Maansi Makkar developed a strong inclination toward creativity and communication from an early age. She was deeply interested in journaling, writing, poetry, sketching, storytelling, dance, and artistic expression, which later became the foundation of her professional identity.

She began her corporate career with HDFC Bank and later gained international professional exposure while living and working in Dubai and Singapore. During this period, she worked with organizations including DP World, where she developed expertise in communication, business operations, relationship management, and leadership within multicultural corporate environments.

In 2020, she returned to India with a renewed vision centered around growth, creativity, and entrepreneurship, which marked the beginning of her independent professional journey.

Career

Maansi Makkar is known for her work in branding, marketing communication, storytelling, and business growth strategy. She specializes in personal branding, marketing strategy, LinkedIn positioning, content communication, and brand storytelling.

Over the years, she has worked with entrepreneurs, founders, and brands across industries including healthcare, construction, interior solutions, manufacturing, wellness, education, and lifestyle. Through strategic communication and positioning, she has helped businesses strengthen their market presence, build credibility, and create meaningful audience engagement.

She is also associated with ventures focused on branding, scaling, recruitment, career counselling, and marketing implementation. Her professional philosophy emphasizes that branding is not only about visibility, but about building trust, emotional connection, influence, and long-term business value.

Maansi is recognized for combining creativity with business psychology to create communication strategies that align with brand vision and audience behavior.

Personal Life

Outside of her professional work, Maansi remains closely connected to writing, poetry, creativity, and personal development. She believes in the power of emotional intelligence, self-growth, and meaningful communication as essential elements of both life and business.

She is also actively involved in initiatives related to women empowerment, networking, leadership development, and skill enhancement. Her communication style reflects a balance of emotional depth, strategic thinking, and creativity.

Achievements & Recognition

• Built a professional identity as a creative brand strategist and communication consultant.
• Worked with brands and businesses across multiple industries in India and international markets.
• Gained international corporate exposure through professional experience in Dubai and Singapore.
• Helped entrepreneurs and businesses strengthen brand positioning and digital communication strategies.
• Recognized for expertise in storytelling, personal branding, LinkedIn positioning, and strategic communication.
• Associated with initiatives supporting women empowerment, professional networking, and business development.

Sushma Khichar, a prominent hotelier and General Manager of Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway, grew up in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Her early life was shaped by a highly protective family environment, where she was not encouraged to venture out independently.

Over time, this upbringing transformed into a strong drive for independence and exploration. She describes her journey as a complete personal evolution from a shy, protected individual to a confident and self-reliant leader in the hospitality industry.
She completed her education in Rajasthan, earning a B.Sc. along with a Diploma in Travel & Tourism, which laid the foundation for her entry into the hospitality sector.

Career

Ms. Khichar began her professional journey at The Oberoi, Mumbai, where she worked as a Front Office Assistant, gaining hands-on experience in guest relations, check-ins, and operational processes.

She went on to build a strong foundation in Mumbai’s competitive hospitality landscape, working with renowned properties such as The ITC Grand Maratha and The Renaissance Mumbai Hotel & Convention Centre.

In 2006, she joined Marriott International, marking the beginning of a long and impactful association with the brand. With over two decades of experience, she has evolved into a transformative leader known for driving operational excellence, strategic growth, and innovation.

As General Manager of Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway, she has been instrumental in positioning the hotel as a leading luxury and business destination. Her leadership blends precision with creativity, particularly in the food and beverage space, where she has championed distinctive dining concepts and collaborations.

Personal Life

Beyond her professional achievements, Sushma Khichar is known for her vibrant and adventurous spirit. A passionate advocate for work-life balance, she enjoys activities such as motorbiking and trekking interests that reflect her journey from a sheltered upbringing to a bold and Independent lifestyle.

She is deeply committed to mentoring young professionals in the hospitality industry and believes strongly in creating inclusive, people-centric work environments. Her leadership is rooted in empathy, resilience, and the belief that empowered teams drive exceptional guest experiences.

Known for her grounded personality and forward-thinking mindset, she continues to inspire those around her by balancing high performance with a genuine focus on people development and well-being.

Achievements & Recognition

Notable Achievements in the Last 3 Years:

• General Manager of the Year – Restaurant Awards (April 2025)
• ET F&B Achievers & Conclave (July 2025)
• South Asia’s Best General Manager – South Asian Travel Awards (2024)
• Leading F&B Hotel – South Asian Travel Awards (2024)
• Leading Luxury Hotel – South Asian Travel Awards (2024)
• Leading City Hotel – South Asian Travel Awards (22 September 2025)
• Leading Meeting & Conference Hotel/Resort – South Asian Travel Awards (September 2025)
• Business Hotel of the Year – SATTE Awards (February 2026)
  These accolades reflect both her individual leadership excellence and the hotel’s continued success under her stewardship.

Previous Media Mentions
Sushma Khichar, General Manager, Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway, has been widely featured across leading hospitality and business publications for her leadership, innovation, and contributions to the industry.
Recent media coverage includes:

• Hospitality News (2026) – Redefining Hospitality: Meaningful Luxury & Future-Ready Innovation
  https://hospitalitynews.in/hotelier-community/redefining-hospitality-sushma-khichar-on-meaningful-luxury-and-future-ready-innovation
• Voyagers World (March 2026) – Cover Story: The New Face of Indian Travel – Women Leading the Way
  https://voyagersworld.in/2026/03/09/the-new-face-of-indian-travel-women-leading-the-way/
• Hospitality Tip of the Day (February 2026) – International Women’s Day 2026 Feature
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07syxe5Rpko
  (Insights on leadership, career growth, and women shaping the future of hospitality)
• Hotel Business Review (2026) – Game-Changing Promotion Strategies of GMs
  https://www.magzter.com/stories/business/Hotel-Business-Review/GAMECHANGING-PROMOTION-STRATEGIES-OF-GMS
• Voyagers World (February 2026) – Reimagining Urban Luxury
  https://voyagersworld.in/2026/02/27/reimagining-urban-luxury-sushma-khichars-vision-for-sheraton-grand-bangalore-hotel/
• Hospitality Biz (March 2026 Issue) – Feature coverage
  https://hospitalitybizindia.com/FlipBook/march2026/March_2026.html
• Tourism India (2026) – Breaking Ceilings, Building Cultures
  https://tourismindiaonline.com/breaking-ceilings-building-cultures-sushma-khichar-on-leading-with-purpose-at-sheraton-grand-bangalore-at-brigade-gateway/
• Hospitality News (2026) – Women’s Leadership in Hospitality
  https://hospitalitynews.in/news/sushma-khichar-highlights-womens-leadership-in-hospitality
  Additionally featured in:
• World of Hospitality (June 2025) – Housekeeping & Brand Sustainability
• Hotel Business Review – Diversity Drives Hotels Forward and GM profiling features

External Links

• Official Website: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/blrgs-sheraton-grand-bangalore-hotel-at-brigade-gateway/overview/

Arunima Singh is a distinguished media, marketing, and business transformation leader with over 25 years of experience at the intersection of brand strategy, digital innovation, customer engagement, and purpose-led leadership.

She holds an MBA from the Institute of Finance and Management, Lucknow University, and has further strengthened her leadership capabilities through executive education at the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad.

A strong advocate of lifelong learning, Arunima has earned globally recognized certifications in Social Media and Public Relations from the National University of Singapore, the Digital Insider Certification Program by Google India in collaboration with ISB Hyderabad, and Design Thinking Fundamentals from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

She is currently pursuing her PhD in Customer Experience (CX) leveraging AI & Machine Learning, reflecting her commitment to future-forward business thinking and academic excellence.

Professional Journey

With over two and a half decades of leadership experience, Arunima Singh has established herself as a highly respected name in media, digital transformation, customer experience, and business growth strategy.

She currently serves as the Managing Director of & ignite, where she leads strategic consulting, brand growth mandates, customer experience innovation, and integrated digital transformation programs across sectors.

Her expertise spans:

Strategic Brand Consulting
Digital transformation
Media planning and campaign strategy
Customer experience and engagement design
Reputation management
Social media ecosystems
SEO and digital performance
Website and digital asset development
Content strategy and thought leadership
Business growth and client partnerships

Over the years, she has worked across both agency and client-side ecosystems, bringing a rare 360-degree understanding of business, market dynamics, consumer behavior, and growth challenges.

She has led impactful mandates for marquee brands including Pidilite, Godrej Group, Kotak Mahindra, HUL, Apollo Clinics, Tata Housing, Intel, HSBC, Colgate, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Zydus, and Viatris, among others.

Her ability to transform strategic insights into measurable business outcomes has made her a trusted leader in brand-led growth, digital innovation, and CX transformation.

Thought Leadership, Jury & Advisory Roles

Arunima’s influence extends well beyond corporate leadership into industry forums, academic institutions, and award juries.

She has served in several prestigious jury, advisory, and leadership roles, including:

Advisory Council Member & Jury – DMA Asia (2017, 2018, 2019)
Jury – Abby Awards (Technology) (2022, 2023, 2024)
Jury – TalenTrack Awards (2019, 2020)
Jury – SEAC Singapore Customer Engagement Forum & Awards (2019)
Advisory Board Member – SEE TALKS & CRISP
IamRemarkable Facilitator – Google India
WICCI Council Member (2022)

She has also been a sought-after speaker, keynote presenter, and guest faculty, with engagements at IIM Mumbai, IIM Ranchi, IIM Jammu, NITIE, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Amity University, PRSI, Women Economic Forum, and leading digital summits.

Leadership Beyond Business | Rotary & Social Impact

A committed community leader, Arunima has played an exceptional role in the Rotary ecosystem, combining strategic leadership with grassroots social impact.

She served as the President of her Rotary Club for the year 2024–25, a landmark leadership milestone during which she successfully led 100+ impactful service projects across community development, women empowerment, education, healthcare, and outreach initiatives.

Her presidential tenure was marked by multiple awards and recognitions for club performance, leadership excellence, and service impact, further underscoring her ability to lead high-performing teams beyond the corporate environment.

In addition to her club leadership, she has undertaken several district-level responsibilities, including roles in International Services, Vocational Services, and editorial and communications leadership across Rotary District platforms.

These roles reflect her strong capabilities in institutional leadership, stakeholder management, project execution, and purpose-driven governance.

Her Rotary journey complements her corporate leadership philosophy, one rooted equally in business growth and social transformation.

Awards & Recognition

Arunima Singh has been consistently recognized for her contributions to leadership, digital excellence, and women-led business transformation.

Her Recognitions include:

Social Media Influencer Award – DMA Asia, Singapore (2017)
Distinguished Digital Leader Award – XIME University, Chennai (2018)
Distinguished Digital Leader Award – Karunya University, Coimbatore (2018)
Iron Lady Title – Tata Institute of Social Sciences & Iron Lady Community
SuperWomen Award – Social Samosa (2019)
Exemplary Leadership Award in Digital Marketing – Jain University & GWFM (2019)
Women Achiever Award – Indian Conventions (2019)
Exceptional Women of Excellence – Women Economic Forum (2019)
Featured among the 51 Most Successful Female Entrepreneurs of India
Featured in Portrait of Business Woman
Women Super Achiever Award – World Women Leadership Congress (2020)
Branch Head of the Year – Women Disruptors Awards (2020, 2022)
Excellence in Social Media – Women Disruptor Award (2021)
SHE Awards – Agency Reporter (2021, 2022, 2023)
Women Leadership Award – Glantor X powered by Zee News & Dailyhunt (2022)
Digital Women Leader of the Year – Business Mint (2022)
Women Face of the Year Award – Fox Story India (2024)
50 Under Fifty Award – Glantor X (2024)
Ms. Limitless Leader & Premier Finalist – Nari First Events – Jewel of India 2026 (2026)

Manisha Khadge developed an early interest in business, communication, and technology, which later shaped her career in strategic marketing leadership. With a strong academic background and curiosity about how organizations grow and innovate, she pursued opportunities that combined technology, marketing strategy, and business transformation. Her early experiences helped her understand the intersection of technology, customer engagement, and market growth—foundations that would later define her leadership approach in global technology companies.

Career

Manisha Khadge is a seasoned marketing executive with over 20 years of experience in IT services, enterprise software, and fintech industries. Throughout her career, she has held senior marketing leadership roles at globally recognized organizations including Synechron, Tavisca, Icertis, and Signzy.

In these roles, she has led global marketing initiatives spanning brand development, demand generation, digital transformation, strategic partnerships, and go-to-market execution. Her ability to translate complex technology offerings into compelling market narratives has helped organizations expand into new markets and strengthen their global positioning.

Currently, Manisha serves as Chief Marketing Officer at Mindbowser, where she leads global marketing strategy, brand positioning, and growth initiatives. She focuses on building a scalable marketing engine, strengthening digital demand generation, and leveraging AI-driven marketing automation to accelerate growth in healthcare and digital health technology markets.

Personal Life

Beyond her professional achievements, Manisha Khadge is actively involved in initiatives that promote leadership, diversity, and inclusion within the technology ecosystem. She contributes to industry discussions on marketing leadership, digital transformation, and the role of technology in shaping the future of businesses. She is also passionate about mentoring professionals and supporting initiatives that empower women to build leadership careers in technology and business.

Achievements & Recognition

Manisha Khadge has received several prestigious recognitions for her contributions to marketing leadership, digital transformation, and healthcare innovation. Over the course of her career, she has been acknowledged by industry bodies and leadership platforms for driving strategic marketing initiatives, building strong global brands, and leading marketing transformation across technology organizations.

Her leadership has also been recognized for advancing innovation in healthcare technology and for championing inclusive leadership in the workplace. Through her work, she has consistently advocated for greater representation of women in leadership roles and for creating equitable opportunities within the technology and business ecosystem.

Beyond industry recognition, Manisha has contributed thought leadership in the marketing and business leadership space. She has contributed to academic and professional publications with SAGE Publications, sharing insights on modern marketing leadership, social innovation, and digital transformation.

She is also an active voice in conversations around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), frequently participating in podcasts, industry forums, and leadership platforms where she speaks about building inclusive workplaces and empowering women leaders in technology and healthcare.

Awards & Honors

Healthcare Excellence & Leadership Award – 2025
Most Inspiring Women Leaders – 2025
Most Iconic Woman Transforming the Future – 2025
Making a Mark – Top 5 Outstanding Leaders – 2024
Top Five Leaders Recognition – 2024 (CIO Times)
Asia’s 100 Women Power Leaders – 2023
Women Leadership Award – Icons of Asia
CMO of the Year – 2020

Contribution to Women Empowerment

Manisha Khadge actively advocates for women’s leadership and empowerment in the technology and marketing industries. Through speaking engagements, mentorship, and industry forums, she encourages women professionals to pursue leadership roles and develop strategic career paths in technology-driven sectors. Her advocacy focuses on building inclusive organizations, promoting leadership opportunities for women, and encouraging the next generation of women leaders to thrive in innovation-led industries.

External Links

Professional Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manishakhadge/

Overall, Manisha Khadge’s journey reflects a blend of strategic marketing leadership, industry thought leadership, and advocacy for inclusive growth positioning her as a recognized voice in the global technology marketing ecosystem.

Career

Safura Ubaid’s career spans media, entertainment, and technology, with a focus on evolving content from a campaign-led function into a structured, technology-enabled growth system.

She began her career in documentary filmmaking with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), where she worked on narrative-driven communication initiatives across multiple geographies. She later moved into broadcast and content distribution at World Movies HD, leading international programming and acquisition strategy for expansion across India and the Asia-Pacific region.

At The Walt Disney Company, she served as Senior Executive Producer, contributing to programming strategy and content-led growth across Asian markets. She subsequently worked with BBDO Worldwide and the United States Agency for International Development, where she led cross-market communication initiatives across commercial and development sectors.

Safura co-founded Rocket Pictures India where she developed original intellectual property and global content partnerships with platforms including Apple TV, Amazon, Netflix, Audible, Dentsu Aegis Network, and the International Olympic Committee. During this period, she contributed to early formats that combined branded storytelling with platform-scale distribution, including India’s first original long-format sports content series developed for the Olympic ecosystem.

At Pratilipi, she led content, growth, and intellectual property strategy, building premium storytelling ecosystems and advancing early models of branded fiction and creator-led monetization in India’s digital content landscape.

She later joined Pocket FM as Director of International Growth, where she led global expansion, particularly in the United States. Her work focused on building AI-assisted content and distribution systems that integrated storytelling with acquisition, retention, and monetization, contributing to large-scale platform growth.

Safura currently serves as Head of Brand and Content Marketing at Junglee Games, part of Flutter Entertainment. She leads brand, content, and organic growth across multiple products, with a focus on creator-led ecosystems and AI-enabled content-to-conversion architectures designed to drive sustained engagement and long-term value.

Work and Philosophy

Safura Ubaid’s work is centered on the idea that creativity can be systematized into a scalable growth function, particularly when augmented by artificial intelligence. Her concept of Creative Gold frames creativity as a compounding asset where storytelling, structured through systems and enhanced by AI, becomes a continuous driver of business outcomes.

Her approach includes:
• Designing AI-enabled organic growth systems that integrate content creation, distribution, and performance
• Building creator-led and community-driven ecosystems across platforms
• Developing full-funnel content architectures aligned with acquisition, retention, and monetization
• Applying artificial intelligence to scale ideation, production, experimentation, and optimization in content systems

Leadership and Influence

Safura operates with a systems-first, founder-led approach, aligning narrative, product, and growth into unified operating models. Her work reflects a broader shift in digital businesses toward treating content as infrastructure and artificial intelligence as an enabler of scale rather than a replacement for creativity.

She is part of a cohort of leaders shaping how creativity and AI converge to redefine growth in digital-first organizations.

Public Engagements and Affiliations

Safura Ubaid has contributed to industry discussions on digital storytelling, AI in marketing, and growth systems at international forums, including conferences in the Middle East and Asia.

She is actively involved in mentorship and industry networks supporting creators and women in media and technology, including WomenTech Network, Free The Work, and the Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA).

She is also a fellow of the NSRCEL IIM Bangalore Women’s Entrepreneurship Program.

Education

• Master of Arts in Mass Communication, Jamia Millia Islamia
• Bachelor of Commerce, University of Allahabad