Mahindra University welcomed the celebrated author, essayist, and travel writer Pico Iyer for an inspiring talk and interactive session on, “Moving Without Leaving – Lessons from a Lifetime of Journeys.” The evening drew the audience into a thoughtful exploration of travel, resilience, and the art of cultivating inner stillness.

Pico Iyer’s visit to Mahindra University

Renowned for his insights on global culture and contemplative life, Pico Iyer has penned fifteen books that have reached readers in twenty-three languages, among them The Art of Stillness, The Global Soul, and Video Nights in Kathmandu. His forthcoming work, Aflame: Learning from Silence (2025), deepens his quest to understand solitude, meaning, and the threads of human connection in a rapidly evolving world.

Vice Chancellor of Mahindra University Yajulu Medury greeted Pico Iyer, calling his visit a rare honor and celebrating his thought-provoking explorations of travel, belonging, and the inner journey. Dr Medury reminded the audience of the value of pausing for reflection amid the rush of academic life and affirmed that true education weaves together both knowledge and wisdom.

Pico Iyer revealed that this was his first opportunity to speak before and address an Indian university audience, and he reflected on the pivotal moments that shaped his understanding of silence and personal renewal.

“In all my years, I have never had the chance to visit an Indian university before, so this is a great joy and a very special privilege for me. I am thrilled to be here, and engaging in conversations with students feels like an exciting new adventure. I feel truly blessed to be on this remarkably beautiful, cool, and cutting-edge campus, and deeply grateful to everyone for making me feel so welcome. This is something I will never forget,” he said.

The evening culminated in a lively exchange, with students engaging Mr Iyer on themes of creativity, displacement, focused attention, and nurturing inner clarity in a world that rarely stands still.

OWND!, the Gen-Z focused fashion brand from Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited, has reached a significant milestone with 75 stores across India. The brand has entered Mumbai with the launch of two new stores, marking an important step in its growth journey as it continues to build a strong presence in key fashion-forward markets.
 

Sangeeta Tanwani, Chief Executive Officer of Pantaloons & OWND!, with Acclaimed Actor Adarsh Gourav at OWND!’s 75th Flagship Store Launch
 

To mark its entry into Mumbai, OWND! hosted a high-impact launch event that brought the brand’s energy and identity to life. The evening featured a dynamic fashion showcase, with Adarsh Gourav, one of the lead actors from Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, as the showstopper. The event saw strong participation from the city’s fashion and youth community, creating a vibrant celebration of style, self-expression, and culture.
 

Located at Infiniti Mall in Malad and R-Mall in Thane, the two new stores span over 5,900 sq. ft. and 7,600 sq. ft., respectively. Designed as immersive and high-energy retail spaces, the stores bring OWND!’s bold and expressive identity to life, offering trend-first collections, intuitive layouts, and a seamless blend of physical and digital experiences. The spaces are built to encourage discovery, individuality, and self-expression.
 

Commenting on the milestone, Sangeeta Tanwani, Chief Executive Officer, Pantaloons and OWND! said, “We are incredibly proud to reach the 75-store milestone for OWND!, which reflects the strong connection the brand has built with young India. Our entry into Mumbai is an important milestone for us, given the city’s influence on youth culture and fashion. As we continue to grow, our focus remains on staying close to our consumers and building a brand that evolves with them.”
 

OWND! offers a wide range of fashion-forward collections for a generation that thrives on visibility and validation. From everyday essentials to trend-driven statement pieces, the brand blends comfort, versatility, and individuality with great accessibility across menswear, womenswear, and kidswear. With frequent drops and an agile design approach, OWND! stays closely aligned with global trends while remaining rooted in local sensibilities.
 

Reaching 75 stores underscores OWND!’s rapid scale-up and its strong cultural resonance with Gen-Z consumers. The brand continues to shape a retail experience that goes beyond fashion, creating environments that feel relevant, inclusive, and rooted in youth culture.
 

With a continued focus on agility, trend responsiveness, and consumer-first thinking, OWND! is poised to further strengthen its footprint across the country.

Alkami Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALKT) (“Alkami”), a digital sales and service platform provider for financial institutions in the U.S., announced today the expansion of its Global Capability Center (GCC) in India, reinforcing the company’s investment in engineering and data talent as banks and credit unions accelerate their transition to modern digital banking platforms.

Alkami Technology marked a key milestone in its global expansion with the launch of its India GCC, in partnership with Summit (an ANSR company)

“Alkami was very intentional in selecting the National Capital Region for our technology hub in India,” said Alex Shootman, Chief Executive officer at Alkami. “Its location offers a remarkable concentration of bank and fintech engineering skill, technical depth, and operational talent befitting to accelerate innovation and development across the Alkami Digital Sales & Service Platform. By investing in this region, we are strengthening our ability to move faster, scale thoughtfully, and deliver the technology that financial institutions need to compete and grow.”

The India hub will support platform engineering, data intelligence and cloud architecture with security at every layer for Alkami’s Digital Sales & Service Platform (DSSP), which powers digital banking experiences for more than 300 financial institutions and 22 million users across its ecosystem. Alkami is one of the fastest growing financial technology partners in the United States as the DSSP becomes the first to market in this category.

“I’ve seen firsthand the impact a global technology organization can have on accelerating growth and executing on the product roadmap,” said Deep Varma, Chief Technology Officer at Alkami. “The depth of engineering talent and the strength of the technical ecosystem in this region of India will help us scale our platform, advance our AI-driven capabilities, and deliver secure, reliable banking experiences for our customers.”

Consumer expectations continue to rise. Research shows that 46% of digital banking users wish their primary financial provider anticipated their financial needs more effectively, while half say they would switch providers for a significantly better digital experience. Alkami’s Platform is designed to help financial institutions move toward Anticipatory Banking — a forward-thinking vision that uses behavioral data, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure to anticipate account holders’ needs before they are communicated to deliver proactive, supercharged personalized financial experiences.

“The work of skilled engineers will seal the connection between product strategy and technical execution,” said Manoj Kumar, Vice President of data engineering and country lead, India at Alkami. “By growing our engineering footprint in a market with deep expertise, we are better positioned to accelerate development across the Alkami Digital Sales & Service Platform and deliver capabilities that are performant, scalable, and aligned to the needs of financial institutions.”

To scale its India operations, Alkami leveraged the capabilities of Summit Consulting, an ANSR partner company, to design, build, and operationalize its Global Capability Center.

About Alkami 

Alkami provides a digital sales and service platform for U.S. banks and credit unions. Our unified Platform integrates onboarding, digital banking, and data and marketing—each solution can stand alone, but together they deliver more—to help institutions onboard, engage, and grow relationships. As the future shifts toward Anticipatory Banking, we help data-informed bankers meet the moment with technology that drives action.

Galgotias University successfully organized its two-day event “Galgotias Investo Pitch 2026” on March 17-18, 2026, furthering its commitment to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship among young people. The program was designed to provide a strong platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas while also connecting them with investors and industry leaders.

Smartfeed+ earns Rs. 2,00,000 grant for its impactful and innovative solution

The event also provided a forum for key ecosystem stakeholders such as Amit Singal, Partner at Indicorn Angels; Tushar Vadera, Founder of SetMyCart; and Ravindra Yadav, CEO of the ACIC GIET University Foundation, to interact with startups and guide them on scaling their businesses, obtaining venture capital, and preparing for entry into the marketplace.

The speakers highlighted the growing significance of start-ups in future economic development and job creation, and stressed the important role of academic institutions in supporting entrepreneurship. They also underlined the value of business incubation, mentorship, and access to capital in building sustainable ventures.

On the second day of the event, Dr. R.K. Bharti, IEDS, Director, MSME-DFO Okhla, New Delhi, attended as the Chief Guest, while Mr. Sunil Kumar, IEDS, Deputy Director, MSME-DFO Okhla, New Delhi, was the Guest of Honour. They shared insights on government-backed funding schemes and policy support available for new ventures. Another session was led by Madhu Vadlamani, AI Practice Leader at Enterprise Minds Inc, who spoke about the role of Artificial Intelligence in helping businesses become more scalable and cost-effective.

Galgotias University announced an endowment grant of Rs 18.5 lakh to support twelve early-stage startups as part of its continued commitment to strengthening the startup ecosystem. With this latest round, the University reaffirmed that it will continue to invest in other high-potential ventures as they grow.

The startups awarded the grant were SMARTFEED+ (Rs 2 lakhs), URVAH Dynamics Pvt. Ltd. (Rs 1.5 lakhs), Gas O Detech (Rs 2 lakhs), Amigos Renewable Energy LLP (Rs 2.5 lakhs), ECO-SIP (Rs 1.25 lakhs), Load Cell Based Smart IV Fluid Monitoring System (Rs 1.25 lakhs), Wilexir Techno LLP (Rs 1.5 lakhs), Electric VE (Rs 1.5 lakhs), Desk N Wood Techno Solutions (Rs 1.5 lakhs), Mumma.AI (Rs 1 lakh), Novatrail LLP (Rs 1.5 lakhs), and AgriRover (Rs 1 lakh).

The successful completion of Galgotias Investo Pitch 2026 reflects Galgotias University’s strong commitment to fostering innovation-led growth and nurturing future entrepreneurs. The initiative stands aligned with the vision of Hon’ble Dr. Dhruv Galgotia, CEO, Galgotias University, to empower young innovators and build enterprises capable of addressing global challenges.

About Galgotias University

Galgotias University is among the world’s leading universities in Quacquarelli Symonds (QS Rankings) and Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings.

Galgotias University proudly ascends in the QS World University Rankings 2026 by Quacquarelli Symonds, securing a coveted position in the 1201–1400 global band. Ranked 15th among top private universities and 43rd among all Indian universities, this achievement marks a powerful endorsement of Galgotias’ unwavering commitment to academic excellence, global relevance, and innovation in higher education. Galgotias has also been accredited with NAAC A+ grade in its very first cycle, achieving these milestones in a record time of just 14 years.

In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025, Galgotias University has been ranked 45th among Indian universities (including both government and private institutions) and placed in the globally prestigious 1001–1200 band. This recognition reinforces the university’s growing stature in the international academic landscape and reflects its consistent progress across global higher education benchmarks.

These recognitions highlight Galgotias University’s strong focus on teaching excellence, research impact, internationalization, industry integration, and innovation driven learning, shaping globally competent graduates ready for the challenges of the future.

For more information, please visit: www.galgotiasuniversity.edu.in.

Holiday Inn Mumbai International Airport recently hosted ‘Carnival of Love’, an immersive wedding fair that brought together décor concepts, curated culinary experiences, prospective clientele and leading wedding specialists under one roof, offering families and couples a glimpse into the possibilities of their dream celebrations.

Holiday Inn Mumbai International Airport Unveils ‘Carnival of Love’ – A Wedding Fair Celebrating Inspired Celebrations

The hotel had transformed all its event spaces into a vibrant showcase of wedding inspirations. The Grand Ballroom featured elegant décor themes ranging from a classic Rococo-inspired setting to a contemporary Eco-Elegance concept, allowing guests to visualise different wedding styles and aesthetics.

Meanwhile, our Meeting Rooms 1, 2, and 3 were styled as a vintage Catholic-inspired wedding setup, complete with aisle-style seating and refined décor elements that recreated the charm of a traditional ceremony. Each venue layout highlighted the versatility of the hotel’s event spaces for different wedding functions.

The fair also featured a curated selection of wedding vendors and experiential pop-ups across the hotel’s pre-function areas, lobby entrance and terrace. Guests had the opportunity to interact with the hotel’s wedding specialist team, planners, designers, and our F&B and culinary experts while exploring décor inspiration and planning ideas for their upcoming celebrations.

Adding to the experience was a specially curated wedding brunch by our culinary experts, who planned the menu based on the themes displayed across the venues, where guests enjoyed a selection of multi-cuisine delicacies in an elegant setting inspired by grand wedding festivities.

Commenting on the initiative, Subhrajit Bardhan, General Manager of Holiday Inn Mumbai International Airport, said, “Carnival of Love was designed to offer prospective families an immersive preview of how their dream weddings can come to life. It was wonderful to see guests engage with our spaces, explore décor themes, and interact with wedding experts and the team to design their special day. At Holiday Inn Mumbai International Airport, we take pride in curating memorable celebrations through versatile venues, personalised services, and exceptional culinary experiences.”

With its versatile venues, bespoke services, and curated experiences, Holiday Inn Mumbai International Airport continues to position itself as a preferred destination for weddings and social celebrations in the city.

CRC Group has engaged with global renowned CBRE to manage integrated facility operations at CRC The Flagship, its large, office led mixed use development located in Sector 140A along the Noida Expressway, as the project moves closer to completion.

 CRC Engages CBRE for Facility Management at Office‑Led Commercial Development in Noida

Spanning approximately 2.4 million sq. ft., CRC The Flagship has been conceived as a campus style, next generation IT/ITES project, where Grade A+ office spaces anchor the development and are supported by curated retail, food and beverage offerings, and hospitality infrastructure. The project is currently in its final stages of construction and is expected to be delivered in the 3rd quarter of this year, positioning it to address near term enterprise demand along the Noida Expressway corridor.

The development has been master planned by Benoy, UK, with architectural inputs from RSP and Vastunidhi Architects, and supported by specialist consultants across structure, MEP services, façade and lighting, traffic and parking, green building compliance, and security and risk management. The planning framework emphasises efficient office layouts, clear circulation, walkability, and long term operational resilience.

Under its mandate, CBRE will supervise end to end facility management services, covering operations and maintenance, sustainability management, technology enabled building systems, and predictive maintenance frameworks. The scope spans office towers, shared amenities, retail areas, hospitality components, and public spaces, with a focus on ensuring consistent service delivery, asset performance, and occupier experience across the campus.

Office infrastructure at CRC The Flagship has been designed to support high intensity corporate use. Each office tower features 10 high speed elevators, supported by destination controlled vertical transportation systems to manage peak hour movement efficiently. The campus also incorporates dedicated special driveways, segregated vehicular circulation for offices, retail, and services, and premium multi height lobbies, reinforcing an institutional arrival experience.

The project is IGBC Platinum pre certified and integrates climate responsive architecture, high performance façade glazing, centralised air conditioning with air quality monitoring, EV ready parking infrastructure, and a Building Management System (BMS) to optimise energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality. In addition, CRC has undertaken developer led enhancement of the adjoining green belt, contributing to improved micro climate and environmental quality.

Commenting on the engagement, Salil Kumar, Director-Marketing & Business Management -CRC Group, said, “The company was pleased to bring CBRE on board as the project nears completion.”

“We welcome CBRE into the CRC Group ecosystem and place strong trust in their proven commitments and service delivery capabilities. As CRC The Flagship moves into its operational phase, we look forward to delivering a best in class workplace experience with CBRE, aligned with the expectations of global IT/ITES and enterprise occupiers,” he said.

With its scale, infrastructure depth, and location along the Noida Expressway, CRC The Flagship is being positioned as a future ready office destination aligned with enterprise occupier expectations in the NCR market.

• Signatory status reinforces LTF’s commitment to globally recognised principles

• Positions LTF as a responsible financial institution driving sustainable and inclusive growth

L&T Finance Ltd. (LTF), formerly known as L&T Finance Holdings Ltd., one of the leading Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) in the country, has become a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. This milestone marks a significant step in the Company’s journey to advance its sustainability agenda by integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into its core business strategy and operations. 

This milestone advances LTF’s sustainability agenda by integrating ESG principles into its core strategy and operations

By joining the UNGC, LTF aligned itself with a global network of thousands of companies committed to taking responsible business action to pave the way for a sustainable world. This announcement serves to publicly reaffirm LTF’s existing ethical practices and align its long-term strategy with the UNGC’s Principles on human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption while reinforcing commitment to ethical and responsible business practices, sustainable development goals, and long-term value creation.

Ms. Apurva Rathod, Company Secretary and Chief Sustainability Officer at LTF, said, “Becoming a signatory to the UNGC is a significant milestone in our sustainability journey. It reinforces our commitment to embedding globally recognised principles into our business strategy, strengthening our responsible financing practices and creating value for our stakeholders. This alignment strengthens LTF’s progress toward its Lakshya goals, embedding sustainability and responsible business practices at the core of its strategy.”

As part of its participation in the UNGC, LTF will report annually on its progress in implementing the ‘Ten Principles of the Global Compact.’ These disclosures will be made through the Company’s annual reporting, ensuring transparency and accountability in its sustainability journey.

LTF has been at the forefront of advancing sustainable practices in the NBFC sector, being among the first to undertake voluntary assurance for ESG disclosures, conducting a comprehensive Business Impact study based on True Value methodology, and adopting a Double Materiality approach aligned with evolving global expectations. LTF is also a signatory to the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF), reinforcing its commitment to measuring and managing financed emissions. These initiatives reflect LTF’s proactive approach to embedding ESG considerations into its strategy, management, and decision-making processes.

About L&T Finance Ltd. (LTF)
L&T Finance Ltd. (LTF) (www.LTFINANCE.com), formerly known as L&T Finance Holdings Ltd. (LTFH), is a leading Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), offering a range of financial products and services. Headquartered in Mumbai, the Company has been rated ‘AAA’—the highest credit rating—by four leading domestic rating agencies.  In August 2025, S&P Global Ratings upgraded LTF’s long-term Issuer Credit Rating to “BBB/Stable” from “BBB-/Positive” and short-term issuer credit rating to “A-2” from “A-3.” Fitch Ratings has assigned LTF Long-Term Foreign and Local-Currency Issuer Default Ratings of “BBB-” with a Stable outlook.  It has also received leadership scores and ratings by global and national Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) rating providers for its sustainability performance. The Company has been certified as a Great Place To Work® and has also won many prestigious awards for its flagship CSR project—Digital Sakhi—which focuses on women’s empowerment and digital and financial inclusion. Under Right to Win, being in the ‘right businesses’ has helped the Company become one of the leading financiers in key Retail products. The Company is focused on creating a top-class, digitally enabled, Retail finance company as part of the Lakshya 2026 plan. The goal is to move the emphasis from product focus to customer focus and establish a robust Retail portfolio with quality assets, thus creating a Fintech@Scale while keeping ESG at the core. Fintech@Scale is one of the pillars of the Company’s strategic roadmap—Lakshya 2026. The Company has over a 2.8 Crore customer database, which is being leveraged to cross-sell, up-sell, and identify new customers.
 

About the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC)
The United Nations Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, with over 20,000 participants across more than 160 countries. It calls on companies to align their strategies and operations with Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption, and to take actions that advance broader societal goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
 

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