Archives May 2025

In an age where digital connectivity is constant, loneliness has quietly emerged as one of the most urgent emotional health crises of our time. Statistics reveal that over 30% of the global population now experiences loneliness, a number that transcends age, culture and geography, affecting individuals (According to April ABA 2024 Survey). Despite living in an era of constant communication, the paradox is undeniable- many are feeling isolated than ever. Episode 7 of The Healing Circle, hosted by Janice Sequeira and powered by coto, an emotional wellness platform, delves into this silent struggle, revealing the unspoken emotions and societal pressures that make loneliness not only difficult to express but even harder to heal. This widespread emotional disconnect is not just a fleeting feeling but a silent epidemic that is eroding our mental well-being.

This powerful episode unpacks how loneliness subtly infiltrates even our closest relationships, whether in friendships, romantic partnerships, or the way we engage with ourselves. The conversation goes beyond surface-level emotions to explore the quiet suffering behind the curated lives we display on social media, confronting the stigma of admitting we’re not okay and the pressure to appear emotionally self-sufficient. Even surrounded by loved ones, loneliness can creep in, leaving us feeling isolated. The fear of vulnerability exacerbates this disconnection.

Digital creators Kareema Barry and Anish Bhagat, along with coto life coach Neha Srivastava, share their battles with loneliness. They reflect on how this isolating emotion has shaped their lives and explore the tools of self-awareness, resilience, and courage to embrace vulnerability. This dialogue serves as a powerful reminder of our shared humanity and the strength found in connection.

Kareema Barry, who’s also been a vocal advocate for mental wellness and self-awareness on social media, reflected on how loneliness isn’t always visible but deeply felt. She shared, “Loneliness isn’t just about being alone—it’s a complex feeling that runs deep. It’s something we can carry with us even when surrounded by people.” She went on to highlight how romantic loneliness is often the most recognized form, but not the only one. “There’s also loneliness in friendships, work environments, and even in our relationships with ourselves. It’s about that disconnect we feel, the gaps in emotional needs and understanding.”

She emphasized the significance of nurturing meaningful friendships to combat these feelings. “Having someone isn’t enough; it’s about having the right kind of connection. When our friendships are rooted in trust and mutual support, they help bridge that emotional gap. But loneliness doesn’t just fade away—it comes and goes. What’s important is to not resist it, but accept it as part of the journey, allowing ourselves to feel, learn, and grow from it.”

Anish Bhagat, who often uses his platform to discuss emotional growth and mental wellbeing, added another dimension to the conversation, one that views loneliness as a mirror for self-reflection. He explained, “Loneliness is often seen as a negative feeling, but it’s an opportunity for personal growth. Instead of resisting it, we should accept it, embrace it, and allow ourselves to find strength within.” He shared how reframing our relationship with loneliness can lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves. “It’s important to realize that loneliness is temporary and, when viewed through the lens of strength, it helps us learn more about ourselves. You can even see the silver lining by acknowledging that it’s teaching you something valuable. It will leave when it’s meant to, just like any emotion that comes and goes.”

Neha Srivastava, a life coach on coto who works closely with individuals navigating emotional burnout and overwhelm, emphasized how loneliness often stems from emotional suppression and a lack of inner dialogue. She noted, “A big part of loneliness today comes from being emotionally unavailable to ourselves. We’re constantly distracted—scrolling, working, performing—and rarely pausing to ask what we really need emotionally.” Neha stressed the importance of cultivating self-awareness and allowing space for emotional vulnerability. “Therapy or coaching helps not just in resolving pain, but in recognizing patterns, creating emotional resilience, and finding power in vulnerability.”

Mumbai, India – In today’s evolving corporate landscape, women continue to face unique challenges in advancing to leadership positions. To bridge this gap and promote equal opportunities, the American Management Association (AMA) – South Asia has introduced the Women’s Leadership Certificate Program—a pioneering initiative aimed at equipping women with the skills and strategic insights required for impactful leadership.

Speaking on this, Anand Dewan, President & CEO of AMA – South Asia, said:

“Leadership is not just about holding a position; it’s about creating an impact. Through this program, we aim to provide women with the knowledge and tools needed to drive transformative change within their organizations.“

Surya Vishwakarma, Associate Director, AMA – South Asia, further elaborated:

“Despite significant strides toward gender diversity in business, women are still underrepresented in executive roles. Many face challenges like bias, lack of mentorship, limited access to strategic networks, and confidence gaps in decision-making. This program recognizes these obstacles and provides a structured pathway to develop leadership acumen, enhance communication skills, and instill the confidence needed to navigate corporate complexities.”

Key Program Highlights:

Understanding the distinction between leadership and management, mastering strategies for career acceleration.

Overcoming biases and barriers that often impede women’s professional growth.

Developing a persuasive leadership voice to communicate vision and inspire teams.

Navigating organizational politics with confidence to establish influence in the workplace.

Strengthening negotiation techniques to drive successful business outcomes.

Jolly Priya, Master Facilitator for the program, commented:

“Leadership should be accessible to all, and this program empowers women to lead with courage, conviction, and authenticity.”

By championing women’s leadership, AMA – South Asia remains committed to shaping a more inclusive business environment, ensuring that organizations benefit from diverse perspectives and dynamic leadership.

New Delhi, May 14, 2025: MedLern, the leader in Hospital Training in India, unveiled the next innovation with the successful launch of the Modular Skills Trainer, an innovative 16-in-1 clinical skills training solution developed by Laerdal Medical, at a special event hosted at Cytecare Hospitals, Bangalore. The versatile kit enables single or multiple learners to practice and master critical nursing procedures like nasogastric tube insertion, wound care, tracheostomy care, catheterization, injections, and more, essential for real clinical environments. The dual mode learning approach enables a sound knowledge of the theoretical aspects before assessing psychomotor skills through an Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation.

Mr. Suresh Ramu, Co-founder & CEO, Cytecare Hospitals said of the development “This marks a proud milestone in our continuous journey to strengthen healthcare delivery. In today’s world, where mobile connectivity defines how we access and process information, the ability to learn and adapt in real time has become more critical than simply retaining knowledge. Practical skills training, especially in nursing and clinical care, is indispensable because while digital platforms enable access, the physical nature of care cannot be overlooked. With this step towards building a blended skills lab that is both digital and hands-on, we are laying the foundation for a more prepared and capable healthcare workforce. I extend my sincere thanks to the leadership, nursing teams, paramedics, and technical staff at Cytecare for embracing this initiative and driving us all towards better care delivery.”

Mr. Sameer Shariff, Executive Chairman of MedLern said “Nursing is the backbone of healthcare, and at MedLern, we are committed to empowering medical professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to deliver better care. MedLern was born from a personal tragedy when we lost a young engineer, Denny Sunny, to a preventable medical error. That moment became a driving force behind our mission: better preparedness to deliver better care. Today, MedLern supports over 125,000 professionals across 350 hospitals. We are proud to partner with Cytecare, who are not only embracing technology but leading the way with initiatives like the MST program. Together, we aim to drive a culture of continuous learning and care excellence across the healthcare ecosystem.”

Mr. Sanjeev Singh – CEO of Laerdal Medical India, a global leader in healthcare education and resuscitation training, dedicated to advancing patient safety and saving lives, added, “Combining hands-on clinical skills practice with virtual simulation and digital assessment tools provide instructors with a more competency-based approach for improving learning outcomes. Students are better prepared to exercise clinical judgment, decision making and communication, before applying this collective learning in high fidelity simulation with realistic, patient simulators such as the Nursing Anne Simulator.”

The Modular Skills Trainer requires no electrical connectivity or additional hardware, allowing learners to begin hands-on practice immediately upon receipt. Constructed from lightweight recycled materials, the device is easy to transport, clean, and store, making it ideal for both classroom and remote training settings.

The Modular Skills Trainer launch at Cytecare Hospitals represents a milestone in healthcare training in India, reinforcing MedLern’s leadership in delivering a full stack, innovative, competency-based training solutions to hospitals nationwide.

Mumbai, May 14, 2025: NuSummit, a leading provider of advanced digital transformation and cybersecurity solutions for the global capital markets and the financial services industry, today announced the appointment of Ankush Srivastava as Chief Revenue Officer, North America. The appointment signals a strategic move by the company to scale its enterprise footprint, deepen customer impact, and sharpen its commercial strategy in one of its most critical growth markets – North America.

Ankush-Srivastava

With over 27 years of experience in financial services and enterprise technology, Ankush brings a deep understanding of revenue growth strategy, client engagement, strategic growth, innovation-driven transformation and cross-functional alignment. Prior to joining NuSummit, he served at Infosys, where he led the global Banking and Financial Services portfolio with a strong focus on Capital Markets. His leadership was instrumental in driving strategic programs, building alliances, launching new business units, scaling strategic alliances with hyperscalers and FinTechs, and delivering sustained revenue growth across mature and emerging markets.

Announcing the appointment, Anantharaman Sreenivasan, Managing Director and Group CEO, NuSummit, said, “Ankush’s experience in scaling high-value client portfolios and navigating complex financial ecosystems will be vital to our next chapter of growth. His client-first approach and commercial acumen align with our ambition to deliver sustained value to our enterprise customers in the region.”

Reflecting on his new role, Ankush Srivastava, Chief Revenue Officer, North America, NuSummit, added, “NuSummit’s purpose-driven focus on the financial services industry, coupled with its capabilities in AI, data, cloud, cybersecurity, and digital engineering, presents a powerful value proposition. I look forward to building on this strong foundation to deliver outcomes that matter to our clients and accelerate growth in a highly dynamic market.”

In his role at NuSummit, Ankush will lead the development and execution of NuSummit’s integrated revenue strategy in North America, bringing together sales, marketing, customer success, and strategic partnerships. He will focus on expanding NuSummit’s presence across enterprise clients, augmenting the company’s go-to-market model, and driving outcomes that directly align with client business objectives. Ankush’s approach blends revenue accountability with a commitment to building high-performing, forward-looking teams that embrace innovation and agility.

Bangalore, May 14, 2025: In a significant step towards bridging the gap between education and employment, IG Group in collaboration with Nasscom Foundation has successfully skilled 2000 marginalized youth under the Skilling and Employability Program for Youth. With a strong focus on building an inclusive future-ready workforce, the initiative placed special emphasis on skilling women, who made up 60% of the participants, fostering greater diversity in the workforce.

Building on the success of the first cohort, this year’s program adopted a holistic approach. 1,200 students were trained through the Digital 101 course, an introductory program designed to spark interest and build foundational skills in emerging tech careers. Simultaneously, 800 students advanced through specialized Domain Courses in BPM – Finance and Accounting, BPM – Banking, and Data Science & Analytics. As a direct outcome, 480 students have been provided with employment opportunities, moving a step closer to a brighter future. The training model followed an in person training approach and was conducted in the premises of partnering colleges and institutions.

Commenting on the success of the program, Jyoti Sharma, CEO, Nasscom Foundation said, “India’s young population, with over 54% below the age of 25 holds the key to the country’s future growth, but only if we invest in their skills and aspirations. Our ongoing partnership with IG Group targeted at skilling youth stands as a testament to what is possible when industry and social impact come together. By empowering over 2,000 marginalized youth this year, we have helped bridge the gap between education and employment, creating pathways to economic independence and inclusive growth. We are proud of the resilience and determination shown by the youth and look forward to continuing this meaningful journey, that can drive India’s progress in the years to come.“

Anand Kadur, COO – IG Group Technology and Head of IG India commented,” Training and education are fundamental drivers of economic growth, and today, tech-specific skills are essential across every sector. Our partnership with Nasscom Foundation has been instrumental in equipping the youth especially who lack skill development opportunities, to thrive in the digital economy. It has been truly inspiring to witness the students’ journeys and see their success stories unfold. Through this initiative, we are not just empowering individuals but also strengthening communities, as these youth are now able to support their parents, siblings, and future generations. Addressing skill gaps at the grassroots level is critical, and at IG Group, we remain deeply committed to this cause as we continue to invest in building a more inclusive and future-ready workforce.“

To ensure high-quality training across partner institutions, the project also focused on building faculty capacity. 15 faculty members underwent a structured 30-hour Faculty Development Program, strengthening their expertise in Data Science and Analytics and BPM. The training emphasized modern teaching methods, digital tools, interactive techniques, and self-assessment practices to better engage with students. By standardizing pedagogy, the program enhanced learning outcomes, improved student experiences, and supported career readiness.

Spanning Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Delhi NCR, the program also focused on holistic development by integrating several key initiatives. Students were equipped with soft skills and communication training to build workplace readiness, covering professional behaviour, interpersonal skills, and workplace ethics. Guest lectures and expert sessions by industry professionals connected classroom learning with real-world applications, while career guidance and mentorship helped students with career planning, goal setting, and ongoing support. Hands-on learning was emphasized through practical labs, projects, assignments, and group activities to foster collaborative and experiential learning. Additionally, industrial visits were organized to give students first and exposure to corporate environments and workplace expectations, ensuring a well-rounded learning experience.

Bengaluru, India — May 14, 2025: Arctic Wolf®, a global leader in security operations, today announced the promotion of two senior executives into expanded leadership roles to support continued innovation and growth of the Arctic Wolf® Aurora Platform and its AI-powered Security Operations Center (SOC).

Chris Kraft has been promoted to Chief Product Officer, where he will lead the strategic direction of Arctic Wolf’s product portfolio and roadmap. In this role, Kraft will oversee teams focused on enhancing the Aurora Platform with new modules and capabilities designed to improve threat detection, streamline response, and reduce operational complexity. A seasoned cybersecurity product executive with more than 25 years of experience, Kraft joined Arctic Wolf following senior product leadership roles at Sophos, VeriSign, and Signio.

“Stepping into the role of Chief Product Officer is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of the Aurora Platform,” said Chris Kraft, Chief Product Officer, Arctic Wolf. “We’re leveraging AI to redefine security operations making them smarter, faster, and more scalable. Our goal is to deliver a unified, open platform that empowers every organization to stay ahead of evolving threats with unmatched precision and efficiency.”

Jeff Green has been appointed Chief Development Officer, responsible for leading Arctic Wolf’s global Research and Engineering organizations. In this role, Green will drive advancements in the performance and scalability of the Aurora Platform and the AI-powered SOC. With over 30 years of industry experience, Green has held senior roles at Sophos, Pulse Secure, Juniper Networks, and McAfee. He holds more than 20 patents and is recognized as a pioneer in early cloud-based endpoint security systems.

“I’m honored to take on this role and continue building the backbone of our platform and SOC,” said Jeff Green, Chief Development Officer, Arctic Wolf. “As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, we’re focused on delivering intelligent, resilient infrastructure that helps customers stay ahead, respond with confidence, and make security work.”

Dan Schiappa, President of Technology and Services at Arctic Wolf, praised the appointments:

“Chris and Jeff have played pivotal roles in driving Arctic Wolf’s growth and establishing the Aurora Platform as a market leader. Chris has shaped our strategic product vision, while Jeff has built the resilient infrastructure that powers our innovation. These promotions reflect both their exceptional contributions and our confidence in their leadership as we continue to scale our platform and deliver industry-defining solutions.”

In addition to Kraft and Green’s promotions, Arctic Wolf has elevated Lisa Tetrault to Senior Vice President, Security Services. She will lead one of the world’s largest commercial SOCs, overseeing global operations and incident response teams. Tetrault will ensure that Arctic Wolf delivers 24×7 protection, expert guidance, and outcome-driven security through its Concierge Delivery Model.

These three leadership promotions come on the heels of a series of major product and service enhancements, including the launch of Cipher, Arctic Wolf’s new AI Security Assistant, the expansion of the company’s Security Operations Warranty, and continued momentum for Aurora Endpoint Security. The teams led by Kraft, Green, and Tetrault were central to bringing these innovations to market, and their elevation reflects Arctic Wolf’s ongoing commitment to delivering innovative solutions that advance the future of security operations.

Mumbai, India – May 14, 2025 – Following the landmark inauguration of Phase 2 of Mumbai’s first underground metro—the Aqua Line (Line 3)—Tata Projects, a leading infrastructure and construction solutions provider, is pleased to highlight its crucial contribution to this transformative urban mobility initiative. The newly opened 9.77 km section, extending from Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to Acharya Atre Chowk in Worli, marks another significant step towards revolutionizing Mumbai’s commute.

This achievement builds on the successful commissioning of the 12-kilometer Aarey-BKC segment in October 2024, further expanding critical infrastructural connectivity for Mumbaikars. Tata Projects, as part of the Continental Engineering Corp – ITD Cementation – Tata Projects JV (CEC-ITD CEM-TPL JV), was instrumental in constructing Package UGC-04, which included 5.5 km twin tunnels from Dharavi metro station to Worli metro station, along with three stations—Shitladevi, Dadar, and Siddhivinayak. Which was also the longest stretch among all the packages.

The project demanded precision engineering, particularly in tunnelling beneath heavily built-up areas. The JV team successfully executed tunnel boring and station construction while passing under sensitive structures like Xavier’s College, Mahim Bus Depot, and near the railway corridor at Nayanagar (Mahim). The alignment passed through extremely congested stretches in Mahim and Dadar, areas lined with old and dilapidated buildings, requiring careful monitoring and execution to avoid any structural impact.

The team also managed and preserved critical city infrastructure during construction, including supporting and maintaining a 1450mm diameter water line during station works. In addition, major utility diversions were undertaken for water lines, sewer networks, power cables, telecom lines, gas lines, traffic signals, and bus stops. Post-completion, several of these utilities were restored to their original alignments—demonstrating Tata Projects’ commitment to engineering precision and urban responsibility.

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) is executing this ambitious ₹33,405 crore project, which, upon full completion, will span 33.5 km with 27 underground stations and one at-grade station.

Mr. Raman Kapil, President and COO, Building and Infrastructure SBU, Tata Projects stated,

“We are immensely proud to contribute our engineering expertise to a project of such national importance. This metro line has proved crucial for decongesting Mumbai’s roads and providing a faster, more sustainable mode of transport. The successful completion of our work on Package UGC-04 of the Mumbai Metro, highlights our excellence in delivering complex infrastructure projects that redefine urban living. It will significantly ease travel for citizens and contribute to the city’s economic growth.”

The project encountered unique engineering challenges in constructing the twin tunnels — an unprecedented task given the soil conditions. This JV was the first to launch the Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) Krishna 1 and Krishna 2. A total of three advanced Tunnel Boring Machines — Krishna 1, Krishna 2, and Krishna 3 — were deployed, as well as the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM). Custom Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) TBMs were crucial for stability, water seepage control, and preventing ground settlement.

With the BKC–Worli section now operational, the focus shifts to the final 13 km extension to Cuffe Parade

Mumbai, India, May 14, 2025: Tata Elxsi, a global leader in design and technology services, has today announced that it has been selected by Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India for Vehicle Software Engineering and Software Defined Vehicles (SDV) development. 

Mercedes-Benz has been setting benchmarks in automotive excellence for nearly 140 years and continues to advance the industry by pioneering developments in software-defined vehicles. The company’s integrated software architecture is designed to enhance vehicle capabilities, create intuitive interfaces, and optimize performance, elevating the user experience and evolving with changing driver needs.

Tata Elxsi is working with leading OEMs across the world to develop SDV platforms, accelerating the speed of innovation and software scalability across vehicle models and platforms, at lowered costs and shared accountability. It brings together domain experience across autonomous, electric, connected vehicle technologies, AI and software-defined vehicles (SDV), supported by state-of-the-art labs and Mobility Innovation Centres and a portfolio of solutions including the AVENIR SDV suite and AUTONOMAI ADAS suite.

Manoj Raghavan, MD and CEO, Tata Elxsi, said, “This collaboration underscores our deep domain expertise and capabilities in Automotive Software and Digital, including Software Defined Vehicles, and provides us with a unique opportunity to contribute to the Mercedes-Benz vision of building the world’s most desirable cars. We have been partnering with MBRDI for over a decade now, and this collaboration marks a milestone moment and sets the stage for further scaling and deepening our relationship.”

14th May 2025, New Delhi : India’s fast-emerging beauty and skincare brand, Recode Studios, has opened its newest retail store in the heart of Bangalore. Located at #3, opp. Nanjudeshwara Temple, Puttenahalli Road, BOB Colony, JP Nagar 7th Phase, Bangalore, the new store is a significant turning point in the company’s quest to provide high-quality, affordable beauty products all over the country.

This Bangalore entry is part of Recode Studios’ overall strategy to expand its retail presence in key metropolitan cities, making its wide-ranging and innovative product portfolio more easily available to sophisticated consumers throughout India. The new store offers a premium shopping experience with a carefully mixed selection of Recode’s top-selling skincare, makeup, and men’s grooming products all in one location.

Dheeraj Bansal, Co-founder of Recode Studios. “We are thrilled to introduce Recode Studios to the cosmopolitan city of Bangalore. We’ve always believed in providing high-quality beauty products to all. With this launch, we’re looking forward with great enthusiasm to serving a new community of beauty enthusiasts and providing them with quality and value in an interactive retail experience that speaks to our brand philosophy.”

Bangalore, with its lively environment and cosmopolitan vibe, offers a suitable platform for Recode Studios to reach out to an emerging category of aware and style-conscious consumers. The company feels that this launch not only addresses local demand but also helps create stronger relationships with consumers looking for beauty products that mirror their lifestyle and value system.

Since its founding in 2018, Recode Studios has been a pioneer of makeup and skincare products in the Indian beauty space. With a sharp emphasis on R&D, clean formulation, and affordability, the brand continues to shake up the conventional beauty retail model—offering consumers an amalgamation of global standards together with local roots.