IAA India Hosts 'Voice of Change' Summit To ‘Break the Bias, Together’

The International Advertising Association (IAA) India Chapter hosted the third edition of its ‘Voice of Change’ summit in Delhi on Wednesday, themed ‘Gender Portrayal from 30 Seconds to 3 Hours’. The summit aimed to promote gender-sensitive and fair content across various media platforms.

The event featured Chief Guest Smriti Irani, Guest of Honour Taapsee Pannu, and key industry leaders such as Srinivasan K Swamy, Neha Barjatya, and Eashwari Deshpande. The summit highlighted the importance of addressing gender biases in media and how content creators can drive positive change.

The day began with a ceremonial lamp-lighting by Smriti Irani, followed by a welcome address by Srinivasan K Swamy.

In the opening session, IAA Women Empowerment Committee leaders Nina Elavia Jaipuria and Megha Tata discussed the evolution of the 'Voice of Change' initiative, which began in 2021. Megha Tata emphasized the role of partnerships with organizations like UNICEF and Google in raising awareness about gender portrayal in media.

Megha Tata shared, “This journey began four years ago, and it has become a powerful movement in our industry. When I was President of IAA, we launched ‘Voice of Change’ with the objective that, as communication professionals, we must be the change we want to see.”

Nina Elavia Jaipuria added, “In the previous editions of IAA: Voice of Change, we covered advertising, television and OTT content, while this edition focuses on gender representation in Digital. Over the years, we have created awareness and sensitized stakeholders of the industry in shaping their perspectives and challenging stereotypes for a more equitable gender portrayal in content. Thus, having a positive influence on consumers and shaping the social narrative. We are delighted to have Google India continue to partner with us in this movement.”

Smriti Irani delivered a powerful keynote address, calling attention to the lack of recognition women face despite their significant contributions. She also spoke about the impact of platforms like YouTube in empowering women, especially from smaller towns, by giving them a voice and audience. Smt. Irani encouraged women to take pride in their achievements and not downplay their successes due to societal pressures.

She remarked, “Women do not have a problem speaking or showing up; what we lack is recognition for our contributions. It’s crucial to continue these conversations and support women who strive for their rightful place.” She also powerfully emphasized YouTube’s societal impact and remarked the platform does not just provide access but by giving women in Tier 2 and 3 cities a platform and an audience, we “democratize dreams”.

Neha Barjatya of Google India also spoke on the company's commitment to empowering women in the digital age, focusing on the role of AI in creating a more inclusive platform for all.

“At Google and YouTube, we are deeply committed to empowering women in the digital age. We have always fostered inclusivity across our platforms and as we’ve entered the AI era, our commitment continues. We are dedicated to building AI that unlocks creative possibilities and promotes economic opportunity for everyone. We are focused on developing AI responsibly, ensuring it is used to create a safe and equitable platform for all women. We believe that when women succeed, India succeeds,” said Neha Barjatya.

A special address by UNICEF’s Geetanjali Master highlighted the impact of gender socialization on girls' opportunities in India.

“Gender socialization creates visible and invisible barriers – manifesting as limited educational opportunities, early marriages, and fewer job prospects for girls. As UNICEF engages across India, we see the profound impact media can have. It has the power to reinforce stereotypes or to challenge them. That’s why we’re working with organizations like the Geena Davis Institute to generate real-time insights on gender portrayals, and we recognize the importance of connecting with content creators not only in metros but also in smaller towns and communities. By doing so, we aim to inspire inclusive storytelling that can shift perceptions and unlock opportunities for young girls across India with our continued partnership with IAA: Voice of Change.”

Celebrating Gender Warriors

The summit also honored two industry leaders with the ‘Gender Warrior’ award: CVL Srinivas of WPP India for his transformative leadership, and photojournalist Smita Sharma for her impactful work in human rights and gender issues.

The event included several insightful panel discussions, such as “Conscious Creativity in Digital Content” and “Digital Advertising through the Gender Lens”, which explored how content creators can reshape gender representation in digital media.

The discussion emphasized the transformative role of technology in democratizing both access to content and aspirations, creating a space where everyone has a voice. Deshpande shared YouTube’s commitment to enabling creators to build sustainable careers, transcending barriers of language, literacy, and background.

Gautami Kawale, Founder of Slayy Point & The Crash Pad, highlighted the responsibility content creators hold when engaging with Gen Z audiences. Janaki Amrite spoke about Pocket Aces’ commitment to positive representation through channels like Dice Media and FilterCopy. Beauty influencer Shreya Jain discussed navigating stereotypes in the beauty and makeup industry, sharing her journey of maintaining authenticity while shedding light on makeup’s role as both an art form and a major industry.

The session underscored the importance of responsible creation and inclusion, inspiring attendees to reflect on their own creative roles and the potential of digital platforms to promote positive, diverse voices.

The second panel discussion, titled “Digital Advertising through the Gender Lens”, was moderated by Anushree Bhattacharyya, Editor of a financial website. This engaging panel featured industry leaders: Anurag Agnihotri (Managing Partner - Creative, Ogilvy West), Karthik Nagarajan (CEO, Hogarth), Neena Dasgupta (Founder & CEO, The Salt Inc.), and Zairus Master (Chief Business Ogicer, Honasa Consumer Ltd-Mamaearth).

Anushree kicked of the session by delving into how digital advertising is evolving with gender inclusivity in mind. Anurag Agnihotri discussed his approach to portraying women as strong, independent figures in advertising, especially in campaigns where the aim is to break away from traditional stereotypes. Zairus Master shared insights on Mamaearth’s consumer-centric branding, which places an emphasis on progressive storytelling that resonates with modern, urban audiences. Karthik Nagarajan tackled the topic of stereotypes in product marketing, especially within categories like beauty and personal care. Neena Dasgupta discussed how content creation on platforms like OTT and YouTube is contributing to a more nuanced portrayal of women. She noted that women-centric content often performs well on OTT platforms, reflecting a shift in audience preferences.

The panel closed with a shared sentiment on the importance of creating content that is aspirational, breaking stereotypes, and representing both men and women in roles that reflect today’s society. The discussion provided valuable insights on how advertising can be a powerful tool in reshaping gender perceptions and promoting inclusivity in brand storytelling.

The event wrapped up with an engaging and deeply inspiring fireside chat featuring actor Taapsee Pannu, moderated by Mitrajit Bhattacharya, IAA Mancom Member and Founder of The Horologists. The session celebrated Taapsee's fearless spirit, impressive body of work, and commitment to impactful storytelling. Reflecting on her career from her Telugu film debut to her success in Hindi cinema, Taapsee shared insights into her journey, the challenges of taking on complex, women-centric roles, and her drive to explore diverse characters. She spoke about her memorable roles in films like ‘Pink’, ‘Mulk’, and ‘Saand Ki Aankh’, which echo her commitment to challenging societal norms and advocating for women’s empowerment. In addition to her acting, Taapsee discussed her entrepreneurial ventures and her passion for breaking stereotypes.

The event saw the presence of prominent Mancom Members of the India Chapter IAA like Ramesh Narayan, Founder Canco Advertising Pvt Ltd , Pankaj Krishna, Founder & CEO Chrome DM and Neena Dasgupta, Founder & CEO, The Salt Inc.

Google India and YouTube were the presenting partners, while UNICEF the knowledge partner and TVS the associate partner for this event. Republic Digital was the digital news partner and Chrome Talkies, Adgully, Indian Television, Manifest, Mediabrief, MxM India were web media partners, whereas Free Press Journal & Hindustan Times were the print partners for this event.

This edition of IAA: Voice of Change summit included powerful voices that engaged in meaningful and inspiring discussions making it another milestone in the journey of the movement, reinforcing our commitment to a more positive and inclusive gender portrayal in media.