November 11, 2024 – The International Advertising Association (IAA) India Chapter hosted the third edition of its Voice of Change summit in Mumbai, themed ‘Gender Portrayal from 30 Seconds to 3 Hours’, advocating for gender-sensitive, inclusive storytelling across media.

The event featured prominent voices including Chief Guest Smt. Smriti Irani, Guest of Honour Taapsee Pannu, and industry leaders such as Srinivasan K. Swamy, Neha Barjatya, Eashwari Deshpande, Mitrajit Bhattacharya, Anurag Agnihotri, Karthik Nagarajan, Neena Dasgupta, Zairus Master, and Shreya Jain. The summit highlighted the role of media in shaping gender perceptions and the urgent need to challenge biases.

The day began with a lamp-lighting ceremony and welcome address by Srinivasan K. Swamy, followed by an opening session led by Nina Elavia Jaipuria and Megha Tata, Chair and Co-Chair of the IAA India Women Empowerment Committee, reflecting on the journey of Voice of Change since its launch in 2021.

Megha Tata emphasized the industry’s responsibility in driving change and noted the critical support from UNICEF and Google, which have provided data-driven insights on gender portrayals in media. Nina Jaipuria shared that this edition focused on digital content, building on previous themes of advertising, TV, and OTT, and applauded the ongoing collaboration with Google India.

In a compelling keynote, Smt. Smriti Irani addressed the invisibility women face despite their contributions. She stressed the need to “recognize, not just hear, women’s voices” and praised YouTube for empowering women from Tier 2 and 3 cities, calling it a platform that “democratizes dreams.” She urged women to own their achievements unapologetically and emphasized the need for content that dismantles, not reinforces, stereotypes.

Neha Barjatya (Google India) reaffirmed the tech giant’s commitment to inclusive innovation, responsible AI, and economic empowerment of women. Geetanjali Master from UNICEF spoke about the barriers gender socialization imposes on girls and the powerful role media can play in shifting these narratives, especially in smaller towns.

The summit honored C.V.L. Srinivas (WPP India) and photojournalist Smita Sharma as Gender Warriors for their pioneering work in promoting gender equity.

Two thought-provoking panels followed:

1. “Conscious Creativity in Digital Content” moderated by Eashwari Deshpande (YouTube), featured Gautami Kawale, Shreya Jain, and Janaki Amrite, exploring digital platforms as enablers of diverse, inclusive storytelling. 
2. “Digital Advertising through the Gender Lens” moderated by Anushree Bhattacharyya (Financial Express), included Anurag Agnihotri (Ogilvy), Karthik Nagarajan (Hogarth), Neena Dasgupta (The Salt Inc.), and Zairus Master (Mamaearth), discussing progressive branding, inclusive narratives, and breaking stereotypes in digital advertising. 

A special performance by comedian Neeti Palta brought humor and insight on gender stereotypes, leaving the audience entertained and reflective.

The day concluded with a fireside chat between actor Taapsee Pannu and Mitrajit Bhattacharya, where Taapsee shared her journey in challenging gender norms through powerful roles in Pink, Mulk, and Saand Ki Aankh, and her continued mission to defy stereotypes through acting and entrepreneurship.

Presenting Partners: Google India & YouTube
Knowledge Partner: UNICEF
Associate Partner: TVS
Media Partners: Republic Digital, Free Press Journal, Hindustan Times, AdGully, Indian Television, Manifest, MxM India, Crome Talkies, and Mediabrief

This impactful edition reaffirmed IAA’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive media landscape, setting another milestone in the Voice of Change movement.