VOIS’ Post

Urban Company, you nailed it. In my last post, I spoke about how most brands would jump on the bandwagon of celebrating the spirit of women's day and creating a festival of sorts, no lesser than the Ambani Pre-wedding saga. Out of the myriad of social media creatives and campaigns happening around Women's day; it's next to impossible to shine with something so simplistic in its approach, yet so challenging. And yet; Urban Company achieved it. -Challenging the norms and pre-conceived notions -Reigniting a thought-process that remains buried under the ashes of woke-feminism - Using a degrading phrase of "Happy Ending" into such a positive connotation; it almost brings a tearful smile on your face -Some hard-hitting one liners such as "𝐍𝐚𝐲𝐢 𝐆𝐚𝐚𝐝𝐢 𝐭𝐨𝐡 𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐤𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐤𝐡𝐭𝐢 𝐡𝐚𝐢, 𝐥𝐞𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐡𝐧𝐚𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐢 𝐤𝐨 𝐧𝐚𝐡𝐢 𝐝𝐢𝐤𝐡𝐭𝐢" Everyone sees the success; but few remember to applaud and acknowledge the hard-work and perseverance that goes behind it. Ironically, many remember to diminish the efforts though with a few callous; belittling statements. "𝐀𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭 𝐣𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐚 𝐚𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐝𝐡𝐭𝐢 𝐣𝐚𝐚𝐭𝐢 𝐡𝐚𝐢; 𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐨𝐧 𝐤𝐢 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐡 𝐮𝐭𝐧𝐢 𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐡 𝐣𝐚𝐚𝐭𝐢 𝐡𝐚𝐢" The more a woman progresses ahead; the world regresses behind in their thinking about her success. Since we are wired for milestones/ special dates/ birthdays/ celebrations to work as perfect dates to start resolutions; let this 𝐈𝐖𝐃 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐞𝐯𝐞 be a good day to resolve for yourself; 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐝; 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧! Watch the ad; if you haven't seen it already! Come back and share your own story/ thought/ opinion on the same. That indeed would be a happy ending to this post :) https://lnkd.in/gUitgVaj Follow #rimjhimrants only because you want to :) #iwd2024 #iwd24 #womenatwork #womeninbusiness #womenempoweringwomen #LIPostingChallengeIndia

IWD 2024: Inspire Inclusion - Note 1/7 In the run up to IWD 2024 on March 8, over the next few days, I will be spotlighting messaging out there in the world wide web. Today's spotlight is on the advertisement by Urban Company, which is a slice of life conversation between a UC massage provider and her brother whose friends have implied that his sister's work is unsavoury. The messaging is powerful - all work is good. It's in continuation of UC's existing ad campaign. The notion which is not necessarily limited to the lower middle class, but exists in the dormant shadows across economic strata very often, is that a woman going out to work can be "loose," should not go out at odd timings, not do work which is perceived as taboo is all pervasive. - Sania Mirza shared her perspective on twitter on how after winning 4 grand slams, she was still not perceived as "settled." - I can tell you that my choice to run a business from home was appreciated by so many uncles and aunty's because I was "taking care of the home," whereas the reality was that there was a paucity of jobs aligned to my expectations and qualifications in my city. - My full day housekeeper is uncomfortable with staying even half an hour late in the evening, because her "devrani" (sister-in-law) passes comments on what is she doing at other people's house? These are just a few examples. We need more such messaging for a deep rooted problem. We need also for brands to be more authentic - it's an evolving journey of values vs profits and a topic for another day. What do you think about this campaign? #inclusion #diversity #iwd2024 https://lnkd.in/gNu3EPYC

Progress is about scaling heights and pushing limits. It’s also about owning your progress. This Women’s Day, celebrate your achievements and let’s #DriveTheChange together. Disha Patil Garima Goel Priyadarshini Anand Riddhi Jatania #AudiIndia #IWD2024 #HappyWomensDay

WALK21. Day 3. If I were not here, I wouldn't believe it. But I am here and I can assure that every day the programme starts at 9.00 (ish) am and finishes at 6.00 pm. Breaks? A couple, a few minutes, than back to work. It's not easy to keep the concentration that is necessary to get as much as possible from plenaries, topic discussions, weetings, pechakuchas... Lots of interesting interventions and people. I'll name just a couple that really struck me the most today: #Clarisse_Cunha_Linke has made it very clear: we need to rethink streets, public space, cities starting from the perspective of care (which in most cases is still something that concerns only women and the many daily travels they have to cope with, unlike men, who mainly travel from home to work) #Paul_Lecroart has shown us that nothing is impossible if a group of Euopean cities manage to transform their urban highways into friendly, attractive and green boulevards. Walk21 Foundation Walk21 Europe #care #urban_planning https://lnkd.in/dqMbjgHq https://lnkd.in/de9tnSW6

Day Three and Four Reflections from the 15th AWID Forum: Art, Healing, and Global Solidarity Fun fact: Thailand is known for its intricate pottery and ceramics, a craft rooted in culture and tradition. On day three, I attended a session that connected deeply with this heritage, How We Heal: A Feminist Approach to Art Therapy for Women Living in Conflict. This session highlighted how art can be a profound tool for healing, resilience, and empowerment. From music and dance to ceramics, creative expression reconnects women to their lived realities, offering a safe space to process trauma. Art therapy not only reduces stress and anxiety but also builds emotional well-being and a sense of belonging among women. It is a collective and meditative practice that fosters leadership and solidarity in times of conflict. My biggest takeaway? Art is more than an outlet; it creates alternative scenarios for survival and transformation. Thank you to Kateryna Shukh for facilitating this wonderful session! Day four marked the closing of the conference, and I couldn’t have asked for a better finale than The Me Too Global Movement, led by Tarana B. , the founder of the #MeTooMovement. Her insights were profound: sexual violence is not a personal issue but a systemic one, requiring global advocacy and solidarity. The session emphasized co-creation—not imposing solutions but working collaboratively across borders. The Me Too movement has demonstrated the power of leveraging networks to amplify underrepresented voices and bring systemic issues to the forefront. My key lesson? Community problems require community solutions, and global solidarity is the bridge to liberation. Healing, as Tarana noted, is infused into the work—it’s about more than the issue at hand; it’s about humanity and freedom. Day three and four were a transformative end to this forum. These sessions reminded me that healing and solidarity are not just acts of resistance—they are acts of liberation. Let’s keep building a world where safety, belonging, and freedom are not aspirations, but realities. #AWID #15thAWIDForum #AWID2024 #Metoo #Metoomovement #GlobalSolidarity

Today's youth are tomorrow's innovators & change-makers. This #InternationalYouthDay, we encourage you to paint your future with bold strokes of ambition and smart planning. 🧠✨ Share your vision with us by commenting below 3 emojis that describe your dreams. #BandhanLife #BharatKiUdaanBandhanSe #YouthPower #FutureLeaders #DreamBig Disclaimer- https://bitly.cx/hZ3qY

**Why Are We Still Struggling with Road Safety for Disabled Individuals?** Attending the three-day exhibition, "Design Ark Building & Construction" at Bharat Mandapam, Hall No. 5, Pragati Maidan, left me with a stark realization: despite all our resources, we've barely scratched the surface when it comes to road safety for disabled individuals. I'm not just surprised by the lack of action; I'm baffled. With all the technology and innovation at our fingertips, why do we still expect disabled people to wait for someone to help them cross the street? This is an issue that should have been resolved a decade ago. What truly stunned me at the exhibition were the entrepreneurs genuinely trying to make a difference for the disabled community. Yet, they're still struggling due to the lack of funding and investment in this crucial social cause. It makes me wonder—until disabled individuals can confidently navigate the streets on their own, can we really say progress is being made? We need to start by making our roads safe and accessible so that every disabled person feels secure and independent. It's high time we turn our attention and resources to this pressing issue. #RoadSafety #AccessibilityMatters #DisabilityInclusion #SocialImpact #Entrepreneurship

Every 3 months we invite colleagues from across the business to join us for our BHive breakfast and conversation. We want to know what we’re doing well for them, and what we can do better. Previous topics have included #healthandwellbeing, #traininganddevelopment, #charityandfundraising. For Friday’s BHive, we shared the topic of #diversityequalityandinclusion in advance and our colleagues volunteered to be at the session. And what great conversation! Everyone offered their insights, ideas and suggestions for how we celebrate diversity, what events we should celebrate (and how) to make sure everyone is included, how to attract new talent to Bennett Hay and how to ensure we have a culture where colleagues feel safe to speak up or talk about their individual issues or concerns…plus SO much more. We love BHive as the catalyst for bringing people together face to face, creating a trusted space to talk, and for acting on the outcomes for positive change. Claire Huish MCIPD, Zoë Watts FIH

What does it take to change the life of a girl at risk? For the Protsahan India Foundation, it starts with empathy, art, and action. Founded in 2010 by Sonal Kapoor in a small room in a West Delhi slum, Protsahan has been transforming the lives of girls aged 8 to 18 who have faced unimaginable violence and abuse. But despite their past, these girls dream big—and Kapoor and her team are determined to help them reach for the stars.   Protsahan's unique approach, HEART (Healing, Empowerment, Art, Recovery, and Technology), goes beyond traditional aid. The foundation uses creative art therapy—painting, filmmaking, photography—to help these girls express themselves and heal from trauma.   The results? A room once filled with pain is now bursting with colorful murals, handcrafted décor, and smiles that tell a story of hope. The impact is staggering. Nearly 80,000 girls have been empowered through Protsahan’s programs, with many now skilled in vocational training, photography, and digital arts. They have trained girls to become wedding photographers, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs. And today, they’re telling their own stories and rewriting their futures. During the pandemic, Protsahan didn’t slow down despite the restrictions.    They expanded relief efforts to 48 slum clusters, providing over 412,350 meals, digital devices for online learning, and psychological support to those in distress. As I reflect on Protsahan’s work, I’m inspired by the power of resilience and the life-changing impact of support.   This isn’t just a foundation; it’s a movement which proves that when you give girls the right tools, they don’t just survive—they thrive. - Charu Jain   #EmpowerHer #ProtsahanFoundation #GirlsAtRisk #BreakingTheCycle #ArtForChange #GirlsEducation

The crowd is pouring in for the event already! Let’s make Inclusive India: Digital First 2024 a day to remember! As you experience the incredible sessions, inspiring talks and engaging conversations, don’t forget to share your moments with us! Post your highlights, thoughts and takeaways using our official hashtags: #Inclusive2024 #InclusiveIndia Let’s amplify the conversation and inspire others to join the movement for accessibility and inclusion. Who knows, your post might just be the one to spark the next big idea! Tag us and let’s shift accessibility left together! #Inclusive2024 #InclusiveIndia #a11y #accessibility #DigitalAccessibility #DigitalInclusion #AccessibilityForAll #AccessibilityEvent #AccessibilityMatters