Award Ceremony Planning

Sparkling lights, vibrant sarees, delicious food. Celebrations in India are a kaleidoscope of joy.  Be it weddings, festivals, or the birth of a child, we leave no opportunity to memorialize special events. But beneath these happy moments is an environmental enemy: mountains of disposable plastic. India generates over 25,000 tons of plastic waste every day. That’s enough to fill the Taj Mahal 20 times over!   A staggering 92% of this plastic ends up littering our streets and waterways, as it’s discarded without being recycled. Not surprisingly, weddings, with their heaps of disposable plates and utensils, are major contributors. And given its affordability and convenience, plastic crockery is the go-to option for most families. Many villages across India have been trying to do something about it. One of them is 𝘓𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘪 𝘈𝘩𝘪𝘳, a small village in Rajasthan – trading plastic for steel and convenience for community spirit. Enter: The Bartan Bank This community initiative provides villagers with free steel crockery for their events. Such a simple act, but this act has had a clear environmental impact: ▶️ Dozens of plastic-free weddings ▶️ Thousands of plates, spoons, forks, and bowls saved from landfills ▶️ Revived spirit of sharing, community, and consciousness of wastage. Remember those days when borrowing a cup of sugar meant knocking on your neighbour's door, or shouting across the wall “can I borrow...?” Led by 'Hockey Wali Sarpanch' Neeru Yadav who came on 𝘒𝘢𝘶𝘯 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘨𝘢 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪, the Bartan Bank brings back that human connection. In a world where disposable culture has seeped into the fabric of everyday life, this initiative draws inspiration from India's past: where borrowing utensils from neighbours and relatives during celebrations was a symbol of community cooperation and shared memories. What other innovative solutions can we use to reshape our communities for the better? Image credit: Asian News International (ANI) #Innovation #India #sustainability #environment #Waste

Logistics: Logistics is the management of the flow of goods, services, and information across the supply chain, covering planning, transportation, inventory management, and distribution to ensure timely and efficient delivery to customers. 1. Core Aspects of Logistics: a)Planning: Strategic forecasting and route optimization ensure efficient product flow. b)Management: Coordinating resources, personnel, and technology for seamless operations. c)Packaging: Protecting goods during transit and enhancing customer experience. d)Transportation: Moving products efficiently via road, rail, air, or sea. Inventory Tracking: Real-time monitoring to prevent stockouts and optimize turnover. e)Distribution: Ensuring products are available at the right place and time. 2. Challenges in Logistics: a)Supply Chain Disruptions: Weather, politics, or pandemics can cause delays and interruptions. b)Cost Management: Balancing transportation, warehousing, and inventory costs with efficiency is challenging. c)Complexity of Multichannel Distribution: E-commerce growth requires handling direct-to-consumer, retail, and cross-border shipments. 3. The Role of Technology in Logistics: a)Automation & Robotics: Automation in warehouses and transport hubs accelerates processes, reduces human error, and increases overall efficiency. b)IoT & Real-Time Tracking: Internet of Things (IoT) devices enable real-time tracking of shipments, allowing for better visibility and faster response to potential disruptions. c)Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI optimizes routes, predicts demand fluctuations, and aids in inventory management, helping businesses stay ahead of the competition. d)Blockchain: Provides enhanced security, transparency, and traceability of goods, improving trust across the entire supply chain. 4. Sustainability in Logistics: a)Eco-Friendly Practices: Sustainable packaging, electric vehicles, and reduced carbon emissions in transportation are becoming key priorities. b)Waste Reduction: Minimizing packaging waste and optimizing shipping methods to reduce energy consumption are essential for both financial and environmental impact. 5. The Impact of Logistics on Customer Experience: a)On-Time Delivery: Timely deliveries boost customer satisfaction and loyalty. b)Order Accuracy: Correct deliveries reduce returns and build customer trust. c)Last-Mile Delivery: Drones and autonomous vehicles improve delivery speed and convenience, especially in cities. 6. The Future of Logistics: a)E-Commerce Growth: Increased online shopping drives demand for faster, cost-effective logistics. b)Smart Warehouses: Automation, drones, and AI enhance efficiency and lower labor costs. c)Autonomous Transportation: Self-driving trucks and drones reduce transportation costs and delivery times. #Logistics #SupplyChainManagement #Innovation #CustomerSatisfaction #Sustainability 🚚 🌍 🚛 🗺️ ⌚ 💹

Before you post about a sponsorship, run this checklist or risk being ignored. Here is the 13-step checklist to make sure your sponsorship messaging lands. This is about shaping a story across every layer of influence. 1/ Start with an internal positioning memo If your team can’t explain why this partnership matters to the business, your comms will default to fluff. Write the real story before briefing anyone. 2/ Assign ownership to each layer of communication Break down responsibilities across brand, execs, partners, social, and PR. No one owns “sponsorship comms” as a whole, it’s a stack of overlapping influence. 3/ Define the executive narrative system Each leader should have a message tied to the partnership. CEO for business trust. CTO for technical alignment. CMO for positioning. Each message builds authority at a different altitude. 4/ Write for perception shift, not reach Choose one shift you want to drive: → Seen as a category leader → Trusted as an innovation partner → Associated with elite performance Everything should reinforce that idea. 5/ Identify your high-trust targets Don’t write for everyone. Write for analysts, enterprise buyers, investor advisors, journalists, whoever carries influence inside your niche. 6/ Build an internal-to-external calendar Line up what you’re saying internally (sales, investors, leadership) with what shows up externally (owned channels, media, partnerships). 7/ Structure your race-week or activation window Every high-visibility moment should have pre-baked storylines, exec posts, media hooks, and assets ready to go. Don’t just react, deploy. 8/ Align with the rights holder’s comms rhythm If the partner is posting, your comms should either: → Amplify → Add depth → Create a new angle Too many brands ghost their own deal after the press release. 9/ Create a feedback loop across all teams Set up a short, weekly cadence: → What was said → What landed → What gaps appeared Fix messaging in motion, not at the end of the season. 10/ Use internal content as external proof Town hall decks. Product demos. CEO memos. When you repurpose these into public comms, they show consistency. And consistency = trust. 11/ Map your storytelling against business levers Don’t stop at “it’s good for the brand.” Show how messaging supports hiring, retention, B2B growth, or investor visibility. 12/ Audit your executive footprint every quarter How often are your execs showing up in the conversation? Who’s resharing them? Are they quoted in media? Silence kills narrative power. 13/ Build a strategic recap system After each big comms push, capture: → What the audience heard → Who responded → Where the brand now sits in the conversation That insight builds the next wave. This is how brand leaders build comms systems that reposition.

(A note to all my overwhelmed comms managers who are doing it all!!) If you’re in a comms role and suddenly expected to “do PR,” you're definitely not alone. Press isn’t just an extension of marketing, it’s a completely different discipline with its own rules, rhythms and relationships. Over the years, I’ve worked with lots of comms managers who were expected to “just send a press release” and instantly generate coverage. Often, they're given KPIs that simply don’t work in press, because media coverage doesn’t follow the same logic as campaign impressions or email open rates. Below are a few common mistakes I see (as a former journo), usually driven by pressure to deliver arbitrary amounts of coverage, that can actually backfire (and what to do instead.) ❌  𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 I know your internal stakeholders think it’s a big deal, but unless it’s a senior appointment, a substantial survey (2k+ sample) that has something new to say, or a genuinely new product/service, a press release is overkill. Focus on the story, not the format. 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 Sending a generic release to 200 journalists isn’t outreach, it’s a lot of unnecessary noise. Offer an exclusive where you can. Build fewer, stronger relationships. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗞𝗣𝗜 Press releases aren’t monthly deliverables. Only send one when there’s actual news. It’s better to pitch strategically than tick a box. Focus on outcomes, not output. ✅ 𝗧𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵) I rarely pitch to more than 10 target titles. And each one gets a slightly different version - based on what that journalist actually covers. Spend the crafting your pitches, instead of pushing out hundreds of emails. 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 Open with: why this matters and why now. Then add three concise bullet points max. You’re aiming to save the journalist time, not take more of it. 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 - 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰 If the story isn’t strong, even the best contact can’t place it. The story always comes first. Showing that you care about a journalist's time and respect their craft, also leads to better relationships in the long run anyway! 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻 Polite persistence is fine. Pestering is not. If it’s a “no,” consider reworking the angle or holding it for a better moment. Or if they do respond with a no, ask them what they are working on and how you can actually help. This has led to me securing whole op-eds for my clients as a result! Personally, I prefer the little and often method. Pitch one smart idea a month - a comment, insight or news reaction. If it’s not picked up = save it, repurpose it as a newsletter or post, or pitch it later when there’s a relevant hook. Would love to know how other comms managers have managed to strike this balance!

I LOVE Flowers too!! But when I did some research here’s what I found- Massive Flower Waste in Weddings • India sees 10-12 million weddings annually. • On average, a big Indian wedding discards 300-500 kg of flowers after just one night. • Large-scale weddings can produce over 3-5 tonnes of floral waste, much of which ends up in landfills, decomposing and releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Floral Waste in Temples • Over 8 million metric tonnes of flowers are dumped into the Ganga annually, polluting the river and harming aquatic life. • Major temples like Tirupati and Mahalakaleshwar generate 5-6 tonnes of floral waste daily, while smaller temples across cities also contribute significantly. • These discarded flowers mix with incense, plastic, and other offerings, creating toxic waste that is difficult to recycle. Flowers are beautiful on the plant. Why pluck them? Instead gift someone a plant 🪴 It will stay w them longer. Environmental & Economic Consequences • Water Wastage: Growing flowers requires immense water; wasting them adds to India’s existing water crisis. • Pesticide Pollution: Flowers are often grown with harmful chemicals, which seep into the soil and water when discarded. • Carbon Footprint: Transporting flowers across states for weddings and temples requires refrigeration and packaging, adding to pollution. • Financial Loss: The Indian flower industry is valued at over ₹15,000 crore, yet much of it is thrown away within hours of use. What Can We Do Instead? • Repurpose flowers into compost, incense, or natural dyes. Many NGOs now collect temple and wedding flowers for eco-friendly recycling. • Opt for sustainable décor like potted plants or reusable fabric flowers at weddings. • Encourage temples to adopt composting and use flowers for bio-enzyme production instead of dumping them into rivers. 💡 Flowers are meant to bring joy, but their waste is harming the environment. It’s time to rethink our floral traditions and make them more sustainable. What makes you cringe most?

Strategic pivots with value-driven exchanges to address solution gaps and revenue diversification are paramount for sustained monetization and relevance in digital publishing. In September 2022, amidst significant industry changes, we experienced a pivotal moment in our journey toward brand sponsorships at the State of Digital Publishing (SODP). Back then, some clients, such as We Are Explorers and Boss Hunting, faced negative impacts on their traffic. However, what stood out was their ability to thrive despite adversity, thanks to their robust brand partnership pipelines and prestige. Their consistent focus on brand partnerships, coupled with their busy schedule (as all pubs have), made them less open to adopting new approaches to monetization. This observation catalyzed a paradigm shift at SODP. Originally focused on building a subscription offering as the primary revenue stream, our slow traction prompted a strategic reassessment. Inspired by our client's success in securing brand partnerships and training, which showed us that we did not need to be large to begin, we decided to offer brand sponsorships ourselves. We recognized the imperative to diversify our monetization strategies, leading us to pub tech reviews and best listicles into our content strategy and modularizing our media kit offering. Moreover, we reevaluated our collaboration approach, shifting from free content-led partnerships towards performance-driven models to provide value to partners while ensuring SODP's sustainability (and we have case studies to show). Thanks to Andrew Kemp and Kenny Katzgrau for the conversations and training on this part of the journey. As we continue our journey, we're committed to providing insights, resources and our experience to the SEO and digital publishing community while forging meaningful brand partnerships. Here are key takeaways from our experience: 1. Learning Resources for Sales: For those looking into branded sales training, visit The Meta Branded Content Project and Broadstreet 2. Advertising Revenue Maturity Model: If sales on a particular product are struggling, it's beneficial to go back to the advertising revenue maturity model and address your product/solution gaps, as mentioned in a recent LinkedIn post. 3. Adapting with agility: One must be able to adapt swiftly to industry shifts and strategically pivot when necessary by diversifying revenue streams 4. Value-Driven Collaboration: Collaborations with partners should prioritize mutual benefit, emphasizing value delivery and performance/revenue-oriented strategies. 5. Continuous Innovation: Exploring industry gaps and innovations is imperative to maintaining relevance and achieving success. Never give up! What are your thoughts about brand sponsorship/partnerships and the key takeaways? Share in the comment section. #DigitalPublishing #Sponsorships #BrandPartnerships #SODP

Sustainable Weddings: Inspiring Eco-Friendly Celebrations.” 🌿🌸 Dr. Poorvi Bhat and Shamanth’s sustainable farm wedding: 🌿 Back to Basics: Dr. Poorvi’s upbringing emphasized sustainability. Her father’s 40-year-old organic farm served as the wedding backdrop. Inspired by simpler weddings of the past, Dr. Poorvi aimed for eco-consciousness. 🌱 Local Decorations: They chose mango and coconut leaves for decorations—local, compostable, and charming. Instead of steel mantapas, they used a sugarcane pavilion, rooted in tradition. 🍽️ Zero Waste Catering: Avoiding plastic, they rented steel cutlery. Meals were served on banana leaves. Seasonal ingredients graced the menu, minimizing food waste. 🚰 Resourceful Handwashing: Even handwashing was sustainable—recycled water and vermicompost pits. Love bloomed amidst coconut trees and lush greenery. Dr. Poorvi’s wedding teaches us that sustainable choices create magical moments 🌸 with an appeal to implement them in practice to save our planet: Local and Natural Choices: Learn from Tradition: Dr. Poorvi’s wedding drew inspiration from weddings held decades ago, where sustainability was inherent. Consider local, natural materials for decorations, like mango and coconut leaves Appeal: Let’s choose eco-friendly options over synthetic ones. Use locally sourced, biodegradable materials whenever possible Zero Waste Catering: Mindful Menus: Opt for seasonal, locally grown ingredients. Avoid excess food waste by planning portions carefully. Reusable Cutlery: Opt for reusable steel cutlery instead of disposable plastic. It’s hygienic and reduces waste. Banana Leaves: Serve meals on banana leaves—they’re biodegradable and add a touch of tradition. Appeal: Let’s rethink our food choices and minimize waste during celebrations. Resourceful Practices: Recycle Water: Dr. Poorvi’s family recycled handwash water back into the farm. We can do the same at home. Composting: Set up compost pits for wet waste. Turn organic waste into valuable compost. Repurpose: The sugarcane mantapa became cow feed. Let’s find creative ways to reuse items. Appeal: Small actions add up. Let’s be resourceful and reduce our ecological footprint. Spread Awareness : Share Stories: Like this heartwarming wedding, share stories of sustainable practices. Inspire others to follow suit. Educate: Educate friends, family, and colleagues about eco-friendly choices. Appeal: Let’s create a ripple effect by spreading awareness and encouraging sustainable living. Remember, every small step counts. By adopting these practices, we contribute to a healthier, greener planet. 🌿🌎 #india #climatechange #motivation #inspiration #money #productivity #culture

Reduce 20% emissions from your event with just 1 small change. Do this BEFORE you start planning your next corporate event. Choose the right venue. It might seem obvious, but the impact is huge. Buildings cause 39% of global greenhouse gas emissions. That’s 28% from using the building and 11% from building materials and construction. Picking a green, zero-carbon venue can really lower your event’s carbon footprint. Here’s what to ask when choosing a venue: • What is the source of energy? • What are your catering practices? • How do you handle waste disposal? • What are your water conservation strategies? • Do you calculate and manage your carbon footprint? • Are you accredited or vetted as a green/ecofriendly building? • Do you have appropriate transport arrangements like shuttle services, pool vehicles, and access from the airport? Asking the right questions is just the first step. Next, you need to look for specific features that make a venue truly green. These features ensure the venue supports your sustainability goals. Look for these features in a green venue: * Solar or wind energy sources. * Efficient water-saving fixtures. * Carbon footprint tracking tools. * Efficient waste recycling systems. * Public transport access or shuttle services. * Eco-friendly catering options sourced locally. Net Zero venues for your events give you an unfair advantage. It's like your partner in crime who believes in what you are planning to do. Saves you from the hassle of convincing someone that the questions we asked aren't a waste of time. Next time you plan an event, think green and choose wisely. 🌍 It's not that hard and definitely doesn’t cost you the entire bottom line. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Have you attended an event at a green or net-zero venue?  Share your experience in the comments! 💚 #SustainableEvents #NetZeroEvents #GreenVenues #EventPlanning

“We’re just not sure what we’d do with a sports partnership.” That’s one of the most common things I hear from marketing and brand leaders—and honestly? It’s a totally valid concern. Because a lot of partnerships fall flat when they’re approached the wrong way. Here’s the mistake I see far too often: A brand signs a deal… puts their logo on the LED board… maybe runs a generic co-branded spot… and then expects magic to happen. 🛑 That’s not strategy. 🟢 That’s visibility. And in today’s market, visibility alone doesn’t cut it. Here’s what smart brands are doing instead: They start with their business objective—and build the partnership around it. 🎯 Want to increase consideration with a Gen Z demo? Use social and influencer integrations with players and fan creators. 🎯 Want to create content that actually performs? Co-create behind-the-scenes, access-driven pieces that fans want to watch and share. 🎯 Want to reward loyal customers or drive high-end B2B deals? Use courtside hospitality and VIP experiences as a conversion lever. 🎯 Want to drive sales? Tie an in-arena or digital campaign to a trackable redemption offer or product launch. It’s not about doing everything. It’s about doing the right things that map directly to your brand strategy. Here are a few other concerns I hear often—and how I respond: 💭 “We don’t want to just sponsor something. We want it to feel intentional.” → Yes! That’s why I work collaboratively with brands to design fully custom, insight-backed partnerships. No cookie-cutter stuff. 💭 “How do we measure ROI on this?” → We build in metrics from day one—whether that’s awareness lift, audience engagement, lead generation, or direct sales impact. 💭 “We’re interested… but we don’t know what’s even possible.” → Totally fair. Most brands don’t see the full menu of creative, scalable options available until we sit down and explore it together. A sports partnership done right is not a billboard. It’s an emotional, multi-channel, full-funnel brand engine—if you design it that way. If you're spending half a million or more on marketing each year and looking for ways to create real, measurable, human-centered brand impact… Let’s start the conversation. No pitch. No pressure. Just ideas. ➡ DM me if you want to explore what this could look like for your brand. #MarketingLeadership #BrandStrategy #SportsMarketing #MarketingROI #FanEngagement #BrandExperience #CMOInsights #IntegratedMarketing #CustomerConnection