Give To Gain: How Universal Music Group India Is Building A Culture Where Women Thrive

Celebrating women at Universal Music Group India is not confined to a single day on the calendar. It is woven into the very fabric of who we are as an organization. Across our companies, including Virgin Music Group, Universal Music Publishing Group, and our allied businesses, the commitment to representation, equal opportunity, and inclusion is deeply embedded in our culture.

This year’s theme, Give to Gain, resonates deeply with the journey every woman in our organization walks. It speaks to the quiet courage of showing up fully ,giving their expertise, their ideas, their heart, their energies and in return, gaining not just professionally, but as individuals who shape the culture, direction, and soul of this workplace.

For us, building a workplace where women can thrive is not simply a policy; it is a strategic priority. Our Chairman and CEO, Devraj Sanyal, along with our Managing Director, Sanujeet Bhujabal, have been the strongest allies in championing gender balance, diversity of thought, and equitable opportunities for leadership and growth. Their belief is simple: great companies are built when talent from all backgrounds is empowered to contribute and succeed.

This philosophy aligns closely with Universal Music Group’s global mandate around diversity, equity and inclusion. In India, we translate that commitment into initiatives that foster learning, collaboration, and empowerment across our workforce.

Throughout the year, we run programs that support professional development, wellbeing, and inclusive leadership. While many initiatives focus on career growth and skill-building, we also believe in creating spaces that allow our teams to pause, reflect, and reconnect with themselves.

This year, for International Women’s Day, we chose to celebrate in a way that reflected both our business and our values.

Over the past few years, we, at, Universal Music Group have expanded into the wellness and mindfulness space through our wellness-focused music initiatives under our label Vedam Records. We focus on the healing power of sound through guided meditation, sound baths, and music designed to support calm, focus, sleep, and emotional wellbeing.

This year for International Women’s Day, we chose to celebrate in a way that reflected both our business and our values. 

We invited women from across our companies to participate in an immersive wellness session, a cross-section of teams across functions and levels of leadership, creating a shared space where colleagues could come together not just professionally, but personally.

We were delighted to welcome Payal Lal, a respected practitioner of guided meditation and sound healing, to lead the session. Participants were introduced to the principles of sound therapy and how vibrations and frequencies can influence our nervous system and emotional state. Payal guided the group through a state of deep relaxation while encouraging reflection and self-awareness.

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Many shared that the session helped them disconnect from everyday pressures and reconnect with themselves, while others spoke about the sense of collective calm and unity the experience created.

At Universal Music Group India, our goal is not only to build successful businesses but also to create an environment where people feel valued, supported and inspired. Celebrating women means recognizing their contributions, amplifying their voices, and ensuring our workplaces remain spaces where they can flourish.

As the Head of People, Inclusion and Culture I stay committed to building spaces where what you give is seen, valued, and returned to you in opportunity, growth, belonging and respect. Today, and every day.

Happy International Women’s Day. Here’s to all that women have given and all that they deserve to gain.