding the safety of our employees was the priority. After that, the main concern was regarding our brand communication, external communication with clients, and internal communication with the team,” he said.
Timex Group has a large workforce working across different parts of the world. So internal communication was a very important factor, because staying at home and not getting proper communication from different subsidiaries from different partners could lead to a difficult situation.
Dhyani said, “We have internal Instagram pages, we are taking full advantage of the internet to stay connected with different folks in different countries."
Mehta said that initially for the organisation it was just about coping with the lockdown, making sure people are doing work from home and keeping the organisation operational.
He said, “We are also working towards HR-related issues, emotional balance management for the team because this is not something a lot of young people have seen. We are ensuring that collaboration goals are in place. Luckily with today’s technology we were able to get most of the operational issues in place in about five days. We have got a lot of HR initiatives to get people going and motivated."
Even as the situation continues to be novel, companies are finding ways to get a grip on this evolving future.
MAM
Bianca Guimaraes named Jury Chair of ABBY Awards 2026
Mischief USA ECD to lead Still Digital category at Goafest in Goa.
MUMBAI: Bianca Guimaraes just got handed the gavel for Still Digital because when the woman who turned Mischief into an awards magnet sits in judgement, even the shortlist starts feeling nervous. Bianca Guimaraes, founding partner and executive creative director at Mischief USA, has been appointed Jury Chair for the Still Digital category at the ABBY Awards 2026 Powered by The One Club / The One Show. The announcement was made ahead of Goafest 2026, where the awards will take place in Goa on 20–22 May 2026.
Guimaraes has built a reputation for culture-shifting work that has propelled Mischief USA from start-up to #1 independent agency of the year four times (Ad Age, Adweek, Campaign US and EFFIES). In just three years, her campaigns have secured over 100 international awards, including an Emmy. She previously spent six years at BBDO New York, was named Shots Rising Star in 2017, and voted Next Creative Leader by The One Show in 2016. WARC currently ranks Mischief USA as the world’s Most Effective Independent Agency.
A passionate advocate for women and diverse talent in advertising, Guimaraes has shaped the creative department she always wanted to join, blending bold ideas with measurable impact.
The ABBY Awards remain one of India’s most respected benchmarks for creative excellence, drawing entries across advertising, design, digital and branded content. Guimaraes’ appointment brings a global perspective to the Still Digital jury at a time when static digital work continues to push boundaries in storytelling and craft.
In an awards season where creativity is the real currency, the ABBYs didn’t just pick a chair, they picked the woman who’s spent years proving that the sharpest ideas don’t need motion to move people.
