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musings from an observer's diary "Let us go with Fear over Faith". I heard Deepa mention this to a project team on my first day of joining the Observership program at Lumière. These words felt like music to my ears. After having decided to participate in the program, I had been filled with many doubts- will I be able to restart, what will the program be like, and will I be able to contribute effectively? But once I had decided to go ahead, I wanted to silence these thoughts,

In today’s fast-paced world, businesses need to adapt quickly to stay competitive. Whether you’re aiming to scale your operations, improve efficiency, or explore new markets, expert guidance can make all the difference. That’s where online business consultancy comes in. It offers a flexible, accessible way to tap into professional insights without geographical constraints. I’ve found that hiring a business consultant online can be a game-changer for many organisations, especi

When it comes to growing a business or navigating complex challenges, hiring a business consultant can be a game-changer. But one question often stands in the way: How much does a business consultant cost? Today, I want to break down the costs involved in hiring a business consultant, helping you understand what to expect and how to make the most of your investment. Let’s dive into the consultant cost analysis together! Understanding Consultant Cost Analysis: What Influences

When we set out to grow a business, the foundation we build is crucial. A well-crafted business plan is not just a document; it’s a roadmap that guides us through challenges and opportunities alike. But not all business plans are created equal. Customized business planning is the key to unlocking real potential. It’s about tailoring every detail to fit unique goals, market conditions, and strengths. Let’s dive into how bespoke business plans can transform your journey to succ

S5E04 Lumière Learning Monday With Rekha Kotia Catch the Lumière Learning Monday with host Deepa Soman, 🎙️ in conversation with Rekha Koita, Co-Founder and Director of Koita Foundation, which focuses on digitally transforming nonprofit operations to optimize performance and growth 📈. Rekha is passionate about education, healthcare, and livelihoods. Her work includes spearheading digital health projects in India,🖥️ such as the Koita Centre for Digital Health, and contribut

In this episode of #StartupSaturday, 🎙️ host Deepa Soman talks to Rahul Verma, Founder and Director of Frubon, a dairy and ice cream brand under Dev Milk Foods Pvt. Ltd. 🍦 An alumnus of IIT Bombay (B. Tech & M. Tech) and IIM Ahmedabad (PGDM), Rahul spent a decade in the banking sector across Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo. 🌏 Under his leadership, Frubon has grown into a significant player in the dairy industry. The brand is committed to providing innovative and high-quali

A Legacy of Empowerment: Mrinalini Kher’s Vision for a Better Tomorrow Catch the Lumière Learning Monday with host Deepa Soman in conversation with Mrinalini Kher, a passionate social worker with over 20 years of dedicated service in the social welfare sector. Co-founder of Yuva Parivartan (YP), a transformative project of the Kherwadi Social Welfare Association (KSWA), she also serves as Honorary Secretary and Trustee. Under her leadership, YP has grown into one of the large

A client in the food industry sought to understand consumer perceptions and preferences for a new plant-based protein product. The goal was to refine the product's value proposition and identify optimal marketing strategies. Study Impact By conducting this comprehensive case study, the client gained deep insights into consumer perceptions, preferences, and expectations for their new plant-based protein product. The findings provided clear directions for product refinement, ma

Growing a small or medium enterprise in India is both an exciting and challenging journey. With a dynamic market, evolving consumer preferences, and increasing competition, it’s essential to adopt smart strategies that fuel sustainable growth. I’ve seen firsthand how the right approach can transform a business, unlocking new opportunities and driving success. Let’s explore practical, actionable SME expansion strategies that can help your business thrive in India’s vibrant eco

Growing a small or medium enterprise (SME) is both an exciting and challenging journey. We all want to see our businesses thrive, expand, and make a meaningful impact. But how do we get there? What strategies truly work in today’s dynamic market? In this guide, I’ll walk you through practical, actionable growth strategies tailored for SMEs. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale, these insights will help you unlock your business’s full potential. Understanding S

Our colleague Pallavi Gadre shared a presentation on Oscar Trimboli’s book 📖 for one of Learning Monday’s sessions called 'Deep Listening'. Deepa Soman asked us to take a listening test 📋 in the following session. We got our reports; some were Lost, Dramatic, Interrupting, and Shrewd listeners . Surprisingly, all were Shrewd listeners in the Design team. Some tidbits about listening. Image by Pallavi Gadre. In OPS, both Smita Khadpe & I are Interrupting listeners. Then, on

We have been doing Lumière Learning Mondays, inviting inspiring people to engage with the team at the Lumière office. During Covid, we transitioned Learning Mondays to an online video podcast featuring two-hour conversations with guests to delve into their journeys. The sessions were aired live on Zoom Webinar and later on YouTube. A snapshot of an event aired in 2020 We launched other online events, such as Torchbearer Thursday and CMA Samvaad , each with specific inspirati

An engineer turned marketing fanatic Rajesh Srivastava has had one heck of a professional journey. After finishing his engineering at IIT Kanpur, he went to IIM Bangalore - "I thought I would be a bad engineer. So I decided to do what the world is doing. I joined the MBA program." Post his MBA, he joined the alcoholic beverage industry, which is very unlike his personality. This shy marketing enthusiast, who disliked partying, has helped create the finest and most popular alc

“Allow your passion to become your purpose and it will one day become your profession.” A conventional path from the beginning Anil Nair, CEO of St. Jude India Childcare Centres was our guest for the Lumiere Learning Monday session on 4 July. At first glance, he comes across as quiet and unassuming but underneath it all lies a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and a passion for helping others. His journey was pretty much a conventional one - he went to the “ right schools and

A popular television network engaged Lumière to understand television-viewing behavior among groups of young and older women in April 2007. The channel hoped to gain access to viewer attitudes towards its longstanding programmes, to its newer offerings, and to those of other networks as an outcome of this study. The team at Lumière used a combination of N-Light ©  Behaviour and N-Light ©  Connect to conduct a dipstick research and ascertain attitudes of viewers to program co

Wise Wednesday guest speaker Dr. T V Sairam is a founder-member of the Nada Centre for Music Therapy (2004) and the Indian Music Therapy Association (2018). He identifies himself as a former administrator, economist, ethnobotanist, and musicologist. He is a retired civil servant (IRS). He has done pioneering research on herbs, alternative medicine, environment, art, aesthetics, architecture, music therapy, and nada yoga in India for the last 30 years. He has written over 350

Dr. Sarita Subramaniam, Director, Earth Brigade Foundation our Lumiere Learning Monday guest, is a multi-faceted professional who raises the bar in everything she does. A dentist with over 32 years of experience, Sarita describes herself as an "incurable animal lover, nature aficionado, forest conserver, animal activist, tiger savior, and philanthropist". Born to pet-loving parents, Sarita grew up in a tiny urban apartment with pet dogs. The close bond with dogs and their way

Zarin Virji's Gopal's Gully is an ode to friendship. The author shares her journey as a writer on Lumiere Wise Wednesday. A creative writing graduate from the University of Sheffield, Zarin is passionate about teaching and writing. Her core profession is that of teacher, teacher trainer, and Principal of The Universal School, Tardeo - an IGCSE school. As a part of the core team of 'Education Today Society Tomorrow' - initiatives of the change program, Zarin expresses herself

As India inches close to becoming the most populous country in the world, one aspect that continues to be under constant scrutiny is how the country fluctuates in its health index. According to the latest Global Hunger Index, India, which ranks 100 out of 119 countries, is one of the countries with the “lowest reduction in hunger” in the nine years. Companies operating in India understand now the importance of addressing the BOP segment both for its volumes and its potential.

Hema Hattangady shares her life’s journey on Lumiere Learning Monday. She is a Mentor, Author, Independent Director, and Former CEO of Conzerv systems Pvt. Ltd., acquired by Schneider Electric. Hema has a Bachelor's degree in Commerce and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management PGDM from the premier Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata. She also has a post-graduate diploma in French from Karnataka University. She has co-authored a book with Ashish Sen titled Lift Off - Trans