MAM
IIGC turns up the volume with ‘IIGC Talks’ podcast debut
MUMBAI: The Indian Influencer Governing Council (IIGC) has officially entered the chat, with the launch of “IIGC Talks,” its brand-new podcast studio designed to host open, unfiltered conversations about India’s fast-evolving creator economy.
The series kicked off with a bang, featuring India’s gadget guru, Rajiv Makhni, in a candid conversation with Sahil Chopra, chairman of IIGC. In the debut episode, Makhni dives into what it really means to be authentic in a world where likes, views and brand deals often collide. Within a day of its release, the episode racked up over 1.5 lakh views on Youtube.
“In a time when everyone has a voice, the real challenge is knowing which ones to trust,” said Makhni. “If a collaboration forces you to compromise your honesty, the collaboration has already failed. Audiences are sharper than we think, authenticity travels further than any campaign spend.”
The episode doesn’t shy away from the tough questions either, tackling topics like whether brand partnerships can coexist with unbiased reviews and if the rise of ‘defluence’ signals a new era of selective influence.
According to Sahil Chopra, “IIGC Talks isn’t about promotion or praise, but about clarity. The creator ecosystem is maturing, and it deserves real dialogue, not just spotlight moments. Rajiv has set the perfect tone: sharp, honest and rooted in experience.”
The discussion marks a shift in India’s digital landscape, where impact now trumps follower count, and authenticity replaces clickbait. With initiatives like IIGC Protect and The Code of Standards for Brands, the council continues to champion governance, transparency, and creator well-being.
With “IIGC Talks,” the council turns conversation into action, and brings the mic to those redefining influence in real time.
Brands
Godrej Capital’s ‘Do se teen’ celebrates women scaling businesses
Aarohi loans cross Rs 1,000 crore AUM milestone for women entrepreneurs
MUMBAI: Godrej Capital has launched a new campaign, ‘Do se teen’, ahead of International Women’s Day, spotlighting India’s emerging women entrepreneurs and the families increasingly backing their ambitions.
The film centres on a woman entrepreneur preparing to expand her warehouse business from two outlets to three. A brief misunderstanding, when her mother-in-law mistakes the expansion for a pregnancy announcement, quickly turns into a moment of encouragement as the family supports her decision to sign a business loan and grow the venture on her own terms.
The campaign forms part of Aarohi Loans for Women, an initiative by Godrej Capital’s subsidiaries designed to expand access to credit for women borrowers. The programme removes a longstanding barrier in lending by allowing women to apply for loans without a mandatory male co-applicant, giving them greater financial autonomy.
“Across India, more women are stepping forward to build and scale their own businesses, but access to formal credit remains a challenge,” said Godrej Capital managing director and chief executive Manish Shah. “Through Aarohi, we aim to remove some of these barriers and make it easier for women to access capital and grow with confidence.”
Since its launch, the initiative has gained traction among women entrepreneurs. Loans worth Rs 1,890 crore have been disbursed under the programme, helping the portfolio cross the Rs 1,000 crore assets under management (AUM) milestone. The company is targeting roughly Rs 1,200 crore AUM by the end of the current financial year.
Beyond lending, the programme also focuses on strengthening the ecosystem for women-led businesses through financial literacy initiatives, training partnerships and community programmes aimed at building entrepreneurial capabilities.
As part of its outreach, the company recently opened an all-women branch in Pune to deepen engagement with women entrepreneurs and local business networks.
Godrej Capital says the campaign underscores a broader cultural shift: as families increasingly support women’s ambitions, and credit becomes easier to access, women-led enterprises are poised to expand their role in India’s small-business economy.
