Ahmedabad 31st January 2025: iCubesWire held the India Influencer Conclave at the Palladium Ahmedabad. This exclusive, invite-only event brought together top influencers, leading brands, marketing experts and digital innovators to engage in discus.sions on the latest trends and developments in the field of Influencer Marketing.
With India’s influencer marketing industry projected to reach approximately $405 million by 2026, driven by an 18% CAGR, the conclave served as a key platform for dialogue, networking, and strategy-building in this rapidly expanding space.
Opening on a thought-provoking panel discussion on the topic, “Do celebrity endorsements really work? Recent survey reveals surprising truth.” Moderated by Vibhuti Bhatt, Director, One Advertising & Communications Services Limited, the panel featured industry experts including, Sanjay Chakraborty, Founder & Chief Marketing Communication Advisor, ESS-K-SEE Consultancy,Yuvraj Patel, Director, Kitchen Xpress,Vishakha Kriplani, Influencer Marketing Manager, Odoo, Meghna Mittal, Co-Founder & Head of Revenue, Hoopr, and Maulik Thaker, Marketing Lead, Silver Pumps & Motors.
The discussion assessed the impact of celebrity endorsements versus micro-influencers in brand engagement and consumer trust based on a recent survey conducted by iCubesWire. Panelist’s shared valuable insights, highlighting the strong shift in consumer behaviour and the need for brands to rethink their influencer marketing strategies in an era driven by authenticity and relatability.
Vishakha Kriplani, Influencer Marketing Manager, Odoo, added,“All of these terms like nano influencers and long-term deals matter a lot. Someone mentioned the perfect example of Nike and Michael Jordan. Back in the 1980s, Nike was facing significant losses, and in 1984 or 1985, they brought Michael Jordan on board. It was a messy deal at the time, but in the first year alone, sales skyrocketed. We all know the kind of brand and impact that one celebrity endorsement has created for Nike.”
Another interesting Fireside Chat on the topic, “Should Influencers be given more artistic license, or do guidelines protect the industry?” brought together a panel of marketing mavens, moderated by Dr. Kushal Sanghvi, TEDX Speaker. The session featured PriyaratnaSuryawanshi, GM & Head of Marketing, R for Rabbit, Jignesh Shah, Head Media & Digital Marketing, Adani Wilmar, Aarti Samant, Digital and Brand Marketing Consultant, and Dr. Falguni Vasavada, Professor, MICA. The conversation delved into the balance between creative freedom and industry regulations, underlining the role of ethical content creation, authenticity and accountability in influencer marketing.
Ekta Sandhir, Influencer, Media Maven, who shared her expert insights on The Evolution of Storytelling: How Technology Has Transformed Content Sharing, added,“Being at the India Influencer Conclave 2025 in my city, Ahmedabad, is truly exciting! This space brings together brand experts, creative minds, and seasoned marketing professionals with decades of experience. It’s fabulous to listen to them. Today, I’m just a learner and a listener.”
Sahil Chopra, Founder & CEO,iCubesWire, added, “This year’s conclave highlighted what happens when creativity meets real connection. The industry is maturing, with genuine storytelling and originality driving every campaign. Brands and influencers areco-creators of experiences that resonate deeply. The goal is to move beyond fleeting trends to create trust and lasting impact. What we’re seeing now is merely the opening act for a space that’s changing how audiences engage.
