To optimise the Sales resources and implement effective Sales processes in every targeted customer segment, 9X Media has restructured its Ad Sales Team. Ajay Bedi, Darpan Kindalkar & Anusri Unnikrishnan have been elevated to National Sales Head of 9X Jalwa, 9X Tashan and 9X Jhakaas, respectively. While Ajay will report to Nihal Ghosh, Darpan & Anusri would report to Deepali Oroskar. The flagship channel - 9XM will be managed directly by Nihal. Commenting on the development Punit Pandey, Chief Business Officer, 9X Media Pvt. Ltd. said “The entertainment industry, especially the music industry in India is going through an exciting transition. The past two years have been difficult for a majority of people. In these difficult times, Music stood out as a companion. Music helped people to de-stress. Hence the consumption of music has increased. Being India’s largest music television broadcaster, we want to leverage this momentum. The restructuring of the Ad Sales team will take the network towards the next phase of success and achievements.” Commenting on the elevation, Ajay Bedi, National Sales Head of 9X Jalwa said “I feel humbled by the faith put in me to lead the All India Sales for 9X Jalwa. The markets are opening up post-Covid and so is Jalwa evolving into a force to reckon with in the Hindi Music genre. My priority would be to make brands across India aware of the scope and content creation/integration opportunities which 9X Jalwa presents and the programming initiatives which are being undertaken to be at par with the top channels in the Music genre.” Anusri Unnikrishnan, National Sales Head of 9X Jhakaas said, “I'm excited to head Ad sales nationally for 9X Jhakaas - India’s first Marathi music channel. Planning a post covid roadmap for 9X Jhakaas’ accelerated growth will be critical. FICCI KPMG says regional languages will make up 60% of television consumption in 2025 from around 55% in 2020. Regional Brands in India are driving the Bharat (Non-Metro) Consumption with a strong market share in tier 2 and tier 3 cities. 9X Jhakaas has a strong following with a young, affluent rural population along with urban audiences ensuring it will play a key role for advertisers who want to target Maharashtra which has India’s highest GDP by state and also the most urbanized.” Darpan Kindalkar, National Sales Head of 9X Tashan said, “Regional markets about TV advertising have gone through a dynamic change over the last few years. Punjabi Music consumption is more devoted as compared to how music is been consumed in other parts of our country. Since its inception, 9X Tashan continues to command that number one position in consumers’ hearts and grow that faithful tribe week on week. It has also opened up new advertising avenues for the brands over the years. I'm glad to be part of such a great heritage. Priority is to first take the revenues to pre-pandemic levels, along with opening other avenues for the brands through content creation, on-ground events, integrations, etc.”

Her Circle, a platform devoted wholly towards women, through engaging content in the digital world, hosts India’s First Carbon-Neutral Cover Photoshoot. With a larger goal to uplift, empower and provide a safe space for women, the team stands committed to building awareness for the cause of sustainability. Backed with the mantra ‘go minimal for maximum impact’, the team curated a sustainability-themed photoshoot, perfectly timed to World Environment Day. The outcome of the shoot shines a light on sustainability solutions. From featuring sustainability trailblazers to the choice of location; and from styling–makeup-catering; to the mode of travel, each element was passed through the filters of sustainability. The endeavour of the shoot was clear - make fashion a sustainability cause. In a world crippled by global warming and where fashion and lifestyle choices directly impact the environment, sustainability is not just a trend to join, but rather a personal responsibility through unconventional creative imaginations and executions. Featuring in the very special edition are three trailblazing women on the digital cover, who walk the talk and lead by example. Kirti Poonia, the champion of circularity fashion; Rameshwari Seth, Vegan, a clean beauty entrepreneur, and Elsie Gabriel an award-winning environmentalist. Each of these ladies follows the three R’s - reduce, reuse, and recycle. Each, conscious to consume less than the planet can replenish. Facts of the uniquely curated shoot: Keeping travel time minimal, the shoot was held in Mumbai at a beautiful eco-friendly home, made of brick and stone walls and energy-efficient design. From eco-friendly and biodegradable cutlery to reusable bottles and garbage segregation, responsible choices were made at every step Only certified cruelty-free, organic makeup products with no heating tools were used All outfits were sourced from sustainable fashion brands like The Right Cut, Okhai, Studio Maikai, Doodlage, The Summer House, Eka, Baka Jewelry, Noupelle, No Nasties, Saphed, and Angana Nanavaty Shoots were scheduled early morning ensuring optimal utilization of natural lights. No artificial lights are used by the photographer, Anai Bharucha who is an expert in natural and organic photography The catering was done by a home chef Mathilda Fernandes living within a kilometer’s radius, the menu was vegetarian, nutritious, and light The cover images have been kept raw and organic, without resorting to image-enhancing software and filters To ensure net-zero impact and balance out even the most minimal carbon footprint that the team may have generated during the process of this cover shoot, Her Circle has planted 100 trees through a tree plantation initiative via Sankalptaru In the words of the feisty ladies: Kirti Poonia, Co-Founder, Relove; Founder & Ex-CEO, Okhai said, “It is important to acknowledge circularity in fashion, the environmental impact of fast fashion, and how brands can opt for sustainability by repurposing and reusing fashion. In a very holistic manner, sustainability means we have to do something for the planet before it’s too late, and we must do every little thing we can do on a daily basis. The shoot was a unique opportunity to get up close to this beautiful ecosystem, without interfering with it.” Rameshwari Seth, Co-Founder, Neemli Naturals said, “Sustainability is a priority, not an option. I’ve had a rewarding journey of building a sustainable business, transitioning from cinema to the sustainable skincare space. Taking care of our surroundings and flora and fauna is as important as taking care of our own home, and a responsibility each of us must take seriously. The shoot was a true reflection of what sustainability really is.” Elsie Gabriel, Environmental Activist; Founder, Young Environmentalists Programme Trust, says, “There is a need and urgency to build the next generation of planet saviours, while also focusing on the oceans and oceanic biodiversity. I believe educating the next generation is the key to saving our planet for the future. Unless you know the value of the corals, the rainforests of the ocean, you will not know how important it is to conserve our oceans. The shoot wove in some beautiful elements which I am confident will leave a message for audiences.” Tanya Chaitanya, Chief Content Officer, Digital & Diversity Initiatives, Reliance said, “At Her Circle, sustainability and inclusivity sit at the heart of everything we do. We create things that have a purpose, to begin with, and do it as responsibly and consciously as possible. For World Environment Day, we set out to achieve a sustainable shoot with zero waste, and I’m so proud of the team, to have created a first for India. We intended to tell a meaningful story through naturally-lit photography, featuring three feisty women who are trailblazers for the sustainability cause. The location, built with and filled with exceptional natural resources and locally sourced essentials complemented the purpose of the shoot. Our champions look exceptional in these real surroundings, truly exemplifying our joint commitment to building a sustainable future. And in order to offset any carbon footprint we may have generated even while being conscious, post the shoot we have planted 100 trees via a plantation initiative.” The shoot was an amazing learning experience for the team, and the entire journey that led to the success of India’s first carbon-neutral cover shoot has been captured in a special video which can be viewed here: https://hercircle.in/exclusive/theme/spotlight/the-making-of-indias-first-carbon-neutral-covershoot-2829.html

As per your continuous Request , We are glad to share this conversation from our film expert & writer Neel Deshpande with famous actor Mr Shreyas Talpade. Here are the highlights for our readers 1. Any Upcoming projects under Affluence Movies? Answer: We are working on some scripts which are yet to be finalized. But soon the news will be out. 2. Which was your best role in past films you think? Answer: KON PRAVIN TAMBE is the most satisfying character for me as an actor because it is a biopic of someone's life, a sports biopic, a cricketer. It was challenging for me to portray his character, the life he lived, and his struggles, which I think was a great part to show, and yes I think I gave my best in this film. 3. Hearing about KON PRAVIN TAMBE? The film, how was your experience and what do you take from this film? Answer: Lot of things, like the line in the film says, that Age is just a number and also the fact that if you are focused on your goal then you will be successful one day. 4. The audience is eagerly waiting for the next GOLMAAL series, when can we see it in theatres? Answer: We are also waiting for that. Because we love to be part of it. We are waiting for our captain Rohit Shetty to let us know when he is planning the next one. 5. Looking at the roles you played earlier, again what is your dream role? Have you played it or you are looking forward to it? Answer: I have. it's KON PRAVIN TAMBE. Because it has many factors, an actor would love to portray it on screen. So I think it is important to portray a character that turns out to be a dream role for everyone including an actor. 6. Share your experience of the upcoming Marathi film APADI THAPDI, and also work with one of Marathi’s fine actresses Mukta Barve and actor Sandeep Pathak. Answer: Ya it's a beautiful little film. It's about relationships and what a person can do to save relationships, and both are phenomenal actors, and it's great to share the screen with these lovely people. They have done many roles in many films, and we all are proud to do this film. 7. If budgeting is kept aside, what do you feel is a major difference between a Bollywood Movie and a Marathi Movie? Answer: No. Budget is the only difference. I don't feel any difference beyond that, because Marathi film budget constraints are forced to do it in a particular way, but if Marathi films get higher budgets, they can do a lot more. I think more than budget it is passion and intensity to make a film and that doesn't come with any kind of budget. Thanks to Marathi films we get in limited sources and budgets, because of the passion of filmmakers. 8. Seeing you in the comedy genre, do you look forward to playing a negative role as in “Setters “again in any of the upcoming projects if offered? Answer: Yes. I do. I look forward to playing a negative character. Because for an actor, it is important to explore and keep playing different genres and roles to keep fresh momentum. So yes, I look forward to that. 9. Share your experience working in a Marathi Daily Soap Answer: I am loving it. I think it's a great subject, a great team, a very knowledgeable director, and a serial is a hit. The love we get from fans. I am so glad that I decided to do daily soap again for Zee Marathi for Majhi Tujhi Reshimgath 10. How did you keep yourself motivated in Lockdown? Answer: I think there was nothing to do about it. Nature took over and we had to quietly sit back. Yes, there were difficult times and we hope this never happens again in the future. But certain things are bound to happen and we should have the patience to let them subside. And then we came with Nine Raasa. It is important how we utilize our time and that particular thing in life. 11. Who did you look up to for your inspiration while starting your career? Answer: There were many. I have always admired Mr Amitabh Bachchan's work. He is always hungry to perform better and better. Similarly, there are a lot of Marathi actors too. The thing which I believe is do good work, so good work fetches you. I am particularly impressed by a play called " KARAR " in Marathi, which turned things for me, and I decided to like this in the future. At every stage, there is someone whose work inspired us in many ways to get up and do something better. 12. Share about your family supporting you when you decided to be a full-time actor? Answer: Very important. Because somewhere mentally you tend to relax knowing that family is supporting you, in whatever you do. Having said that, it doesn't happen every time. Keep believing in what you are doing, and eventually family does support you. 13. Key message to young ones, who wants to join films as an artist. Answer: Just be focused. Just be focused on whatever you want to do, in any platforms of industry like acting, direction, etc. Just be ready to learn in every situation. Give 100% and success is yours. 14. Share your experience of Voice Over in Hindi for the Pushpa movie. Answer: It was quite unbelievable, and was fascinated to see such a response. I gave it my best shot and I am glad it worked. I would also love to try again of such kind in the future.

Chef Pradeep Rawat joins Courtyard by Marriott Mahabaleshwar with 16+ years of hospitality experience. In his role, he will be responsible for overlooking the culinary landscape of the property where he helps in flourishing all F&B outlets of the property like Berry Library, Quarter Deck and Cloud Cafe. Along with that, he will be developing recipes based on the type of food to be prepared and applying personal knowledge and experience in food preparation. The chef’s work ethic helps him in growing and also enhances his culinary skills. He started his culinary journey in 2006 and since then he has worked in 5 different properties where he sprinkles the magic from his handmade dishes. With extensive culinary creativity and experience in creating recipes and handling the preparation of elaborate meals. The chef is specialised in handling carte, buffets, and banquets & bar operations as well. Commenting on the appointment, Siddharth Sathe, Hotel Manager- Courtyard by Marriott Mahabaleshwar, said – “We are extremely happy with the appointment of Chef Pradeep Rawat as the Executive Chef at Courtyard by Marriott Mahabaleshwar. The chef is experienced in organizing facility planning, staffing & setting up standard operating procedures, food trials, development of new concepts, training & implementation. His ability to deliver value-added customer service and achieve customer delight by providing customized products as per requirements.” About Courtyard by Marriott Mahabaleshwar Situated atop the Lingmala Waterfalls, overlooking the Vienna River Courtyard By Marriott Mahabaleshwar boasts of alluring dawns and dusks, a calm breeze at all times & a vantage point offering stunning views. The hotel has 39 refreshingly streamlined Valley view rooms that come with a patio that gives their guests a panoramic view of the valley and allows them to capture the natural vistas sitting inside. Connectivity is smooth and fusses free with enhanced roadways linked to metro cities like Mumbai and Pune, the property is a couple of hours' drive from Mumbai & Pune Airport. The hotel holds a multitude of indoor and outdoor event venues, making it the apt for weddings, intimate parties and social gatherings. Experience the signature hospitality of Marriott Hotels in the cradle of nature at Courtyard Mahabaleshwar. For more information on Courtyard by Marriott, Mahabaleshwar, visit http://courtyard.marriott.com/ . About Courtyard by Marriott Courtyard by Marriott offers a refreshing environment that helps guests stay connected, productive and balanced. Intuitive services and design accommodate guests’ needs for choice and control. With more than 1,100 locations in nearly 50 countries and territories, Courtyard is proud to participate in the industry’s award-winning loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®. Members can now link accounts with Starwood Preferred Guest® at members.marriott.com for instant elite status matching and unlimited points transfer. For more information or reservations, visit courtyard.marriott.com , become a fan on Facebook or follow @CourtyardHotels on Twitter and Instagram.

Cygnet Infotech, a leading technology organization, is now registered as India's first OpenPeppol member, which is an organization that provides services for e-procurement solutions to standardize formats and exchange the necessary documents between businesses in the most secure manner. OpenPeppol has members in 40 countries, 32 of these are European countries, and the rest include Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, USA and India. Industries across the globe face multiple challenges in document exchange since they have their own set of standard formats, different document exchange protocols, and multiple ways of testing messages and validating of data. To eliminate these challenges Peppol’s four-corner model enables direct access to buyers & sellers for standard documents to be exchanged securely via direct Access Points. Commenting on the achievement Niraj Hutheesing, Founder and Managing Director of Cygnet Infotech said, “With OpenPeppol membership, Cygnet Infotech aims to ease & automate data imports, simplify compliance, and make it easier to exchange documents. This will enable seamless compliance, reporting & auditing. Countries across the globe are moving towards e-Invoicing compliance. Therefore, supporting the Peppol framework within our solutions is the foundation to build and enable e-Invoicing solutions for all countries. Multi-National Corporations and exporters will now have the opportunity to leverage us as a Peppol Access Point and trade with ease. This move will go hand-in-hand with our global tax compliance and automation solutions for Europe, GCC, India and other countries.” OpenPeppol membership is a milestone for Cygnet Infotech towards becoming an Access Point i.e., certified Peppol service provider. Once the company’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) is integrated through an Access Point, it can exchange invoice documents with other companies which are on a similar network. This has significant cost savings for the companies. Exporters will be enabled to exchange Peppol compliant Invoice documents from their ERPs, the source of e-Invoice data. This will ease transactions with buyers connected to the Peppol Network in many countries as Peppol continues to expand globally. For example, exporters from India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will now be able to generate e-invoices from GSTN & ZATCA compliant formats to Peppol compliant formats within minutes.

The EdTech industry in India is a billion-dollar industry and according to reports, the industry has also been one of the biggest job creators in the past few years. However, talks around the future of this industry have risen and questions about its success and failure are more prevalent than ever before. Whether this industry is going to boom up the economy in days to come or not can be a topic of discussion for another day, an EdTech company that is making news and has taken a bold step is  EduCrack as they have recently announced having declined funding of INR 20 Crores from Chepall Technologies Private Limited Pune. The organization further added that they do not wish to compromise on the quality of education and believes that the way forward would be by not being in the valuation game but in the value ecosystem.   While the industry is undergoing some massive reworking on its model as offline schools are back to life and it witnesses a dip in its online users. Now, how the existing platforms find a way to co-exist with an offline and online model is something that only time can tell. The major focus for EduCrack amidst this transition has solely been on ensuring that the quality of education they deliver to students is not hampered in any manner. ‘We need to re-examine the entire ideology of valuation-based businesses rather than profit-based businesses while providing quality education. Very often in a valuation-based model, popularity is mistaken for quality. While profit is a key aspect of any business, at EduCrack, delivering quality education is something we won’t be compromising on. EduCrack is here for the long haul and with Lexicon as its promoter that has been around for nearly 20 years, we are certain we will accomplish bigger milestones together, says Anand Bhushan, CEO EduCrack .   Another interesting aspect of the valuation game is that it depends on the number of people using the service. For increased users, the price of the service rendered has to be lesser than the competitors which aren’t always feasible. Valuation also depends on the quantity of content available, which in turn depends on the quantum of advertising. The cost of generating business thus is disproportionately large. “In today's world people get confused between Value and Valuation. Through our institutions, our focus has always been on adding value and growing through a value-based system and this has been the catalyst to growth for our students, partners, and us. At EduCrack we want to continuously add value through quality faculty, content, technology, and social engagement (EduMeet at EduCrack) and thereby creating a value ecosystem for our students to prosper, gain and achieve their true potential. Our team’s singular focus is the students, and the financials will thereby fall in place on its own. Nasir Shaikh, Group CEO – The Lexicon Group of Institutes, MultiFit, their and EduCrack.     Moreover, to generate and deliver more content the cost of human resources is high compared to a local education center which is focussing on a limited geographical area. “In the valuation model of business, profits will happen at some point in time in the future. Valuation is based on the present value of future cash flows, not on the ability of the organization to generate sustainable profits. This is one of the reasons, why EduCrack has decided not to go in for the valuation game and turned down investment from Chepall Technologies Private Limited Pune in EduCrack to the tune of INR 20 Crores, says Neeraj Sharma, Vice Chairman – The Lexicon Group.   EduCrack has always believed in giving students what they need and not what they want. EduCrack believes in sticking to our ideology. While there may be many who provide education, not many who provide quality education. EduCrack strives to achieve the highest standards in quality which they believe is not possible if they indulge in entertaining rather than educating.

This is the post about my Current Read - The Logic of Scientific Discovery by the philosopher Karl Popper. Picture this, it's a lovely morning in your small hometown and you decided to go for a short stroll along the river. As you walk in, soaking up the warm summer, a beautiful swan comes swimming around the nearest bend, and look there's another swan and then another. You being under the scientific sword notice a common theme that all of these swans are white and because these are the first swans you see, you formulate a little theory. All swans must be white. Then almost, right on to you, the fourth swan turns up, hold your guns, it is also white. That proves that this theory is slowly becoming a fact but then something else crosses your mind. hold on, the fifth swan that turns up won't be black or pink? It's' impossible to discount that possibility, however unlikely it is. Huh! And here you thought you were just going for an uncomplicated walk in the sunshine yet unwittingly, now surrounded by these large number of swans you stumbled across one of the trickiest questions in the 20th century. How can we ever truly prove a theory to be correct? Now, how are you going to explain your new findings that all swans are white to the world? I mean it shouldn't be too hard, the evidence is on your side i.e. the data of four swans -practically a flock & you drew a reasonable theory from it. It's airtight, who would disagree with you? The problem here is that you're using a singular statement i.e. "this swan is white" to prove a universal statement i.e. "all swans are white". So, here's a question, what would happen if a black swan did turn up? So, there's a bit of asymmetry to the logic here, specific statements cannot prove the universal ones but they can disprove them and that's the important point when it comes to Popper's preferred scientific method which is known as deductions. Rather than starting with specifics, deductions start with universals and examine the relationship between them to find out what other logical conclusions might be drawn? You might say that all birds can fly, swans are birds and hence you can deduce swans can therefore fly. That's logically valid, Popper says but that does not mean it is necessarily true. Rather a good scientist would be constantly on the lookout for anything that goes against their hypothesis. They will be looking to falsify their hypothesis and that shouldn't be a disappointing result for a scientist it should be exciting. It's an intriguing new piece of information that would help them to draw a more accurate theory. It's a bit like how a Jury works in Court. A Jury is asked to determine what happened in a particular case, all it has to go on is the available evidence in that case and the pre-existing set of rules i.e. the Law. The Jury's verdict is accepted as fact but of course, if more evidence would have come to light, they might have reached a different verdict. If you want to read my Linkedin Feed, follow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jharunima If you want to follow me on Instagram, here's the link https://www.instagram.com/trulynomadlychic/

Euphoric to share that on 29th May in Delhi at Constitution Club of India Dr Pratik was Conferred with the Honorary Doctorate of Science (Doctor of Science D.Sc) for his contribution in the field of Scientific Research also his research paper on “STEM CELL RESEARCH AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE” has got published in an INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIES (IJSRTIMS) in an International Innovative Future Education Summit & 5th Research Convocation 2022 by world’s first virtual internship university which is International International Internship University - IIU Dr Pratik was so fortunate to receive Honorary Doctorate of Science in presence of H.E. Dr Sujata Koirala (Former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Nepal), Mr K.L Ganju( Ambassador of South Africa), Dr TN Suresh Kumar (Senior Space Scientist, ISRO), Mr Sandeep Marwah( Chairman, Noida Film City & Chancellor AAFT University ), Delhi Police officer Kiran Sethi( who has been given a title of Lady Singham) and many more dignitaries from all around the World. you can watch a video of the event on this link https://youtu.be/b-24PoLQf7A About Dr Pratik Mungekar 1) He is the first Indian to be appointed as the planetary Minister of Sustainable Development of Newly emerging The Kingdom of Atlantis (a Decentralized Sovereign kingdom) 2) He is the first youngest Indian whose book Introduction to sustainable Development Goals (Non-Academic) is now part of the Atlantean Education program. 3) He is the first youngest Indian to receive 250+ Honorary Doctorates from all over the world. 4)He is the first youngest Indian professor who taught more than 8000+ Students & Career guided 4000+ Students to date & the count is still on. 5) He is the first Indian who has 700+ International, National & State Awards at the age of 28 for his contribution to the field of Teaching & Research. 6) He is the youngest Indian to receive 125+ Honorary High Degrees across the Globe. 7) He is the first Indian to be appointed by 35+ International organisations in various High-positions at the same time. 8) He is the first youngest Indian to be appointed as an Ambassador by 36 organizations of many countries in almost all disciplines. 9) He is the first Indian youngest professor to start teaching at the age of sixteen, the age of twenty Seven He has completed twelve years of Teaching. 10) He is the first Youngest Indian to receive Royal &Prestigious Titles such as 1)Lecturus Magnificus (L.M.), 2) H.R.H. 5* Duke. 11) First Youngest Indian to receive Mendeleev’s Fellowship ( United Kingdom’s Highest Academic Honour). 12)First Indian to receive the distinguished title “Professor Wisdom” from Institución Cultural Colombiana Casa Poética Magia y Plumas ,Colombia South America. Today, the name of Prof. Dr Pratik Rajan Mungekar is no longer common but is emerging as a distinguished Scientist, Professor, World Educationist, Published Writer, Counsellor, Social Worker and an International Speaker Instagram Id: https://www.instagram.com/drpratikmungekar/ Facebook id: https://www.facebook.com/Pratikmngkr7

Team Stay Featured is feeling proud to present an interview with a Sneha Sharma Popularly known as a Career Spotlight Coach, Public Speaker and Personal Branding Consultant who Mentored 7000+ students till date 1) What was the triggering point to get into this profession? The young generation is undoubtedly very talented. But there is a lack of clarity among them regarding their life goals. Their choice of subjects and colleges is influenced by parents, cousins and a lot of other factors. The entire structure does not allow them to look deeper into themselves and decide what is right for them. They complete their education with a degree in hand. But jobs do not happen with degrees solely. Knowing what is best for you and learning skills that you will showcase in your workplace hold even more importance. I used to like counselling my cousins and batchmates right from school. I think I get this knack from my family. When I completed my MBA and started mentoring students as a Full-Time Faculty in Business Communication, I realized that not everybody has got a chance to develop skills and define their direction. Those students I met had a lot of potential but they lacked guidance. They needed to be trained for the workplace. They needed to be coached to land their dream jobs. That was the time I realized this is what I am going to go further in life with. Because, when I have that in me, why not use it in creating better and more successful professionals? So, since that day, I never looked back. 2) What's your definition of a dream job or career ? According to me, everyone is unique and so is their career path. I don’t define a dream job as a profession. A dream job is a feeling. A feeling of things being right. And even if things go wrong, they don’t give you regrets. And a profession that gives you this, is your dream profession. You know the buzz that surrounds engineering in India. Still, every year 3-4% of students drop out of the top engineering institutions. Because they were told that once you get into IITs, life is so smooth. No one shows them the other side of the real side I would say, that may not give them that ‘feeling’ which we are talking about. And same goes for jobs. So many people settle for IT jobs. Then they resign and prepare for government jobs, which many of them are not able to crack. This lack of clarity makes people jump from one thing to another without giving that ‘feeling’. In my training sessions, I help students discover this feeling. Now there is no profession in which there is no hard work or failure. But in your dream career, failures are more of a forward push than setbacks. You won’t think to leave it even if there are problems. Just like you don’t abandon your home and search for a new one. So, your dream career is inside you. You cannot know your dream career if you don’t know yourself. It all starts within us. 3) As a Career Coach, what are your observations on the failure of startups other than pandemic? Obstacles are a part of every venture. But the startups that do fail, are either not started after proper research, or they are less adaptable to dynamism. The demands of the market, the political scene, and a social scene we saw during the pandemic are very dynamic. Many startups come into existence with a sudden drive of energy to do something big and make a lot of money. What remains incomplete is research. It also deprives your business of the flexibility it needs to survive the initial thrusts. Only a well researched and discussed business idea would have the strength to adapt to these changes and establish itself. Another thing is in India we are not having many innovative start-ups. Most new models are inspired by existing ones or are very similar to them. Similar ideas are bound to face more competition. They need to ask themselves what ‘different’ can they offer, and for how long that ‘different’ is needed by their customers? Lack of funds is also one of the major issues. If you don’t have adequate funds, you’ll hire less skilled people as they charge less. And that is not going to give you quality. Lastly, I think from my own experience, if you have a passion to make a difference, keep it alive. If your passion dies, your startup dies too. 4) Share one of the most memorable feedback in your life. At a time when I was still growing up, I used to have this fear of making mistakes. We all have, at some point in life. And once it is gone, you become unstoppable. Once I received feedback from a student after a public speaking workshop. That hope that I saw in her moved me. She said that I managed to challenge her fears. Not just the fear of the stage, but life fears in general. She told me she has been limiting herself all the time and in everything. She lost so many opportunities just because of that fear, and she has decided she is not giving up on anything anymore. That made me remember the day when I first overcame my fears. That one thing changed everything in my life. So I could visualize the student the next few years doing exceptionally well in her life. And somewhere in the back of her head, she will always remember this session. What else do I need as a coach? Such feedback is a huge boost to me and my resolve. I work with double energy. It's another level of contentment when you touch someone’s life. Apart from this, I have received negative feedback too in this journey. But I always accept it wholeheartedly. 5) What are the much-needed improvements for today's hiring or traditional recruitment pattern? It is a good sign that today recruiters are more skill-focused. At the end of the day, all that matters is what an employee can do for your organization, and what you can do for them. This sustains the business. Coming to the improvements, startups especially which do not have a competitive salary to offer, should have a mandatory training period. They can organize an orientation session which can give them a complete idea of their work environment and help them have a good start. Next, I think taking to social media is a smart move. The more people your job vacancy reaches, the higher the chances of well-qualified candidates applying. Like Linked. or if your company or you have a good number of followers, Twitter is also a place where you can post your job. Also the kind of advertisement you create impacts the quality of candidates you attract. I have come across job alerts on websites that look like a link to a fake websites. Now I don’t know if that job is for real because I never clicked on it. I think no one does. Along with that have more than rounds of selection. In the interview round, always have a panel of more people. Don't judge your candidates on irrelevant questions like which famous personality they would meet if they got a time machine. Ask for skills. Make them do tasks. Another thing which I find disturbing is that a gap of a couple of years on a resume is seen in such a bad light. Or any kind of health problem taken to be the weakness of the candidate. Which is not true. Different people go through different problems. At last, what is important is that they are ready to be back in life with skills in hand. 6) Share the most important lesson you learned from your failures. Failures teach you one most important thing. And that is, you can’t run away from them forever. No matter how careful you are, they come. And that is when the entire knowledge you gained throughout your life is tested. When failure is an inevitable reality, then why fear it? Face it, deal with it, and pass the test with flying colours. When we fail, we lose our confidence, sometimes reputation and money as well. But this whole test is about whether you lose your will or not. The initial process of any new thing is always accompanied by failures. I never dropped my will in any circumstances. And same I teach my students that failures are also taking you to your dream job, but maybe through a different path, which you may not like very much. But you will be there. You just need to hold on for a bit longer. I have seen people reach great heights and one sway of failure taking everything from them. But they still stand like a tree whose leaves are blown away by the wind. The period of a few months when you will have no leaves will be really difficult. But your season will come. That is what failure teaches you. Be patient. To start all over again, and with the same enthusiasm. Not many will have that quality. But if you have, nothing can bring you down. 7) like any interview questions, we wish to ask you Why Should we approach Sneha Sharma as a career coach and how to reach you! I would say that it's okay to feel confused about your career. After all, it is something that is going to shape your life. It is normal to doubt if a thing is right for you or not. But what's important is that you don't allow these feelings to hinder your growth. At any such time when you feel overwhelmed with these thoughts, and can't find a direction, I am there. I am there to make you connect to your inner self, and find out your likings, your capabilities and your potential. I am a certified Training and development coach. In my 11 years of this journey, I have mentored more than 7000 students. This is a six-step process that starts with clarity, then goal setting, forming a Linkedin network, public speaking, resume building and interview mastery. I believe unless they do it, they won't learn. So workshops are an integral part of my coaching. I organize project-based workshops and I have got a good response. I also coach them in time management, healthy lifestyle and Personal Branding. This way, me and my students work together and in the end, we always figure out the best. We get success at discovering that feeling within every student I mentor. To contact me, please visit my website snehasharmathecoach.com . There you will find all the relevant information. You can book your free course there. You will also find my email and contact number. Also, feel free to reach out to me on Linkedin. We are in this together Follow me on Linkedin on this link https://www.linkedin.com/in/snehasharmathecoach/ Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/snehasharma.thecoach/?r=nametag

“Jaguar Advertising & Media Solutions” announced “Aatmnirbhar Bharat Conclave & Awards” on the occasion of completing glorious 8 years in business & entering into the 9th year of their existence. The event will be held on 8th July 2022 at The Leela, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. During the conclave, there will be a panel of stakeholders from different sectors such as Healthcare, Defence, Agriculture, MSME, Technology, Communication, Media and others. Eminent Central & State ministers will bestow the ‘Aatmnirbhar Bharat Award’ to the 10 winners, who will be selected by the eminent personalities of the Jury Panel. Started purely as a “ MEDIA REPRESENTATION HOUSE” on 27th May 2014, now a full-fledged ad agency ( advertising agency). Established in 2014, JAMS has witnessed steady growth and has developed marketing synergies offering advertising as a service to its clients. In the FY2021-22, the agency grew by 100% and added some marquee clients to its portfolio including FMCG majors like HUL, Coke, PepsiCo, ITC, Asian Paints, Colgate, Parle G, Lakme, Kellogg’s, Abbott Healthcare, Abbott India, Cadbury, L’Oréal, Reckitt Benckiser, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Parul University, Castrol to name a few. The strength of the group is already known in the government sector of India. Speaking at the occasion, Mr Jaideep Dhagat, Founder CEO & MD, JAMS said, “Covid19 has completely changed the landscape wherein organizations are consistently incorporating frugal processes and systems. We are closely observing this new trend amongst regional publications, regional channels & digital platforms. Instead of increasing the team size for the ad business, they are partnering with us, since generating advertising revenue is our strength”. Jaguar Advertising and Media Solutions (Jamsjaguar.com) has taken the pole position of being the largest media representation house in the country. The company recently signed an MoU with leading Marathipaper, Lokmat to represent as its advertising partners. The company in the past has been representing large media groups such as Network18, Zee TV & Zee Media, Republic TV, Republic Bharat, and NTV group of Southern India, which also has Vanitha TV & BhaktiChannels in the Telugu language. The company today offers an array of services across, print, satellite, radio, digital, events& dynamic screens at various locations across the country. With the constant growth in regional media, JAMS has an edge over other agencies as it has a great understanding of the media landscape and consumer preferences at the hinterland level. The company has been representing large groups such as ETV NEWS NETWORK ( now NETWORK18), ZEE TV & ZEE MEDIA, REPUBLIC TV- REPUBLIC BHARAT, RACHANA TELEVISION PVT LTD (ie NTV GROUP of southern India, which also has VANITHA TV GEC & BHAKTI Channels in TELUGU language), and now the latest & big addition is the famous “LOKMAT GROUP of MAHARASHTRA”. The company signed a large contract & MOU with LOKMAT MEDIA PVT LTD. Today, JAMS JAGUARhas also emerged as an “independent advertising agency”.From the house of JAMS JAGUAR, quality advertising releases happen in agriculture sectors, FMCG, Infrastructure & devotional domains. With seasoned professionals at HO & Pan India locations, today JAGUAR aspires to a greater/far greater pie into the digital & event space too, added, Mr Jaideep Dhagat.

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable: There is a strong link between the quality of life in cities and how cities draw on and manage the natural resources available to them. To date, the trend towards urbanization has been accompanied by increased pressure on the environment and accelerated demand for basic services, infrastructure, jobs, land, and affordable housing, particularly for the nearly 1 billion urban poor who live in informal settlements. Due to their high concentration of people, infrastructures, housing and economic activities, cities are particularly vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters impacts. Building urban resilience is crucial to avoid human, social and economic losses while improving the sustainability of urbanization processes is needed to protect the environment and mitigate disaster risk and climate change. Resource-efficient cities combine greater productivity and innovation with lower costs and reduced environmental impacts while providing increased opportunities for consumer choices and sustainable lifestyles. The SDG 11 targets identify key factors that must be addressed to make cities more sustainable, inclusive, resilient and safe: 11.1 safe and affordable housing and basic services 11.2 safe, sustainable transport systems 11.3 inclusive urbanisation and participatory, integrated planning 11.4 cultural and natural heritage 11.5 resilience to disasters 11.6 reduced environmental impact of cities 11.7 green and public spaces 11. a rural-urban linkages 11. b integrated policies and plans 11. c financial and technical support for sustainable and resilient buildings. Cities account for 65 per cent of SDG targets and 86 per cent of SDG indicators. That means that making cities more sustainable, safe, resilient and inclusive will help us to achieve many of the SDGs. As economic powerhouses with over 80 per cent of global GDP, cities have important environmental impacts: 2 per cent of land area usage 71-76 per cent of energy-related global greenhouse gas emissions Over 70 per cent of resource use Cities present huge sustainable investment opportunities: As of 2015, 75 per cent of the global urban infrastructure that will exist in 2050 has yet to be built Sustainable development in cities can save $3 trillion in infrastructure spending by 2030 Social equity in cities: The global urban population is expected to grow from over 50 to 70 per cent by 2050, with a majority of that growth occurring in Africa and Asia Urban poverty rates are falling more slowly than global poverty Approximately 25 per cent of the global urban population (1 billion out of 3.9 billion) live in slums The fastest-growing urban populations also have the least access to services per capita: 279 million lack electricity 780 million lack safe drinking water 2.5 billion lack basic sanitation The environmental dimension of SDG 11 The environment is intrinsic to SDG 11, recognizing the need for critical urban infrastructure to be low-emission, resource-efficient and resilient. For example, target 11.2 calls for universal access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems, which has direct environmental impacts on land use, resource use, air quality and climate. Target 11.6 explicitly calls on countries to reduce the per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and waste management. Target 11.7 calls for universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible green and public spaces, which, among other things, help to purify the air and absorb rainwater. Targets 11.5 and 11. B call for increased investment in disaster risk resilience strategies, policies and interventions. Indicators 11.5.1 and 11.5.2 specifically focus on the reduction of economic loss and loss of life resulting from disasters, whereas 11.B.1 and 11.B.2 measure the development of disaster risk reduction strategies by both local and national governments in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030. Lastly, 11.4 calls for stronger efforts to protect and safeguard natural heritage, which is aligned with many environmental conservation efforts around the world. Why? Over 90 per cent of COVID- 19 cases are occurring in urban areas, with the 1 billion residents of the world’s densely populated slums being hit the hardest. Even before the coronavirus, rapid urbanization meant that 4 billion people – over half of the global population in the world’s cities faced worsening air pollution, inadequate infrastructure and services, and unplanned urban sprawl. Successful examples containing COVID-19 demonstrate the remarkable resilience and adaptability of urban communities in adjusting to new norms. What are some of the most pressing challenges that cities face today? Inequality and the levels of urban energy consumption and pollution are some of the challenges. Cities occupy just 3 per cent of the Earth’s land but account for 60-80 per cent of energy consumption and 75 per cent of carbon emissions. Many cities are also more vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters due to their high concentration of people and location. so building urban resilience is crucial to avoiding human, social and economic losses. Why should I care? All these issues will eventually affect every citizen. Inequality can lead to unrest and insecurity, pollution deteriorates every- one’s health and affects workers’ productivity and therefore the economy, and natural disasters have the potential to disrupt everyone’s lifestyles. What happens if cities are just left to grow organically? The cost of poorly planned urbanization can be seen in some of the huge slums, tangled traffic, greenhouse gas emissions and sprawling suburbs all over the world. By choosing to act sustainably we choose to build cities where all citizens live a decent quality of life, and form a part of the city’s productive dynamic, creating shared prosperity and social stability without harming the environment. As of May 2020, the majority of national and city governments are revisiting urban planning to help prevent the next pandemic. Is it expensive to put sustainable practices in place? The cost is minimal in comparison with the benefits. For example, there is a cost to creating a functional public transport network, but the benefits are huge in terms of economic activity, quality of life, the environment, and the overall success of a networked city. SDG 11 and the transition to sustainable and resilient societies Cities are the heartbeat of most societies. They are complex systems that bring together diverse communities to work, live and play. Just as the battle against climate change will be won or lost in cities, so too will the battle for sustainable, resilient, equitable and just societies. By 2050, it is expected that 75 per cent of the world’s population will live in cities, up from more than 50 per cent presently. As cities grow, especially in the global South, it will be vital to create infrastructure and policies that ensure universal access to all urban services. As we see increasing impacts from climate change, the most sustainable, resilient societies will be those that have resource-efficient systems in place to provide essential services to their residents and that are prepared to withstand and adapt to climate-induced disasters. Achieving these two mandates will help to provide and maintain quality of life for the world’s growing urban population in the face of extreme weather activity, resource shortages and population migration. Some key factors for countries to consider in tackling these challenges include Resilience: By strategically densifying, investing in renewable energy and sustainable building techniques, valuing existing ecosystem services and increasing usage of sustainable transportation, cities can both significantly contribute to the mitigation of harmful climate impacts and improve their resilience to the inevitable resource shortages to come. Inclusive urban spaces: Economic inequality has been increasing in recent decades. Nowhere is this more evident than in cities, where resource shortages and access to services disproportionately impact the most marginalized groups and communities, often also exposing them to greater environmental risk. Policies and programmes that better support underserved populations, improve systems for participatory and democratic planning and decision- making and provide affordable access to resources and urban services for all will be critical. By investing in equity now, countries can start to close the inequality gap. Cleaner, greener cities: 75 per cent of the infrastructure that will exist in 2050 does not exist today. This provides a unique opportunity to ensure that the infrastructure we build today for tomorrow, is low-emission, resource-efficient and resilient. “Future-proofing” our infrastructure has many benefits: · Creating incentives for investment in public transport and non-motorized transport infrastructure will improve air quality in cities and help to mitigate climate change. · Creating frameworks toward a zero-emission, efficient and resilient buildings and construction sector will help to reduce energy demand. · Investing in parks and green spaces in urban areas will help to ameliorate the urban heat island effect and improve air quality in urban spaces. · Investing in natural or efficient water treatment and management systems to improve water quality and sanitation in cities will reduce water-borne diseases and improve sanitation for poorer populations. What can I do to help achieve this goal? Take an active interest in the governance and management of your city. Advocate for the kind of city you believe you need. Develop a vision for your building, street, and neighbourhood, and act on that vision. Are there enough jobs? Can your children walk to school safely? Can you walk with your family at night? How far is the nearest public transport? What’s the air quality like? What are your shared public spaces like? The better the conditions you create in your community, the greater the effect on the quality of life.

Surmandal and Secunderabad Club together are organing Santoor Recital to pay homage to the legend late Pt Shivkumar Sharma, who passed away recently. The recital will be performed by Dr Shantanu Gokhale, a disciple of Pt. Shivkumar Sharma and Ms Sniti Mishra will perform Hindustani Vocals. Sniti Mishra is a Visharad in Hindustani Classical Music and disciple of Swararanga Dr Damodar Hota of Gwalior Gharana They will be accompanied in the recital by Shri Rahul Deshpande on Harmonium and Harjit Singh on Table. It will be held on 28th May at Sailing Annexe Lawns, Tank Bund at 6.30 pm. Entry to the concert is free. They will perform the next day, ie. Sunday morning especially for the patients suffering from Cancer at Sparsh Hospice, a place for terminally ill cancer patients. Shantanu, a Consultant Endodontist learnt the nuances of Indian classical music at the tender age of 3. He learnt basic knowledge of Ragas and continued to play the Harmonium till the age of 12. He grew up witnessing the great masters of Indian Classical Music frequenting his house. The recordings and live concerts of these great masters left a lasting impression on him. At 14 years old itself, Pandit Shivkumar ji's Santoor captivated him to a great extent, he says. This leads him to learn Santoor lessons with Shivji's disciple Shri Dhananjay Daithankar in Pune. Later he started learning from Pt Shivkumar Sharmaji and continued until recently for 8 years. Classically trained Sniti Mishra shot into fame thanks to Zee SaReGaMa Singing Superstar 2010. Her haunting voice and unique renditions of a wide variety of songs from Classical, Sufi, Ghazal, Old Classics and film and non-film songs earned her good recognition. She received her Hindustani Classical Music training from Guru Shri Raghunath Sahoo, a disciple of Swararanga Dr Damodar Hota of Gwalior Gharana. A student of Finance Management, She pursued her Visharad in Hindustani Classical Music. It is called a Degree equal to graduation. She got mentoring from Daler Mehndi, Composers Sajid-Wajid and Vishal-Shekhar. She has been associated with Indo-Swedish Fusion Jazz band Mynta, percussionist Sivamani, and Louis Banks and performed classical and fusion concerts in India and worldwide.