The International Advertising Association (IAA) India Chapter held the third edition of its ‘Voice of Change’ summit, focusing on promoting gender-sensitive and equitable content in media. Themed ‘Gender Portrayal from 30 Seconds to 3 Hours,’ the event examined representation in advertising, television, and digital content, with the aim to address industry biases in gender portrayal.
The summit featured chief guest Smriti Irani, former cabinet minister, guest of honour Taapsee Pannu, and a panel of industry experts, including Srinivasan K. Swamy, Neha Barjatya, Eashwari Deshpande, Anushree Bhattacharyya, Mitrajit Bhatacharya, Neena Dasgupta, Anurag Agnihotri, Karthik Nagarajan, Zairus Master, Gautami Kawale, Janaki Amrite, and Shreya Jain. The event highlighted the roles of content creators, advertisers, and other stakeholders in shifting gender narratives within the industry.
“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,” Megha Tata said.
Nina Elavia Jaipuria noted the focus on digital representation in this year’s summit, building on previous efforts in advertising, television, and OTT content. “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,” Jaipuria said.
In a keynote address, Smriti Irani spoke about the challenges women face in receiving recognition for their contributions and the role of platforms like YouTube in expanding opportunities for women in Tier 2 and 3 cities. She urged women to acknowledge their achievements and highlighted the importance of dismantling stereotypes in media content.
Neha Barjatya, Marketing Director at Google India, discussed Google’s commitment to supporting women in digital spaces and emphasised the role of responsible AI in promoting safe and inclusive platforms. UNICEF’s Geetanjali Master, Partnerships Specialist, underscored the need to address gender socialisation and its impact on girls’ educational and economic opportunities. Master noted that media has the potential to challenge stereotypes and create inclusive storytelling across both urban and rural areas.
The summit honoured two Gender Warriors: C.V.L. Srinivas, Country Manager of WPP India, for his contributions to gender equity in advertising, and photojournalist Smita Sharma for her work on human rights and gender issues.
The first panel, ‘Conscious Creativity in Digital Content,’ moderated by Eashwari Deshpande, included perspectives from content creators and industry representatives. Gautami Kawale discussed her experiences engaging Gen Z audiences, while Janaki Amrite of Pocket Aces and Shreya Jain, a beauty influencer, explored the responsibility of content creators in challenging stereotypes and representing diverse voices.
A second panel, ‘Digital Advertising through the Gender Lens,’ led by Anushree Bhattacharyya, brought together Anurag Agnihotri of Ogilvy West, Karthik Nagarajan of Hogarth, Neena Dasgupta of The Salt Inc., and Zairus Master of Mamaearth. The session covered progressive advertising strategies that promote gender inclusivity, with panelists discussing their approaches to representation and the evolving expectations of modern audiences.
A comedy performance by Neeti Palta provided additional perspective on gender portrayals and stereotypes, adding levity to the summit.
The event concluded with a fireside chat between Taapsee Pannu and Mitrajit Bhattacharya. Pannu discussed her career and her focus on women-centric roles in films like Pink and Saand Ki Aankh, along with her entrepreneurial ventures, and emphasised the importance of creating content that challenges societal norms.