MAM
SOCIAL unveils the S(#stree)CIAL campaign for International Women’s Day
March 2020: SOCIAL has always believed in paving new paths with the spaces it creates. This International Women’s Day, the brand is kickstarting some trailblazing activities – both inside and outside SOCIAL – to empower and enable its community of women.
Led by culture and inspired by our community, S(#stree)CIAL is not a one-off token day of celebration. Rather, it is an always-on conversation that is deeply embedded in the DNA of the brand. Divya Aggarwal, Head – Marketing, Impresario Handmade Restaurants, says, “SOCIAL is known for creating spaces that epitomize its core values of community and creativity. This International Women’s Day, we are doing just that by initiating conversations around the pillars of Safety, Inclusivity, and Opportunity. These pillars are the driving forces behind our pledge to move forward with the community and leaving no one behind.”
On the back of substantial experience in curating forward-thinking events across the country, the all-day café and high energy bar is hosting three exciting #charcha panel discussions around the topics of Safety, Inclusivity, and Opportunity at select outposts in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore on March 8, 2020. Adding to the conversation will be talk-worthy Live Art demos with three female artists. What’s more, SOCIAL is also collaborating with like-minded brands like MTV, LXME (India’s first financial planning platform for women), and Ladies, Wine and Design, to give its community a free and safe space to convene, collaborate, and communicate.
Special events include a fun session called Girls Just Want To Have Funds in collaboration with LXME, at antiSOCIAL Mumbai. FC Road SOCIAL in Pune will see Art Baithak in association with Palat Studios and Ladies, Wine and Design, where you can come by and discuss art with like minds and even buy handpicked art pieces created by women.
Says Riyaaz Amlani, MD & CEO, Impresario Handmade Restaurants, “We have also internalised the core pillars of Safety, Inclusivity, and Opportunity at a company-wide level. Since January 2020, we have been working actively to make our spaces safer, more inclusive, and employment friendly for women. I hope this gives impetus to other brands in the Indian F&B industry to follow suit.”
To make its customers’ day and nights safer at SOCIAL, the company has proactively employed women bouncers – aka Safety Warriors – who are always on hand to help, should you need it. SOCIAL also has a zero-tolerance policy towards incidents that make women uncomfortable in its spaces. Having shots at 12 AM? Going for a late-night gig? They’ll be there. If you need a cab back home after a late night of partying, the staff will help you book one and also make call backs to check if you’ve reached home safely. The goal is to ensure that your SOCIAL outing is fun, and more importantly, safe.
The company has also signed a year-long partnership with the not-for-profit organisation One Future Collective, to create company-wide policy changes and new trainings on sexual harassment in the workplace, gender sensitisation, as well as gender diversity and inclusion with empathy and heart at its core. Impresario is committed to the cause of inclusivity and diversity by also recently hiring a Diversity Officer to lead the initiative.
At your nearest Impresario restaurant, you will now find a lot more women working across all levels, with a new internal policy that mandates that a minimum of 20% of the workforce is to comprise women. By proactively employing more female staff across its culinary, managerial and guest relations teams, the company will provide more opportunities for employment and engagement.
MAM
India 2030 Conclave 2026 honours 56 leaders across business, cinema
NexBrands event in Mumbai spotlights icons shaping India’s next decade
MUMBAI: The ninth edition of the India 2030 Leadership Conclave 2026 wrapped up in Mumbai, bringing together a cross-section of business leaders, entertainers and cultural voices, while recognising 56 standout achievers shaping India’s future.
Organised by NexBrands Inc, the conclave was held at ITC Maratha and focused on leadership, innovation and long-term impact as India looks ahead to the next decade.
Among the headline winners were Gaur Gopal Das, named transformational thought leader of the year, Radhika Madan as breakthrough performer, and Malaika Arora, recognised as a dynamic business and entertainment icon. Film veterans Manoj Bajpayee and Nawazuddin Siddiqui were honoured for their cinematic excellence, while Shehnaaz Gill and Boman Irani were also among the prominent awardees.
From the corporate world, Ashishkumar Chauhan was recognised as the most powerful CEO in financial services, while healthcare and innovation leaders such as Mukesh Batra and Dr Murtaza Khorakiwala were also honoured.
The event was attended by chief guest Pratap Sarnaik, underlining its growing stature as a platform that bridges governance, business and culture.
A key highlight was a fireside chat featuring Mukesh Batra and Akshay Batra, who discussed how trust and legacy are becoming central to brand building in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Another moment that stood out came from Sonu Sood, who used the platform to announce his “Ab Rukna Nahi” initiative aimed at enabling free knee replacement surgeries, reinforcing the event’s blend of business dialogue and social impact.
“The India 2030 Leadership Conclave serves as a powerful platform that brings together visionary leaders and change-makers shaping the future of India,” said Kamdhenu Ltd whole time director Sunil Agarwal.
Echoing the sentiment, NexBrands Inc founder Chandrika Maheshwari said the conclave was designed to spotlight voices shaping industries and the nation’s future, while CEO Saurav Dasgupta added that conversations around trust and innovation are becoming increasingly relevant.
With participation from sectors ranging from entertainment and healthcare to manufacturing and digital innovation, the conclave also handed out a wide array of corporate honours to brands such as Tata CliQ Luxury, Reliance Retail and ICICI Prudential AMC.
Backed by partners including Kamdhenu Nxt and supported by media platforms like Times Now and IndiaTimes, the event saw strong amplification across broadcast and digital channels.
As the curtains fall on its ninth edition, the conclave continues to cement its place as a meeting ground for ideas, influence and ambition, capturing the pulse of a rapidly evolving India.
