MAM
Promax India Awards 2024 wraps up with spectacular wins
Mumbai: The Promax India Awards 2024 have officially wrapped up, marking the end of an extraordinary virtual event celebrating the brightest talents in media and entertainment marketing. With an array of creative work across 57 categories, this year’s awards highlighted the industry’s leading players’ resilience, innovation, and creativity.
Despite the challenges faced by the industry in a post-pandemic landscape, the virtual format allowed Promax India to reach a global audience, showcasing the best work in entertainment marketing and promotion. This year’s winners demonstrated artistic excellence and a keen ability to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing environment.
Shemaroo Entertainment led the pack with an impressive haul, taking home 20 Gold and 13 Silver awards. Their campaigns stood out for their creativity and impact, setting new benchmarks in the industry. Disney Star/ Disney+ Hotstar/ NGC also shone brightly, securing 15 Gold and 11 Silver awards. Their innovative approaches to brand promotion and audience engagement were widely recognised and celebrated. Culver Max Entertainment claimed 9 Gold and 13 Silver awards, showcasing their versatile and dynamic work across various categories. Zee Entertainment Enterprises made its mark with 6 Gold and 6 Silver awards, reflecting its commitment to pushing the boundaries of entertainment marketing. Viacom18 earned 1 Gold and 8 Silver awards, underscoring their consistent efforts to deliver high-quality promotional content. Reporter Broadcasting Company garnered 2 Gold awards, highlighting their impactful storytelling and marketing strategies. MA+TH Entertainment Network achieved 1 Gold and 1 Silver award, showcasing their innovative contributions to the industry. White Turtle Studios – A Trailer Park Group Company and Dynamite Design each took home 1 Silver award, while Cutawayy Films and Warner Bros. Discovery celebrated their success with 1 Gold each.
Promax India event director Andy Chua reflected on the event’s success, stating, “It’s been a challenging year for the Indian entertainment media industry, with many companies still recalibrating and navigating the new market realities post-pandemic. But what really stands out to me is how this challenge has sparked even more creativity and smarter budgeting, as seen in the brilliant entries we’ve received for The Promax India Awards. As we come together virtually to celebrate these achievements, I’m excited to share that Promax India is evolving, too. Next year, we’ll be rebranding as The Global Entertainment Marketing Academy of Arts and Sciences (GEMA), and we’re planning to bring a fresh, in-person event to India. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for all of us.”
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33 per cent of women believe the salary scale is rigged: Naukri report
Voices @ Work study finds rising calls for equal pay audits and lingering bias
MUMBAI: Progress may be visible in India’s workplaces, but many women still feel the need to tread carefully. A new report by Naukri reveals that one in two women hesitate to disclose marriage or maternity plans during job interviews, worried that such information could influence hiring decisions.
The findings come from the second edition of Naukri’s annual Voices @ Work International Women’s Day report, titled “What Women Professionals Want.” Drawing insights from more than 50,000 women across over 50 industries, the survey sheds light on evolving workplace aspirations alongside the biases that continue to hold women back.
One of the report’s most striking insights is the growing demand for equal pay audits. The share of women calling for regular pay parity checks has climbed to 27 per cent this year, up from 19 per cent a year ago. The demand now stands alongside menstrual leave as the most sought after workplace policy.
Interestingly, the call for pay transparency grows louder higher up the income ladder. Nearly half of women earning between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore annually say equal pay audits are a priority, suggesting that pay gaps become more visible as women move up the career ladder.
At the same time, confidence and ambition appear to be rising. About 83 per cent of women say they feel encouraged to pursue leadership roles, a significant jump from 66 per cent last year. Cities in southern India appear particularly supportive, with Hyderabad leading the way as 86 per cent of respondents there reported encouragement to step into leadership positions. The education sector recorded the highest sense of encouragement at 87 per cent.
Yet the report also highlights a growing trust deficit around pay equity. Nearly one in three women, or 33 per cent, say they do not believe men and women are paid equally at their workplace. That figure has risen from 25 per cent last year, pointing to widening perceptions of disparity as careers progress.
Bias in hiring and promotions continues to be the biggest hurdle. About 42 per cent of respondents say workplace bias is the main challenge for women from diverse backgrounds. The concern is consistent across major metros, with Chennai and Delhi NCR reporting similar levels.
Reluctance to discuss personal milestones during hiring processes is also widespread. While 34 per cent overall said they hesitate to share marriage or maternity plans in interviews, the anxiety increases with experience. Among professionals with 10 to 15 years of work experience, the figure rises to 40 per cent.
Info Edge group CMO Sumeet Singh, said the data reflects both progress and unfinished work. “Behind every data point in this report is a woman who is ambitious. The fact that 83 per cent feel encouraged to lead is something to celebrate. However, the fact that one in two still hide their marriage or maternity plans in interviews tells us the work is far from done. As India’s leading career platform, it felt not just important but necessary for us to shine a light on these gaps through the second edition of our report,” he said.
The report suggests that while ambition among women professionals is growing, structural changes around pay transparency, fair hiring and supportive policies will be key if workplaces hope to keep pace.
