MAM
Times She UnLTD celebrates the mothers of India’s women in power
MUMBAI: Following the age-old adage – Like Mother, like daughter; Times She UnLTD Entrepreneur Awards, a platform that facilitates women achievers across industries, pays a tribute and celebrates the wonder-woman, the mothers of India’s most successful women.
Celebrating Mother’s Day, the platform released a heart-warming film/video of endearing tales of women entrepreneurs showcasing their earnest gratitude towards their mothers. The women chronicled their journey by attributing their success to the lady of their lives, who has been the constant pillar of strength, inspiration, support and leadership. The voice of encouragement who instilled the belief that instead of wearing the glass slipper and tip toeing through the world, be the slayer who shatters the glass ceiling to soar high in the world.
The video/film features the incredible jury members of the on-going Time’s She UnLTD Awards Chapter 2 along with the winners from the first chapter. To be seen with their mothers by their side, the featured women including Yasmin Karachiwala- Celebrity Fitness Trainer, Manisha Chopra- Founder, Seasoul; from the first chapter, Tabassum Hassan and Sheeba Hassan, Founders, Guilt Trip, Shabia Walia, Founder, Wild Earth, Pranati Mansukhani and Deepa Mansukhani, Founders, Pink Potli, Rubeina Karachiwala, Founder, Ruby’s Organics, Sujata Biswas and Taniya Biswas, Founders SUTA and Kinita Patel, Celebrity Nutritionist.
Expressing gratitude to her mother and icon, Yasmin Karachiwala, Celebrity Fitness Trainer and Jury-member of Times SheUnLTD, said, “My biggest role model is my mother who has always encouraged me, stood by me and given me the love that helped me thrive and become the best version of myself. She has always been the one who is the most excited about my accomplishments and has constantly motivated me to believe in myself.”
“On the account of Mother’s Day, I want to thank all the mothers who have raised women in their own ways to be game-changers of today. While I have been immensely thankful to all my family, friends and supporters who have guided me through my journey, I will always remain eternally grateful to have my mother by my side in every step of the way,” adds Karachiwala.
The Times She UnLTD Awards are an endeavour to honour these women achievers who have embarked on the journey of entrepreneurship from home, to make their dreams come alive. The second chapter of the awards received an overwhelming 6000 plus participation, and the shortlists of those moving to the next round that is the jury meeting, which is being conducted online shall be announced soon.
MAM
VML India lands two finalist spots at Cairns Hatchlings 2026
The Mumbai agency is back in Australia with two teams, a UN brief and 24 hours to impress
MUMBAI: VML India is heading to Australia again. The Mumbai-based creative agency has secured two finalist spots at the Cairns Hatchlings 2026 competition, one in the Audio category and one in Design, making it the only Indian agency to have reached the finals in both editions of the contest since its launch in 2025.
Four people will make the trip. Senior copywriter Shilpi Dey and senior art director Raj Thakkar will compete in Audio. Art directors Shabbir and Shruti Negi will go head-to-head with the world’s best in Design. The finals take place at the Cairns Convention Centre from 13th May, culminating in an awards ceremony on 15th May.
The work that got them there is worth examining. For the Audio category, Dey and Thakkar tackled a brief for LIVE LIKE MMAD with a campaign called Inner Voice, Interrupted. Using spatial audio techniques, the campaign recreates the overwhelming self-doubt that descends after a long workday, physically panning negative thoughts left and right before cutting the noise entirely to reveal a confident inner voice. Strategically targeted at commuters via Spotify during evening rush hours, the campaign reframes the hours after work as an opportunity for personal growth and charitable action.
For the Design category, Shabbir and Negi worked on a brief for Canteen’s Bandanna Day, a campaign highlighting how cancer pushes teenagers out of their own defining moments. Using a pixelated design language to create stark contrast between a blurred world of isolation and a focused world of connection, the campaign, titled The Flipside of Cancer, shows teenagers fading into the background of birthdays, skateparks and school proms. As a Canteen bandanna appears, the blur flips and the teenager snaps back into sharp focus.
Kalpesh Patankar, group chief creative officer of VML India, made no attempt to disguise his satisfaction. “We are immensely proud to see our teams consistently excel on the Cairns Hatchlings platform since its inception,” he said. “They have masterfully tackled challenging briefs across diverse categories, demonstrating both layered storytelling and a unique creative approach. This exceptional teamwork is truly inspiring.”
Dey and Thakkar, returning to the finals after last year’s run, were candid about the demands of the audio medium. “It’s one of the most demanding mediums, where we only have a few seconds to capture a listener’s world with sound alone, so absolute clarity is essential,” they said. “The true measure of creative work is its ability to create positive change, and our audio submission was made to help those who need it most while encouraging people to silence the inner voices that hold them back.”
Shabbir and Negi, competing in Design for the first time, described the experience as “a completely different beast.” “We see it as an opportunity to showcase our expertise, raise the bar, and challenge ourselves in new ways, while also learning from creative minds from across the globe,” they said.
In Australia, the four finalists will face a live 24-hour brief from the United Nations before presenting in a live pitch session. Twenty-four hours, one brief, one shot. VML India has been here before. It knows exactly what is at stake.
