AD Agencies
ICW wraps Portfolio Evening 2023 with 96 participants over two days
Mumbai: To provide women and non-binary creatives a platform for visibility in the Indian advertising and design industry, Indian Creative Women (ICW) partnered with DDB Mudra Group and D&AD for the fourth edition of Portfolio Evening, sponsored by McDonald’s. Held on 7 December (virtual) and 8 December (Mumbai) the event saw participation from 96 women and non-binary creatives from design, UI/UX, writing, animation and other diverse backgrounds. The panel comprised of 39 jurors from creative, media and digital agencies along with marketing leaders from the industry.
The in-person event kickstarted with an inspiring opening address from D&AD CEO Jo Jackson and Rahul Mathew, DDB Mudra Group CCO Rahul Mathew. Following this, participants started engaging in brief one-on-one sessions with multiple jurors over the course of two rounds showcasing the best of their work, receiving feedback and insights from the brilliant creative minds. Pallavi emerged as the winner at Portfolio Evening, Mumbai while Nidhi Shah won the virtual Portfolio Evening. They’ve both earned themselves a chance to an all-expense paid trip to the D&AD Festival in London in March 2024.
Student art director and winner of Portfolio Evening – Mumbai, Pallavi commented, “I heard about Indian Creative Women for the first time in the first month of ad school. And just the thought of a female and non-binary centric initiative was so exciting to me that I was ready to participate when the time was right. Fast forward to a year and here we are, and it feels absolutely surreal!
Just the fact that I got to share the space with so many fellow female and non-binary creatives for the evening was a huge privilege, to see them shine and share their work. The energy was contagious!
Many of the faces of Indian Creative Women are women that I admire and look up to, so just to have the opportunity to interact with them and share our stories was definitely an experience I’ll cherish forever. Hopefully, this push by Indian Creative Women will enable me as a female creative to help give a platform to other female and non-binary creatives in the future.”
Advertising student and winner of the virtual Portfolio Evening Nidhi Shah said, “As someone who has never been in front of industry leaders, this was already a surreal chance to present my work to them! But winning it as well? I’m still pinching myself if this is real! Thank you, Indian Creative Women, for organising this and for helping foster the creative women’s community!”
AD Agencies
Havas Media Network India bags integrated media mandate for Aakash Educational Services Limited
PivotRoots and Arena Media to drive 360° strategy for student outreach
NEW DELHI: Havas Media Network India has secured the integrated media mandate for Aakash Educational Services Limited, following a competitive multi-agency pitch, signalling a fresh push by the education major to sharpen its reach among students nationwide.
The mandate will be jointly handled by PivotRoots and Arena Media, both part of the Havas network. Together, they will roll out a full-spectrum media strategy designed to boost AESL’s visibility across digital and traditional platforms.
At the heart of the partnership lies a simple idea: making the brand not just seen, but sought after. The agencies will blend data, technology and creative storytelling to craft campaigns that resonate with students and parents navigating an increasingly digital-first education landscape.
Aakash Educational Services Limited SVP marketing Kanika Kumar Nijhawan said, “At Aakash, we believe success is built through a structured, long-term and data-driven approach. As we expand across the country, adopting a more integrated approach to media is essential. This partnership marks a significant step towards building stronger connections with our audiences.”
Under the arrangement, PivotRoots will spearhead digital and performance marketing, covering social media, influencer collaborations and data-led optimisation. Meanwhile, Arena Media will focus on traditional channels including print, television, radio, cinema and outdoor advertising, ensuring consistent messaging across touchpoints.
Havas Media Network India chief executive officer Mohit Joshi said, “Delivering for a powerhouse like AESL requires both scale and precision. By combining Arena Media and PivotRoots, we are deploying our Converged.AI platform to create a 360-degree strategy that drives engagement, conversions and long-term growth.”
Echoing the sentiment, PivotRoots founder and chief executive officer Shibu Shivanandan added that the collaboration would focus on building “impactful, full-funnel experiences” powered by deep analytics and performance-led marketing.
With a strong legacy in coaching for medical and engineering entrance exams, AESL is now doubling down on integrated media to stay ahead in a crowded, fast-evolving education market. The partnership with Havas signals a clear intent: to turn visibility into meaningful engagement and, ultimately, student success.
