MAM
Weekend Unwind with: Manish Solanki co-founder & COO of TheSmallBigIdea
MUMBAI :With yet another Saturday upon us, it’s time to unwind with a dose of our weekend special series. Weekend Unwind is a tete-e-tete with an industry executive—akin to a virtual water cooler chat—an attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better.
This week we have with us TheSmallBigIdea co-founder & COO Manish Solanki, sharing his nuggets on dealing with the curveballs life throws at us.
A digital media professional with more than ten years’ experience in content, design, and technology, Manish began his career in client service with SSC&B Lintas and Publicis Ambience, honing his marketing skills. After a stint in advertising, he moved to CRISIL Ratings and later entered into the television sector with ZEE TV and Times Television Network (International Business) before being bitten by the entrepreneurial bug in 2014. An alumnus of Welingkar Institute of Management, Manish’s decade-old learning curve has taken him through diverse roles and the ups and lows of branding lifecycles.
So without further ado, here goes…
A Book you are reading or plan to read
I was recently inspired to read ‘The Ikigai Journey’ by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles, courtesy of Harikrishnan Pillai (TSBI founder and CEO).
Your Fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic
Eat simple and focus on your breath, a mantra that the pandemic taught a lot of us.
Your comfort food
Jeera rice and dal fry.
When the chips are down a quote/ philosophy that keeps you going
Trust the universe; everything is working out as it should. You’re not behind. Have faith
Your guilty pleasure
Binge-watching a complete season of a web-series.
When was the last time you tried something new?
Three years ago, I took a solo trip to explore the lesser-known, meeting unknown people and taking each unplanned day as it came.
A life lesson you learnt the hard way
When you fall, get up with a smile…even if your lip is cut.
What gets you excited about life?
My work excites me. On days when I love my job, I do well. On days when I hate my job, I do even better.
What’s on top of your bucket list?
Among other things, a cycling trip through the by-lanes of an attractive town.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
‘Risk hai to ishq hai!’
What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?
One cool friend and a glass of drink.
An activity that keeps you motivated / charged during tough times
Introspection in silent mode.
Your go-to stress buster
Golden oldies.
One thing you would most like to change about the world
Make it kinder.
Your mantra for Life
If flowing with the tide is inevitable, enjoy the swim, own the sea.
MAM
Ad:tech honours 2026: Full list of winners announced
Expanded awards spotlight winners across 22 categories as industry doubles down on intelligent automation
NEW DELHI: Marketing’s tech elite took the spotlight as the ad:tech honours 2026 returned with a sharper focus on AI, data and immersive media, signalling how deeply technology now underpins brand strategy. Held at Yashobhoomi on March 17, the second edition drew industry leaders to celebrate innovation that is reshaping engagement and performance.
Presented with the International Advertising Association India chapter and new partner Huella, the awards expanded from 8 to 22 categories, tracking the rapid convergence of creativity, automation and analytics.
The winners’ list reads like a snapshot of marketing’s future. In affiliate and partner marketing, Lyxel & Flamingo – Boat and Paytm Ads – Giva took silver. Mobavenue Media Private Limited struck gold in AI-driven dynamic creative optimisation, alongside a silver for Laqshya Media Limited.
Creative AI collaboration saw Rediffusion Brand Solutions Private Limited win gold, with Saltinc Consulting Private Limited securing silver. Laqshya Media Limited continued its strong run, taking gold in AI conversation agents and adding multiple wins across categories, including silver in GenAI-led creative and both gold and silver in interactive DOOH campaigns for Tanishq and Tata Coffee.
Predictive AI honours went to Strong Metrics and Tyroo, both silver, while Orient Bell Limited picked up silver in immersive retail tech. In GenAI-led creative, Laqshya Media Limited, Salt – Kotak and Sumimoto each secured silver, reflecting the crowded race in generative creativity.
Publicis bagged silver in influencer management and gold in performance marketing, where it shared the stage with Arm Worldwide and The Trade Desk, both silver. Glad U Came Private Limited stood out with gold in influencer measurement and analytics.
Marketing automation saw CereOne Media Pvt. Ltd. and Globale Media win silver, while ADMOTT Private Limited claimed silver in OTT innovation.
Programmatic media categories highlighted the shift to advanced targeting and connected screens. Mobavenue Media Private Limited clinched gold in connected TV advertising, with Animmoov Digital Media Pvt Ltd – Asus and Lyxel and Flamingo taking silver. Cheggout Services Private Limited won silver in retail media advertising, while Paytm Ads – Versuni secured gold.
On social platforms, Vayner Media India took gold in community and UGC engagement, with Under 25 – Oppo winning silver. Segumento rounded off the list with silver in the innovation category.
Jaswant Singh, country managing director at ad:tech India, underscored the momentum, saying generative AI and data-driven decision-making are now central to marketing impact. Neena Dasgupta, IAA mancom member and chief executive and founder at The Salt Inc Consulting, added that the awards celebrate not just technology, but “the people, the creativity, and the relentless effort behind it.”
Backed by Comexposium Group, ad:tech New Delhi has long tracked digital disruption. Now, with the honours, it is rewarding those who are not just adapting to change but engineering it.
In an industry racing towards automation, the message from 2026 is unmistakable. The future of marketing will be written not just in ideas, but in algorithms.
