MAM
EduMedia’s Decoding Kids Conclave to debut on 16 Jan
MUMBAI: Education company EduMedia has launched Decoding Kids Conclave 2013, a first-of-its-kind initiative in India, to provide a knowledge-sharing platform aimed at enhancing the understanding about kids amongst people who want to engage with them.
The first edition of the event will be held on 16 January in Mumbai with the theme ‘Marketing to Kids‘.
“Decoding Kids Conclave aims to answer some of the biggest whys related to the kids and how to go about effectively and responsibly engaging with them,” said EduMedia India Executive Director Tabassum Modi. “It will serve as a platform for those who are interested in knowing about the dynamic world of children.”
Decoding Kids Conclave will have an array of topics related to marketing to kids like research perspectives, digital marketing to kids, kids as future consumers, responsible marketing to kids, kids in advertising, rural marketing for kids products and unforgettable brand marketing campaigns to name a few.
These interesting and informative sessions will be held by renowned industry experts. Some of the speakers lined up include Prahlad Kakar (Ad Guru &Founder of Genesis Films), Pradeep Kashyap (CEO, Mart & President, Rural Marketing Association of India – RMAI) and Rajiv Chilaka (Creator of Chhota Bheem & Founder-Director, Green Gold Animation).
Said Prahlad Kakar, “I‘m looking forward to the Decoding Kids Conclave as there are going to be a lot of opposing points of view about the best way to deal with kids. Kids are actually like little adults – they have complete free reign but without the sense of responsibility.”
Pradeep Kashyap added, “Decoding Kids Conclave is a much needed initiative for the marketing fraternity to collectively try and decode what kids buy, who decides the purchase, other influencers and where do they buy. I compliment the organizers for taking this very timely initiative.”
Decoding Kids Conclave is expected to have participation from brand managers & developers, marketing managers, product developers & innovators, advertising agencies, event agencies, PR professionals, researchers, entrepreneurs targeting kids, TV Professionals and other professionals working in the kids segment.
Brands
Wipro hires 7,500 freshers, withholds FY27 hiring outlook
Profit rises to Rs 3,522 crore, Rs 15,000 crore buyback announced.
MUMBAI- Hiring may be on, but visibility is off, Wipro is adding talent even as it pauses the crystal ball. The company hired 7,500 freshers in FY26 but stopped short of offering any hiring outlook for FY27, underscoring the uncertainty gripping the IT services sector as it pivots towards an AI-led operating model.
The disclosure came alongside its fourth-quarter earnings, where management flagged volatile demand conditions and refrained from committing to future workforce expansion. Chief human resources officer Saurabh Govil noted that over 3,000 of the total hires were onboarded in the March quarter alone, signalling continued intake despite a lack of clarity on deployment pipelines.
This divergence active hiring without forward guidance reflects a broader industry pattern where talent acquisition continues even as deal conversions remain uneven and client spending cycles stretch. Wipro expects its IT services revenue for the June quarter to range between a decline of 2 per cent and flat growth sequentially in constant currency terms, reinforcing near-term caution.
Chief executive officer Srini Pallia pointed to artificial intelligence as both a disruptor and an opportunity. He said evolving client priorities are pushing the company towards outcome-driven engagements, with Wipro increasingly focusing on a services-as-software model through its AI Native Business and Platforms unit. The shift marks a structural change from traditional headcount-led growth to AI-enabled delivery frameworks.
The company has already committed over $1 billion to its AI ecosystem, with investors closely watching how these investments translate into revenue. For now, the numbers present a mixed picture. Net profit rose sequentially to Rs 3,522 crore, while revenue grew 3 per cent to Rs 24,236 crore. However, core IT services performance remained under pressure, with full-year revenue declining 0.3 per cent in dollar terms and 1.6 per cent in constant currency.
Large deal bookings offered a counterpoint, rising 45.4 per cent year-on-year to $7.8 billion, highlighting a widening gap between deal wins and actual revenue realisation. On a quarterly basis, IT services revenue slipped 1.2 per cent sequentially, signalling continued softness in execution.
Margins, however, told a more optimistic story. Operating margins expanded to 17.3 per cent in the fourth quarter, up from 14.8 per cent in the previous quarter, reflecting improved cost discipline. That said, the company cautioned that upcoming wage hikes and the ramp-up of large deals could exert pressure going forward.
Attrition stood at 13.8 per cent in the March quarter, indicating stabilisation after periods of elevated churn. Alongside its earnings, Wipro also announced a Rs 15,000 crore share buyback, reinforcing its focus on shareholder returns, with a payout ratio of 88 per cent over the past three years.
Taken together, the numbers capture a company in transition investing in AI, maintaining hiring momentum, but navigating a demand environment where growth is uneven and visibility remains limited.
