iWorld
BIG FM returns with season three of ‘Main Bhi Finance Minister’ with RJ Rani
Mumbai: With a keen focus on enhancing women’s understanding and motivating them to assume control of their finances, BIG FM, one of India’s leading radio networks, presents the much-anticipated third season of ‘Main Bhi Finance Minister’. The show is helmed by BIG RJ – RJ Rani, who puts light on issues at hand during her afternoon show ‘Aap Jaisi Rani’. It is dedicated to tackling the pressing issue of financial inclusion for women in India, where one in every five women lacks access to a bank account. The radio network is committed to closing this gap and promoting gender equality through interactive activities and meaningful discussions.
Throughout the four-week show, BIG FM will be hosting a diverse range of activities aimed at educating women about financial empowerment. Expert sessions will feature finance specialists and celebrity guests like Raveena Tandon, Nora Fatehi, Divya Dutta, Adah Sharma, Sinny Shetty, LJ Business School CEO Poonam Rungta and Pernod CFO Richa Singh among others. These sessions will delve into the significance of investments, demat accounts and effective money management strategies. Senior finance experts, including Avdhut Sathe, Santosh Navlani and Pankaj Mathpal, will also contribute to the initiative by advocating for men’s support in enhancing women’s financial literacy.
Notably, celebrities like Rani Mukherjee, Alia Bhatt, Shilpa Shetty, Yami Gautam, along with others, will share personal insights on financial literacy. Furthermore, participants will have the opportunity to share personal stories and engage in vox-pop discussions exploring the historical relationship between women and the Indian economy. These discussions will highlight the challenges faced by women in both regional and urban localities, underscoring the importance of monetary investments in fostering economic empowerment.
Commenting on the show, BIG FM COO Sunil Kumaran said “India’s economy thrives on the strength and resilience of its people and it is imperative we recognize the pivotal role women play in driving its growth and prosperity. Our ‘Main Bhi Finance Minister’ initiative is more than just a show – it’s a movement towards building a stronger, more empowered India. We are proud to spearhead this show, which is motivating women from all corners of the nation to become their own Finance Ministers”.
The show will conclude with a comprehensive trading workshop by seasoned professionals, providing practical investment guidance to women. Both online and on-ground trading workshops will invite registrations from women across the nation. Following the show’s culmination, BIG FM will introduce a weekly segment, Thursday Investopedia. This segment will highlight learning curves and positive stories, aiming to inspire and educate listeners on wealth management. Stay tuned as BIG FM takes this journey forward to transform the lives of countless women through financial education.
To sharpen your financial insight, don’t forget to tune in to ‘Main Bhi Finance Minister’ only on BIG FM!
e-commerce
ONDC names Vibhor Jain MD and CEO; Rohit Lohia joins as CBO, Manoj Thakur as CTO
Leadership formalised as open commerce network sharpens focus on scale and user value
The Open Network for Digital Commerce has formalised Vibhor Jain as managing director and chief executive officer, cementing a leadership transition at India’s ambitious open commerce platform as it pushes for scale and relevance.
Jain, who had been serving as acting chief executive officer since April last year following the exit of Thampy Koshy, steps into the role with effect from 7th April , according to a report by The Economic Times. He previously served as chief operating officer at the government-backed network, which enables buyers and sellers to transact across applications through an open, interoperable system.
Setting out his strategy, Jain underscored the network’s differentiated architecture. “Going forward, we are concentrating on what open, interoperable infrastructure can uniquely enable, things that no single platform has the incentive or the architecture to do,” he said.
He added that the immediate priority is to widen ONDC’s impact across user cohorts often underserved by platform-led commerce. “My priority is to deepen the value ONDC creates for the people it exists to serve: kisaans, karigars, kiranas, gig workers, first-time investors, and daily commuters across India,” he said.
Jain also flagged leadership reinforcement within the organisation, noting that ONDC has “a strong and exciting leadership team in place”, with Rohit Lohia joining as chief business officer and Manoj Thakur as chief technology officer.
With over 18 years of experience spanning entrepreneurship and consulting, Jain brings a track record in technology-led, large-scale transformation programmes and internet businesses. At ONDC, he has been closely involved in shaping strategy and operations as the network seeks to move digital commerce away from platform-centric models towards an open network approach.
Before ONDC, Jain worked with JUMO, where he helped set up the fintech firm’s India operations, and led the India launch of Mobike, handling regulatory, policy and operational aspects of its market entry. Earlier, he co-founded Atlanta Healthcare, an air quality management company, and spent more than a decade in consulting roles at Andersen and EY, advising governments on public policy and technology-driven reforms, including work on the Aadhaar programme and tax systems.
The mandate is clear but the path is complex. As ONDC attempts to rewrite the rules of digital commerce, Jain now carries the burden of turning open architecture into mass adoption, in a market still dominated by platform power.
