INDIA — The future of Indian advertising is undeniably diverse, and Indian Creative Women (ICW) is leading the charge. Staying true to its mission of fostering inclusivity in the creative space, ICW hosted the 5th edition of its much-anticipated Portfolio Evening on January 30th and 31st. The hybrid event, held in collaboration with D&AD and the DDB Mudra Group, was powered by Godrej Consumer Products Ltd.
A two-day showcase of talent, insights, and opportunity brought together 30 top creative and media leaders alongside 80 exceptional women and non-binary creatives, Portfolio Evening 2025 provided a dynamic space for portfolio reviews, networking, and mentorship. Participants hailing from backgrounds in design, animation, and advertising had the rare opportunity to present their work to industry heavyweights, receiving valuable critique and career-shaping insights.
Speaking on the occasion, Sakshi Choudhary, Founder, Indian Creative Women said, “Portfolio Evening 2025 was the fifth successful portfolio review event by Indian Creative Women. Our incredible global jury gave constructive feedback to more than 80 Indian creative women. The participants didn’t just show good pieces in their book but they had unbelievable conviction in presenting the work. These women are now equipped with what they need to take the next step and will continue to tap into our network to make the most of it. I’m also elated for our winners, Rishanki and Dimple, who will get to experience the D&AD Festival in person, in London. Thanks to our sponsors Godrej and DDB. Indian Creative Women will continue to actively work towards giving Indian women visibility and balancing the gender ratio at leadership levels.”
A recent report by the Geena Davis Institute highlights the pervasive issue of stereotyping in advertising, revealing that only 10% of Indian ads feature women in professional roles, while 62% depict them as homemakers. This disparity stems from a lack of representation within the advertising industry. Through initiatives like Portfolio Evening, ICW directly addresses this gender gap, driving tangible and positive change within India’s creative ecosystem.
| Jury Name | Designation | Organization |
| Alisha Sharma | Associate ECD | Leo Burnett, Mumbai |
| Chandani Samdaria | ECD | L&K Saatchi |
| Dara Lynch | CEO | D&AD |
| Darshan Gandhi | Global Head of Design | Godrej Consumer Products Limited |
| Deep Chhabria | Creative Lead | Netflix |
| Hetal Ajmera | Co-founder, Chief Design Officer | Sharpener, Mumbai |
| Himanish Ashar | ECD – Innovation | Leo Burnett, Mumbai |
| Kainaz Karmakar | CCO | Ogilvy, India |
| Mahima Mathur | Creative Director | DDB Mudra, Mumbai |
| Nivedita Agashe | GCD | Ogilvy, Mumbai |
| Pragati Rana | Head of Originals, Regional Creative Officer – West, and Founding Partner | TGTHR |
| Rahul Mathew | CCO | DDB Mudra Group |
| Rebecca Daniel | Creative Collaborator | Netflix |
| Siddhi Yadav | ECD | McCann, Mumbai |
| Suchitra Gahlot | NCD | FCB Group, India |
| Sukesh Nayak | CCO | Ogilvy, India |
Jury for Virtual Portfolio Evening: –
| Jury Name | Designation | Organization |
| Divya Bhatia | ECD | McCann, New Delhi |
| Geet Rathi | Creative Director, VP | Area 23, New York |
| Harshad Rajadhyaksha | CCO | Ogilvy India |
| Harshada Menon | ECD | DDB Mudra |
| Hital Pandya | SVP, Global ECD | Leo Burnett, Chicago |
| Huma Mobin | Partner & CD | Contentory Inc, Lahore |
| Kobita Banerjee | Creative Director | OML, Mumbai |
| Luis Gabriel Ramirez | CCO, Sr. Director Brand Marketing | Whirlpool, Chicago |
| Nihal Atawane | Senior Copywriter | FCB, Chicago |
| Prerana Mehra | CD & Head of Art & Design | Mullenlowe Mena, Dubai |
| Ria Mohta | Independent Illustrator | Brand Designer | Freelance |
| Rohan Matthew | Independent Creative Director | Freelance |
| Sheetal Raghav | Junior Partner & CD | Animal, New Delhi |
| Shikha Gupta | Independent Creative Director | Freelance |
| Stuthi Vasudevan | Independent Creative Director | Freelance |
| Vasudha Misra | President | Mullenlowe Lintas Group |
| Yashashree Samant | Sr. Copywriter | Leo, New York |
About ICW
Indian Creative Women (ICW) is an independent forum working on amplifying diversity in creative teams across the Indian advertising and design industry through actionable solutions. Through its partnerships with The One Club, Cannes Lions, Kyoorius, InVisible Creatives and The Collective, ICW runs a host of focused initiatives such as exclusive trainings, mentorships, partnerships and a private network of 3500+ women creatives in India.
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