The debut edition of Circles by VDO.AI sparked vibrant conversations and healthy debates! So, now that the second edition is here, indeed, we know it steps deeper into the movement. Moreover, it brings together voices navigating complexity without losing clarity, who value context as much as scale and treat perspective as a competitive edge.
At the front & centre of this edition is Anushree Dewen, Head of Marketing and Innovation at Godrej Foods, whose story takes us inside her brand lab where insight is translated into consistent, compelling action. From building resonance that lasts to creating systems that scale, Anushree shares why brand thinking today must be rooted in conviction, not campaigns, and how marketers who deeply understand culture are the ones driving real impact.
Featuring stories and perspectives from some of the industry’s best, this edition unpacks how consumer behaviour, brand storytelling, and marketing mindsets have transformed and what it takes to stay relevant in the years to come. Highlights of the Circles include:
The Yin & Yang of Brands
What happens when you trade the false binary of brand building and performance marketing for complementary energies? Kevan Anand, Deputy Group Manager – Marketing at Titan Company Limited, reflects on why one creates memory and the other creates momentum, and how harmonising them makes marketing both meaningful and measurable.
Martech Minimalism in a System-Dense World
As the marketing technology stack grows, complexity often follows. Shivam Verma, GM – Marketing at Realme, explores what it really takes to declutter, simplify, and build an essential martech ecosystem that enables, rather than obstructs, fast and effective marketing.
Systemising Creativity (Without Killing It!)
When creativity and process live in silos, both innovation and business outcomes take a hit. Deepal Mody, Senior Marketing Manager at Bharti AXA Life Insurance, explores what it takes to build systems that scale consistent, compelling creative action without losing the human-led intuition that defines great marketing.
The Case for Creativity in B2B Marketing
Often seen as functional and straightforward, B2B marketing demands creativity now more than ever. Piyush Kumar, Marketing Manager at Kaspersky, cuts through the jargon to talk about how to embed emotional resonance into outcome-driven strategies, proving that creativity is the ultimate competitive edge in the B2B space.
Finding Playroom in the Fine Print
The most regulated categories can yield the most creative ideas. Nitin Khanna, VP of Marketing at ACKO, reveals how he breaks category conventions by blending culture, entertainment, and customer realities in the functional space of insurance.
The New Anatomy of Homebuying
The decision to buy a home is changing. Vikas Nair, VP & Head of Marketing at Century Real Estate Holdings Pvt. Ltd., explores how brands must evolve their narratives to reflect women as a critical audience and strong decision-makers in property buying, creating authentic and aspirational communication that reflects the modern buyer’s influence.
Moodboard of Modern Travel
From the first-time flyer to the Gen Z explorer, every traveller has a different need. Manmeet Ahluwalia, CMO at EaseMyTrip, shares how storytelling can be tailored to meet travellers where they are, reflecting what matters to them and offering the right emotional and practical support throughout their journey.
Trend Watch
GEO: The New Language of Discovery
As Generative AI reshapes discovery, Ronak Sheth, CMO at 360 ONE, stresses credibility over volume. He adds that authority now grows faster than visibility; moreover, brands must train the machine to trust them by consistently showing up in reliable ecosystems.
The Age of Alive Stories: How Context Makes Brands Human
Attention isn’t bought anymore; it’s borrowed from the moment. Ujjwal Batra, Brand Manager at Aditya Birla, shows how smart storytelling matches each environment’s emotion, urging marketers to remix core feelings like “story DJs” for every audience.
Cognitive Logic of Co-Brand Alliances
From the Issey Miyake iPhone cover to the latest fashion drops, collaboration is the new competition. Anadi Sharma, AVP of Marketing at Handpickd, explores the shift in gravity from “who wins the shelf” towards “who can build the most interesting ecosystem” by acting as allies passing the mic to raise the richness of the whole category.
Featured Stories
From purpose to performance, this edition of Circles brings together powerful narratives that reflect the evolving heartbeat of marketing.
- In “Seasoned Marketers’ Guide to Building Creative Confidence”, leaders dive into how to foster a culture of creative experimentation that scales with the business.
With insights from:
- “Economics of Doing More With Less” unpacks how marketers are finding ways to drive growth and efficiency in a constrained economy.
Brought to you by:
- “Banking on Emotional Echoes” explores how financial brands are moving beyond functional messaging to deliver emotional value and lasting memories.
Led by: Vikas Iyer, Head of Marketing, Lenexis
Ready to Dive In? From emerging signals to deep shifts, Circles brings together the voices and vision redefining marketing today. Whether you’re refining your strategy or challenging the status quo, moreover, this edition offers fresh perspective and direction.
Download now and step into the circle.
