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Kaabil shines light on women who power change
MUMBAI: They came, they skilled, they conquered. Mahindra & Mahindra’s Kaabil initiative and Centum Foundation have unveiled a stirring new film that celebrates the extraordinary journeys of women who turned opportunity into empowerment.
Conceptualised by Upgrad Enterprise’s marketing team, the short film spotlights women from across 19 states whose lives have been transformed through skill-based training and sustainable livelihoods. Told through powerful first-person stories, it’s a moving ode to resilience, dignity and the quiet revolution taking shape in rural India.
Opening with a voiceover comparing women’s strength to ‘Shakti’, the film captures the struggles and triumphs of women finding their footing in sectors like automotive, retail and customer service. The Kaabil Initiative, Mahindra Group’s flagship CSR programme, has already trained over 20,000 women across 250 locations, with more than 9,000 placed in meaningful jobs, many for the very first time.
Mahindra & Mahindra head of women’s empowerment Pooja Nanda said, “Kaabil aims to empower one million women by 2027 through skilling and employability. Our partnership with Centum Foundation has helped us scale our impact and foster lasting livelihoods.”
Adding to this, Upgrad Enterprise revenue head Sunita Mohant noted, “These women aren’t just statistics, they’re stories of courage and transformation. Their ambition proves that India’s growth isn’t limited to its cities.”
With its heartwarming visuals and purpose-led storytelling, the film goes beyond awareness to ignite inspiration, reminding viewers that true empowerment begins when skill meets opportunity.
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Unilever nears $60bn merger of its food arm with spice giant McCormick
A cash-and-stock deal, structured to be tax-efficient, could be announced as early as this week, but the ink is not yet dry
LONDON: The world’s condiment cupboard is about to get a whole lot more consolidated. Unilever, the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant, is closing in on a deal to carve out a large chunk of its food business and merge it with McCormick & Company, the American spice-maker, creating a combined entity worth roughly $60bn, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
The proposed transaction would be structured as a cash-and-stock deal, with Unilever shareholders expected to retain about two-thirds of the new entity. A cash component of approximately $16bn is set to be included. The vehicle of choice is a Reverse Morris Trust, a structure beloved by corporate lawyers for its ability to shield such transactions from US federal income taxes.
Not everything is on the table, however. Unilever has made clear that its India operations would be excluded from the arrangement, preserving one of its most prized and complex emerging-market businesses from the merger’s reach.
If finalised, the deal would rank among the largest consolidations the global food industry has seen in years, yoking together two of the biggest names in packaged foods and seasonings. The combined group could significantly bolster its clout in international markets, particularly in branded consumer products.
Unilever, though, is playing it carefully. The company reiterated that talks are continuing and that final terms have yet to be agreed, adding that it would provide further updates as negotiations progress.
Watch this space, but do not reach for the mustard just yet.
