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Sector: Power Transmission Infrastructure There’s a particular kind of privilege in being invited to look closely at how another organisation actually works, not the polished version on its website, but the real one. How decisions get made. What people are quietly proud of. Where the friction sits. What they genuinely mean when they talk about “our culture.” That was the opportunity we had in a recent engagement with a leading organisation in the renewable energy infrastructu

Bias can quietly shape a focus group long before the discussion begins. From recruiting the right mix of participants to managing group dynamics and analysing responses, this blog explores practical ways to reduce bias and get closer to genuine consumer insights.

As a researcher, your ‘insight radar’ never really turns off. Whether I am conducting a formal study, attending a social get-together, or simply commuting, I find myself constantly observing consumer behavior. ​Lately, my radar has been locked onto the booming Indian beauty and cosmetics industry. ​We are seeing an influx of incredible brands, new formulations, and advanced applicators. The modern Indian woman, especially the independent, financially empowered 35+ demographic

Our family vacation to Singapore in December 2006 was planned to fulfil a promise to our niece, and the city immersion left me deeply inspired. As someone who gravitates towards any kind of excellence, Singapore fuelled me with inspiration. Witnessing the nation's incredible transformation from an underdeveloped to a highly developed country in less than three decades seemed unimaginable. This experience moved me to write down "10 lessons from Singapore," which I shared as Ne

I was always really excited about coming to Mumbai. And somehow, I landed at the best place to start my internship: Lumière. From the moment I stepped into the office, I thought I belonged here. There was no need to adjust or familiarize myself, it already felt like my routine. I have no idea how to describe the feeling, but I know it's real: the people at Lumiere are mine, and the city is mine. It definitely is a lot different from Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad sleeps at 11 pm. Here

In modern advertising, a compelling product claim is a golden ticket to consumer trust. Assertions like "Fights 99% of Germs" or "90% Deeper Hydration" instantly differentiate a brand in a crowded market. A well-crafted claim does not just grab consumer attention; it builds immediate credibility and drives purchasing decisions at the retail shelf. However, with great marketing power comes strict regulatory responsibility. The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) acti

As our rickshaw pulled up to a lush green campus in Kharghar, we walked up the stairs towards the vibrant orange logo emerging from a patch of greenery at the St. Jude India ChildCare Centres. ‘This is nothing like I imagined it would be’ I caught myself thinking. There, we met Prajana Shetty, who graciously showed us around the facility. With sanitized hands and a blue mask strapped on, we didn't realize we were about to experience something that would leave us feeling so ho

S4 E01 Lumiere Learning Monday with Nehal & Seema Tiwari - Life on the Autism Spectrum On this World Autism Day, we are deeply inspired by the story of Nehal Tiwari, a young Indian woman navigating her life on the autism spectrum. As Nehal’s mother, Seema Tiwari, shares in this conversation with us, their family did go through an initial phase of struggle to come to terms with Nehal’s condition. The turning point was a shift in perspective. As Seema mentions, “If I am unable

musings from an observer's diary Introduction My first session of the Observership program was a session on mind maps. Deepa introduced me to the concept by drawing a mind map of an elephant. While she got pulled into a client call, she asked me to continue building on the mind map. "Don't give it much thought, put down whatever comes to your mind", she said. A serendipitous choice or coincidence? I chose to build a mind map about the Sun, instead of continuing with the one

musings from an observer's diary After a very long time the written words hit me home with such intensity. It felt like a personal note shared by a best friend who has known me, co-navigated the varied life stages and seen me through my highs and lows. The same friend who exchanges notes and glances with your parents and husband about your idiosyncrasies every time you act or behave in a way that is uniquely "you". Hold on- Have they spoken to my close friends? Is someone spy

musings from an observer's diary To work or not to work For a woman, the decision to take a career break or to rejoin the workforce is not taken overnight. On the contrary, it comes through many nights of deliberation and weighing the pros and cons of these decisions. Surprisingly, most of the time she doesn't keep herself at the center of this crucial decision. Whether it is relocation due to marriage, taking a break for child care, or being a primary caregiver for elderly p

In today’s research landscape, online interviews have become faster, cheaper, and more accessible than ever. From metro cities to small towns, researchers can now connect with consumers across geographies in just a few clicks. But does that mean offline research is no longer relevant? Not at all. The choice between online and offline research should never be driven only by convenience or cost. It should be driven by the kind of understanding the study requires. Online intervi

There is an inexplicable thrill about re-reading one of your favorite books, which you had almost forgotten. For the past couple of months, I had been hunting for Arthur Hailey's 'The Final Diagnosis'. I had first picked it up from a cramped library in the bylanes of Matunga during my summer vacations in school. And then I had read almost all his books, but ‘The Final Diagnosis’ remains an all-time favourite. However, to my disbelief, I could not find my copy. Did I not own o

musings from an observer's diary "Let us go with Faith over Fear". 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,

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 contributi

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

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 th

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 inspiration