The Morning Brief

Bengaluru is rapidly emerging as India’s new advertising epicenter, challenging the long-standing reign of Mumbai and Delhi. What’s driving this transformation? A dynamic combination of thriving startups, digitally native D2C brands, and a fresh crop of independent agencies that are reshaping the creative landscape. From fintech to fantasy sports, the city is drawing in forward-thinking advertisers eager to experiment. Its strong tech foundation positions it as a frontrunner in AI-enabled content, digital innovation, and hyperlocal campaigns. But the momentum isn’t limited to Bengaluru. Southern markets like Kerala, Chennai, and Hyderabad are also experiencing significant economic growth, rising consumer demand, and sectoral expansion. The pandemic only accelerated this shift, with remote work enabling talent to stay anchored in the South and flourish. Host Prasad Sangameshwaran is joined by Lloyd Mathias, business strategist and independent director; Kaustav Das, CEO and co-founder, Ralph&Das; and Rahul Vengalil, CEO & co-founder of TGTHR, as they unpack how Bengaluru and the broader South are rewriting the narrative of Indian advertising.

You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin

Also listen to Corner Office Conversations from the podcast: Adar Poonawalla, Sandip Patel, The Mega Listing Of Vishal Retail, Antonoaldo Neves, Rajesh Jejurikar, Srikanth Velamakanni, and more!

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

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India’s aesthetic legacy is lighting up luxury runways across Paris and Milan  from Louis Vuitton’s “Voyage to India” to Prada’s controversial Kolhapuri-inspired sandals. But behind the global admiration lies a deeper story: one of borrowed beauty, blurred boundaries, and battles for credit. We explore the fine line between celebration and exploitation. Fashion scholar Phyllida Jay joins host Apoorva Mittal to unpack how India stands between being endlessly mined for design and finally demanding recognition. With GI tags, artisan invisibility, and IP inequalities at the forefront, this is a look at what happens when the world wears India without saying her name.

You can follow our host Apoorva Mittal on her social media: Twitter & Linkedin

Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank, The Influencer Economy’s Quiet Reset, India’s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness and much more.

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts,JioSaavn,  Amazon Music and Google Podcasts.

Credits: Louis Vuitton.

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What happens when a global FMCG giant hits pause on its playbook and places a bold new bet on leadership? In this episode of The Morning Brief, host Ratna Bhushan speaks with Sandip Ghose, HUL veteran and currently Managing Director of MP Birla Cement, and ET’s Senior Editor Sagar Malviya to unpack the high-stakes leadership transition at Hindustan Unilever Limited, where the abrupt exit of CEO Rohit Jawa has made way for marketing veteran Priya Nair. From long-standing market pressures and legacy baggage like GSK’s Horlicks to shifting consumer trends, the conversation traces the strategic recalibrations underway at HUL.

With insights into the contrasting legacies of Jawa and his predecessor Sanjiv Mehta, the episode explores what Nair’s digital-first, premium-led approach could mean for the company’s growth story.

Will her vision reinvigorate investor confidence and steer HUL through a slowing consumer cycle? Or is this a bigger story about transformation, expectation, and the evolving DNA of leadership in Indian corporates?

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You can follow Ratna Bhushan on her Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read her Newspaper Articles.

Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more.

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when 20% of your code is written by machines? In this Corner Office Conversation, host Anirban Chowdhury speaks to Ravi Kumar, CEO at Cognizant, to unpack how the tech major is reimagining IT services through AI, automation, and open innovation.
With a strong push toward interdisciplinary talent, Ravi explains how Cognizant is redefining productivity and expanding access to software development beyond traditional STEM fields. From open-sourcing its NEURO platform to preparing for an AI-led future, the company is building a more agile and inclusive tech ecosystem.
As India positions itself as a global AI hub, the episode explores whether frugal innovation and a strong digital backbone can help it overcome constraints in computing power and regulation and power the next chapter of global tech transformation.

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You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin

Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more.

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sweeping revision of Bihar’s voter list has stirred debate. The Election Commission’s first Special Intensive Revision in over 20 years demands new, unfamiliar documents from thousands within just 30 days. Critics call it rushed, exclusionary, and potentially unconstitutional. The Commission defends it as essential housekeeping ahead of elections. But why now? Why Bihar? Is this a test run for a nationwide voter roll purge? Host Anirban Chowdhury speaks with ET’s Anubhuti Vishnoi, former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa, and political reporter Kumar Anshuman. As citizens wade through monsoon floods to prove they belong, one question looms: are we protecting democracy or locking people out of it?

You can follow Anubhuti Vishnoi on her Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read her Newspaper Articles. 

You can follow Kumar Anshuman on his Linkedin profile and read his Newspaper Articles.

Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank, The Influencer Economy’s Quiet Reset, India’s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness and much more.

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts,JioSaavn,  Amazon Music and Google Podcasts.

Credits: The Indian Express

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In a significant development, SEBI has barred Jane Street, one of the world’s leading proprietary trading firms, from participating in Indian markets. The action follows concerns over aggressive options trading strategies and suspected manipulation, particularly around Bank Nifty’s weekly expiries. This move reflects the regulator’s growing focus on tightening control over algorithmic and high-frequency trading, especially by foreign players. Host Anirban Chowdhury discusses the implications with ET’s Sugata Ghosh and Reena Zachariah as well hedge fund executive Mayank Bansal, on SEBI’s toughest crackdown on a global trading firm

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You can follow Sugata Ghosh on his Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read her Newspaper Articles. 

You can follow Reena Zachariah on her Linkedin, Twitter  profiles and read her Newspaper Articles.

Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank, The Influencer Economy’s Quiet Reset, India’s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness and much more.

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts,JioSaavn,  Amazon Music and Google Podcasts.

Credits: Bloomberg Television, Business Today, CNBC-TV18

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Women regardless of privilege or education continue to shoulder the invisible burden of caregiving and domestic work. They may appear independent and empowered but behind the scenes, most women are still doing it all, unpaid and unacknowledged. In this conversation host Apoorva Mittal talks with Sunaina Kumar, Senior Fellow at Observer Research Foundation, about the weight of domestic labor, the need for flexible policies, trustworthy childcare, and the cultural shifts essential to making real progress. Because recognizing invisible work is the first step toward equity.

You can follow our host Apoorva Mittal on her social media: Twitter & Linkedin

Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank, The Influencer Economy’s Quiet Reset, India’s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness and much more.

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts,JioSaavn,  Amazon Music and Google Podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labubu, the “cute but creepy” character from The Monsters series by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, has taken over the world….and now India. Once a niche designer toy, Labubu is now a global collectible phenomenon fuelled by Pop Mart’s blind box strategy and major celebrity endorsements from Rihanna to Karan Johar. With prices ranging from ₹4,000 to over ₹1 crore, Labubu is driving a fast-growing collectibles trend in India. From social media unboxings to resale site frenzies, the demand shows no signs of waning. Host Dia rekhi talks to resellers Nikhil Jain of City Kicks India and Abbas Ali Zaveri, founder at Hype Fly India about why Indian collectors are rushing to join this global club.

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You can follow Dia Rekhi on social media: Linkedin & Twitter

Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank, The Influencer Economy’s Quiet Reset, India’s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness and much more.

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

Credits:  SmartKicks, Wu’s World, Jiny Maeng, Christi Fritz

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Axis Bank, MD & CEO Amitabh Chaudhry sits down with ET’s Saloni Shukla and banking editor Sangita Mehta for an unfiltered conversation on growth, competition, and resilience. Since taking over in 2019, Chaudhry has led Axis to become India’s third-largest private sector bank. Yet, questions remain about its relatively slower growth especially when compared to peers like ICICI and HDFC Bank. With the banking sector navigating fresh headwinds, sluggish deposit growth, stricter regulatory scrutiny on NBFC ties, tightening margins, and global uncertainty, Chaudhry offers a frank assessment of what’s next for Axis, the banking industry at large and much more.

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You can follow Sangita Mehta on her Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read her Newspaper Articles.

You can follow Saloni Shukla on her Linkedin, Twitter profiles and read her Newspaper Articles.

If you like this episode, check out more Corner Office Conversations from the podcast: Adar Poonawalla, Sandip Patel, The Mega Listing Of Vishal Retail, Antonoaldo Neves, Rajesh Jejurikar, Srikanth Velamakanni, and more!

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As India sends Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla into orbit on the Axiom-4 mission, we pause to meet his biggest cheerleader and strongest support system. Dr Kamna Shukla—Shukla’s wife, best friend since Class 3, a dentist and mother—opens up to TOI's Chethan Kumar about the daring, dedication and decisiveness that drives Shukla, his bonding with other astronauts, his goofiness and taking inspiration from Finding Nemo, their love across light years, parenting during countdowns, the quiet courage it takes to be grounded when your partner belongs to the sky..and why she never visualises his flights. 

The thumbnail is an AI generated reproduction of an image from Shubhanshu Shukla’s instagram account https://www.instagram.com/p/DLTF3b2yZA5/?img_index=1&igsh=MWRydTBoeGVxaHV0cw==
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You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin

Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, Health Hazards in your Grocery Bag, Trump vs Harvard: India Impact, Explaining India’s Record FDI Freefall and much more.

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

Credits: Sandeep Vangala, Business Today

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.