The FICCI FLO Bengaluru Chapter opened its 2025–26 year on a high note with Enterprise Meets Expression, a landmark evening that seamlessly wove together professional purpose, creative storytelling, and the transformative power of laughter. Held on 11th April 2026, the event brought together over 450 members for an inspiring and joyful celebration of women, enterprise, and authentic expression.
The evening commenced with an address by Chairperson Ms. Deepa Bhupesh Reddy, who set a strong and purposeful tone for the year ahead. Sharing her vision for the chapter, she emphasised the values of collaboration, purpose-driven leadership, and building an empowering space where women can grow, connect, and thrive together. Her words resonated deeply with the membership, reaffirming the chapter’s commitment to meaningful impact.
Ms. Deepa also unveiled her flagship initiative, Beyond the Bio — a podcast series designed to bring forward the real, unfiltered stories of women beyond their professional titles and designations. The initiative underscored the belief that authentic narratives hold the power to inspire deeper connections and drive lasting change within the community.
The highlight of the evening was an engaging fireside chat between Ms. Deepa Bhupesh Reddy and the special guest, Anu Menon, celebrated comedian and beloved creator of the iconic character Lola Kutty. In a candid and heartfelt conversation, Anu shared her remarkable journey of turning humour into a successful career, offering the audience a refreshingly honest perspective on creativity, resilience, and the courage to chart one’s own path.
Her message of authenticity over strategy and perspective over pressure struck a powerful chord with every woman in the room. The evening reached a joyful crescendo with a vibrant 40-minute stand-up comedy act by Anu Menon, leaving the audience energised, uplifted, and deeply connected.
Key Takeaways
Chairperson Ms. Deepa Bhupesh Reddy set a strong tone for 2025–26, championing collaboration, purpose-driven leadership, and an empowering space for women to grow and thrive together.
- Humour as a wellness tool: Anu Menon powerfully demonstrated that humour is a genuine tool for emotional wellbeing, resilience, and self-expression — both personally and professionally.
- Authenticity over strategy: Through her candid fireside chat, Anu inspired members to stay true to themselves, reinforcing that perspective over pressure is the strongest foundation for a successful career.
- Launch of Beyond the Bio: Chairperson Deepa unveiled her flagship podcast initiative, spotlighting real, unfiltered stories of women beyond their titles to inspire deeper connections and lasting impact.
- Joy as a shared experience: The vibrant 40-minute stand-up comedy act united 450 members in laughter, reaffirming that joy, connection, and community are at the heart of FICCI FLO Bengaluru.
Impact & Outcome
Enterprise Meets Expression event bridged professional enterprise with creative self-expression, reinforcing the belief that the two are deeply complementary. Also, laughter, authenticity, and storytelling are pathways to success for professionals. Under the Wellness & Life Skills enabler, the event powerfully reinforced that humour and self-expression are not distractions from professional success — they are essential to it. With a footprint of 2,221 and 450 members in attendance, Enterprise Meets Expression set an inspiring, heartwarming tone for the year ahead, one that the Bengaluru Chapter will carry forward with pride.