FICCI FLO, under the leadership of National President Ms. Poonam Sharma, “Wedding Academia,” a flagship initiative under Project W.I.N.G.S. – Women Innovating Next-Gen Weddings, part of FLO’s national initiative Skill to Scale, was successfully hosted on February 24, 2026, at the campus of Pearl Academy.
Curated by Initiative Lead Ms. Shalini Beriwal, Founder, Magnificence, with the support of Mrs. Alka Bahal, the program was conceptualised as a focused, high-impact platform bridging creative education with real-world industry dynamics. Recognising India’s wedding industry as one of the world’s largest celebration-driven economies, the initiative emphasised that its future lies not merely in expansion, but in smarter, more sustainable, and women-led growth.
The forum examined how the wedding and event ecosystem operates creatively, commercially, and operationally, reinforcing the idea that design does not exist in isolation. Through curated mentorship tables on Event Creation & Production, Photography, and Gifting & Experience Design, participants gained practical insights into industry expectations and professional readiness.
The first panel discussion on ‘Styling, Identity & Brand Visibility’ featured Ms. Anju Modi, Fashion Designer; Ms. Divya Kotwala, Founder, House of Kotwala; Ms. Sunaina Chibba, Brand Promoter; and Mr. Gursewak Singh, Celebrity Makeup Artist, and explored how professionals translate skill into distinctive brand identity, build credibility before visibility, and collaborate across styling verticals to create sustainable professional presence.
The second panel on the ‘Wedding & Event Ecosystem’ included Mr. Ruchin Kohli, Vice President – North India, Event and Entertainment Management Association (EEMA); Mr. Badal Raja, Wedding & Event Photographer; and Ms. Shalini Beriwal, Founder, Magnificence, who offered a comprehensive understanding of large-scale event execution, vendor networks, production scale, and the commercial engine that converts creative ideas into structured, scalable businesses.
Wedding Academia reaffirmed FLO’s commitment to ensuring that women are not merely participants in this dynamic economy but architects of its future by equipping them with skills, mentorship, industry exposure, and pathways to enterprise growth.