The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy has been devastating. With millions forced to stay at home and retail shops, except those providing essential services, shut, analysts claim that the pandemic will have long-term consequences on consumer behavior. While some claim that consumers are likely to switch to online services, others argue that a few weeks of change won’t result in a fundamental shift in behavior. What can we expect from consumers after the COVID-19 pandemic?

In the third Anahita Speaker Series session of 2020, Punita Lal shared glimpses of her personal journey in the corporate world, and drew on her decades long experience to analyse how consumer behavior will change in the aftermath of the pandemic. The discussion was moderated by Rhea Menon.

Speaker

Punita Lal

Punita Lal has over 30 years of experience in strategy, consumer marketing, and customer insights. Her prior experience includes working for Coca Cola in China and PepsiCo in India. Previously, she was the managing director and chief executive officer for NourishCo, a strategic joint venture between Tata Global Beverages and PepsiCo, from 2010 to 2012. She is currently appointed to the Board of Directors of DBS Group Holdings and DBS Bank. She is a board member of Cipla, CEAT, and Lifestyle. She is also a member of the governing council of the Vedica Scholars Programme for Women. She previously served on the board of Airtel Payments Bank and Entertainment Network India.

Moderator

Rhea Menon

Rhea Menon is the senior communications coordinator and a research assistant at Carnegie India.