I am reaching out to you on a Sunday, hoping to catch you in a lazy mood. As an journalists, we don’t have the privilege of considering Sunday a slow day. Something somewhere is always happening. Nevertheless, I will be spending the day thinking about and watching the Wimbledon 2022 final — where, arguably, the two bad boys of tennis will be competing on Centre Court in all whites. But there is a void this year, and something doesn’t feel right. In place of the usual energy that hints at the peak of the English summer, it feels like a Roger Federer struggling to find his rhythm. Yes, I am longing for him, even after all these years.
At the beginning of the week, Federer was in the flesh on Centre Court — almost as a surprise, maybe the biggest one of the tournament. Despite his injuries, he looked suave and neat. He wore a dark suit to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Centre Court. There was Bjorn Borg, Venus Williams, Rod Laver, and many stalwarts of the game, but no one received a louder greeting than Federer. "I've been lucky enough to play a lot of matches on this court," he said. "It feels awkward to be here today in a different type of role." Look, I don’t consider myself a Federer, least of all in my profession. You might consider this: I want to be like him when I grow up (even though he is only a decade older than me).
But I share his sentiments about being lucky. Despite many odds and my brushes with other careers, I have managed to work as an CEO cum Editor for nearly a 3 years — and I still feel lucky.
Backhand: The backhand in tennis is struck from the non-dominant side of the body by bringing the racquet across the body. On Monday, it was about how ‘underground’ BPOs in the Philippines have hit a dominant career option in the country. They are fracturing the massive industry that employs over 1.3 million people and contributes over US$30 billion to the country’s economy each year. It’s a story that could snowball into a crisis for the country if left unaddressed. There are lessons for governments, regulators, businesses and professionals across emerging markets.
Tweener: The tweener is a rarely used shot in which a player hits the ball between their legs, generally with their back facing the net. On Tuesday, it was about how partners RBL Bank and Bajaj Finance are at a crossroads. The bank became the fifth-largest card issuer in India in six years because of the partnership. The story is about ballooning loan books with unsecured assets that came with the massive growth of credit cards, and more. Volley: A volley is hit in the air before the ball bounces, generally near the net.
Then comes Wednesday — that how Ola is lobbying to wriggle into India’s policy circles with help from its think tank. Policy advocacy and lobbying are practically unheard of for startups, and Ola Mobility Institute’s stride is one of a kind.
Smash: A smash is hit with the racket well above one's head with incredible velocity. Our Thursday’s newsletter was a smash, indeed. It’s about LinkedIn and influencers. Not unlike Instagram and others, LinkedIn is doubling down on India’s Rs 900 crore (US$113 million) creator economy and striving for a new identity. LinkedIn’s transformation, although in an unlikely sphere, has many benefits.
Drop shot: A drop shot is a groundstroke or volley that is hit lightly so that it barely goes over the net. The Friday story of the weekend, delved into how there is ‘barely’ any reason for LIC to celebrate its impending status as India’s largest housing finance company. It has to do with its legacy distribution model, sub-par asset quality, and the HDFC twins’ merger.
Which was your favourite shot...err...story of the week? Please comments on www.multimediastudio.net
