MAM
Vertuals strengthens leadership team with two new hires
MUMBAI: Vertuals, the digital content specialist unit from IdeateLabs has bolstered its team with the appointment of two industry stalwarts Rekha Rao and Sandeep Vasudevan as business heads. Based in Mumbai, they will report to the managing partner, Ajay Tripathi.
Rao has been in the industry for more than two decades. She has adept understanding of content trends, consumer insights, IP/content management, planning and strategising, revenue modelling, P&L management, start-up incubation among others.
Rao will spearhead the revenue generation and profitability of Vertuals, whereas Vasudevan will be responsible for introducing creative and innovative audio-visual content, with a focus on bringing technological innovation into the creative offerings, while overseeing the entire business vertical.
Vasudevan comes with an exceptional track record of success in creating content for television and digital media. Over the span of two decades in the industry he has covered various genres and specialises in all aspects of the creative process from ideation to visual conceptualisation, show flows and structuring, scripting, shoot and post.
On the latest development Vertuals managing partner Ajay Tripathi said, “We are delighted to have Rekha and Sandeep onboard. Vertuals is on an aggressive expansion mode. We are foraying into various new divisions in the content space such as creating OTT web series, interesting AV ads, VR films, short-form and long-form content that masters in storytelling, which is in our company’s DNA. To spearhead these operations, we were looking forward to strengthening our leadership team by getting on board the right mix of professionals from the industry. Rekha and Sandeep come with an impressive work-background that will be ensuring our growth and strengthening our foothold in the market guaranteeing enhancement in brand storytelling, innovative concepts and ideas that will help our clients in shaping their communication.”
Rao expressed her excitement for the new role “It is fascinating for me to work with a zealous team, where creativity and innovation are inbuilt in their DNA. I will be focusing on enhancing the revenue model aligned to the company’s vision and ensuring building of various IPs. I’m keen to deliver innovative strategy, client-focused solutions and creating sustained engagement with the clients using all available tools & skill sets at Vertuals leading to better ROIs for clients with introduction of new IPs.”
Vasudevan said, “I am excited to be a part of the sturdy and young team at Vertuals. I come with a vision to marry technology and creativity in the field of content. I believe that it’s not just about telling stories but bring innovating concepts to the table by marrying technology and creativity. Technology is constantly changing the way we consume content, and I firmly believe that how we consume content determines what content is consumed.”
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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.
