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Reading Time: <\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The debut edition of Circles<\/em> by \u00a0VDO.AI<\/a> is here, a first-of-its-kind magazine that explores the evolution of marketing through the lens of those shaping it every day.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the front & center of this edition is, Karan Kumar, CMO at Hero Realty<\/strong><\/a>, who believes that marketing today demands more than just creative flair,\u00a0 it calls for cultural fluency, strategic clarity, and measurable accountability. In his cover story, he takes us inside his brand strategy stack where insight is translated into consistent, compelling action. From building resonance that lasts to creating systems that scale, Karan 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n Featuring stories and perspectives from some of the industry\u2019s best, this edition unpacks how consumer behavior, brand storytelling, and marketing mindsets have transformed and what it takes to stay relevant in the years to come. Highlights of the Circles include:<\/p>\n What happens when you trade rulebooks for real conversations? Ankita Tuli, GM \u2013 Brand and Marketing at Magicpin<\/strong><\/a>, reveals how marketing can be both fast-moving and deeply human. In this candid conversation, she opens up about the evolving landscape of brand-building, balancing data and creativity, and why empathy is a superpower for the next generation of marketers.<\/p>\n When creativity and commerce live in silos, brand building, and business outcomes both take a hit. Sonam Pradhan, Head Media & Digital Marketing South Asia at Kellanova<\/strong><\/a>, explores what it really takes to align media, messaging, and metrics at scale to move hearts and the needle, simultaneously.<\/p>\n In this fireside chat, Priyank Pant, SVP & Head of Brand Marketing at Paisabazaar<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> cuts through the jargon to talk about how to be the \u201cbrand next door,\u201d the link between consumer truths and brand honesty, and why, in the era of data and dashboards, storytelling still trumps all.\u00a0<\/p>\n As AI takes on a bigger role in marketing, Aabhina urges leaders to treat it not as an autopilot, but as an ally, one that enhances human creativity and demands responsible use. Complementing this, Megha highlights the growing power of intangibles- belief, experience, and perception, especially in B2B marketing, where outcomes often matter more than offerings. Together, their pieces reflect a new era of marketing: one where automation meets awareness.<\/p>\n Experts: Aabhina Suresh Khare, Chief Digital & Marketing Officer, Bajaj Capital Trust isn\u2019t a static asset; it\u2019s a fragile, living currency. Animesh explores how trust is built (and broken) through everyday decisions, and why brands must move beyond assumptions to earn genuine loyalty across consumers, partners, and teams.<\/p>\n Expert: Animesh Misra, Head of Marketing, Microtek International<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Marketing that solves, supports, and serves, Imran suggests that healthcare brands must move beyond episodic campaigns to create ecosystems rooted in real needs. Bhavna draws parallels in hospitality, where today\u2019s travelers crave experiences that feel personal, not transactional. Both voices advocate for marketing that starts with understanding and ends with loyalty.<\/p>\n Experts: Imran Banat, Digital Marketing Manager, Dr.Reddy\u2019s Laboratories<\/strong><\/a> Bhavna Mishra Nanda, Marketing Director, Holiday Inn Express<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n As performance marketing hits a credibility wall, Himanshu decodes how brands can stay real in a Gen Z-led market that sees through pretense. Meanwhile, Varun explores how content has evolved into a decision-driving strategist, one that guides users from swipe to sale. Their combined message? Real wins. And performance without authenticity is just noise.<\/p>\n Experts: Himanshu Sirohi, Head \u2013 Digital Marketing & Credit Cards Business, Apollo 24|7 Drawing from military strategy, fan culture, and permission-based marketing, <\/strong>Jahan Nagrolwala, AVP Strategy & Planning, Havas India<\/strong><\/a>, makes a compelling case for resonance over reach. He urges brands to stop interrupting and start integrating, embedding themselves within communities to earn relevance, not just visibility, truly.<\/p>\n As brands chase views, consumers are starving for substance. Keren Benjamin Dias, Lead \u2013 Research & Strategy,<\/strong> White River Media<\/strong><\/a>, explores the growing resistance to empty metrics and reframes attention as a relationship, not a resource. In her view, earning attention in 2025 means creating value, not volume.<\/p>\n Bhairavi Rangarajan, Head of Digital Marketing & MarComm, Kohler India,<\/strong> <\/a>spotlights Connected TV as more than a top-funnel awareness tool. From immersive storytelling to leveraging first-party insights and qualitative measurement, she shares how CTV can deliver performance across every stage of the consumer journey.<\/p>\n In this future-facing column, <\/strong>Sushant Pathak, Group CMO at Stonex India<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> sheds light on the evolution of advertainment in a world of skip buttons and scroll fatigue. From branded series to shoppable CTV, he explores how brands can captivate audiences through emotion-led storytelling, interactivity, and human-first design.\u00a0<\/p>\n From trust to technology, adaptability to authenticity,\u00a0 this edition of Circles<\/em> brings together powerful narratives that reflect the evolving heartbeat of marketing.<\/p>\n In The Age of Adaptive Ads, Vikram Garga (Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Morde Foods)<\/a>, \u00a0Driv Vohra (Head of Digital Marketing, Kellanova)<\/a>, and Dhruval Doshi (Head of Digital Marketing, Tata EV)<\/a> unpack how automation, personalization, and real-time design are reshaping advertising in an attention-deficit era.\u00a0<\/p>\n Subha Natarajan (President of Marketing and Communication, Acres Club)<\/a>, Animesh Misra (Head of Marketing, Microtek International<\/a>), and Nitin Garg (Head of Marketing, Credgenics)<\/a> dive into the Geography Behind Marketing, exploring how regional nuance is no longer a side note but central to crafting campaigns that truly resonate.\u00a0<\/p>\n In Earning Loyalty in the Experience Economy, Gaurav Sinha (Head of Marketing, Audi India) <\/a>and Vikram Singh (Digital Marketing Head, ITC Hotels) <\/a>share why today\u2019s brands must move beyond products to deliver emotional value and lasting memories.<\/p>\n In The Chase for the Next Billion Consumers, Gen Z emerges as India\u2019s most influential and fast-evolving consumer force, digitally native, authenticity-obsessed, and constantly shifting. This feature brings together marketing leaders who reflect on what it truly takes to engage this generation in real time, across platforms and touchpoints. Featuring insights from: Jitendra Choudhary\u00a0 (Head of D2C at Anveshan)<\/a>, Arjit Sachdeva (Co-founder and CTO at VDO.AI),<\/a> Anuj Somani (Senior Marketing Manager at Volvo),<\/a> Nikita Malhotra (Head of Digital, Woodland)<\/a>, Varun Sethuraman (Business Head, South Asia Region, At Nestle),<\/a> and Sneha Jha (Head of<\/a> Media and CLM at KFC)<\/a>.<\/p>\n From emerging <\/strong>signals to deep shifts, Circles brings together the voices and visions redefining marketing today.<\/strong> Moreover,<\/em> whether you\u2019re refining your strategy or challenging the status quo, this edition offers fresh perspective and direction.<\/p>\n Download now and step into the circle.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nMarketing with a Head and a Heart<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Where Brand Meets Bottom Line<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Currency That is Brand Trust<\/strong><\/h3>\n
AI, Intuition, and the New Marketing Mindset<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/strong><\/a>Megha Agarwal, CMO, Table Space<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nTrust: The Currency You Can\u2019t Afford to Lose<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Empathy Economy: From Care to Conversion<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Rethinking Performance in the Attention Age<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/strong><\/a>Varun Shah, Senior Marketing Manager (Lead), Mahindra Holidays & Resorts<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nTrend Watch<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Earning Your Seat at the Table<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Attention Rebellion<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Achieving Full-Funnel Performance Through CTV<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Advertainment 2.0: \u2018Stop-My-Binge\u2019 Worthy Ads<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Featured Stories<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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