Design emerges as top skill for youth, a new banking giant is born, and the rise of minimalistic logos

Welcome to LinkedIn Insider India. I'm Vaishnavi Singh , the Community Segments Lead at LinkedIn News India and every two weeks, we’ll share inspiration for your next post, noteworthy news, exclusive data, curated member spotlights, and more to set you up for success on LinkedIn and beyond.

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Discover must-read stories and trending topics. Join the conversation by sharing your thoughts on the below prompts and include hashtag #LinkedInInsiderIndia for an opportunity to be featured by the LinkedIn Editorial team.

India’s largest private lenders’ merger shakes up industry by creating new banking giant

India’s largest private lenders, HDFC Bank and Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) have merged to create the fourth largest bank in the world with a market capitalization of ?14.37 trillion. According to experts, this merger has the potential to influence the industry in various ways, including lowering interest rates, altering shareholder value, and catalysing further mergers and acquisitions as banks strive to consolidate their positions.

Weigh in using #FinanceWrapIndia: What potential impacts do you think this merger could have on consumers and the financial sector?

World Youth Skills Day

15th July is dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of equipping young people with the skills they need to succeed in the workforce. According to LinkedIn data, design emerged as the number one skill by job postings for entry-level professionals. This means that there is a high demand for designers in the job market, and young graduates who have this skill will be at an advantage.

Share your perspective using #GetHired: How can young graduates build on this skill during their college years?

Social entrepreneurs creating impact at scale

India grapples with a myriad of formidable challenges today such as inadequate financial inclusion, and restricted access to digital education. LinkedIn Top Voices Abhishek Deshpande , Kirti Poonia , Abhishek Dubey , and Smita Ram are diligently forging ahead on the path to tackle these issues head-on and drive meaningful solutions.?

Join the conversation using #SocialImpactIndia: What is the one social impact conversation we should be having today?

Topics on the rise:

Adding your voice to these conversations this week using #LinkedInInsiderIndia can increase your opportunity to be discovered by new audiences.

• Seeking a letter of recommendation? Check out Shruthi Sharma 's tips on making the right request. Share your perspective.
• Hotels in India are experiencing a surge in demand because of the ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup. How do you think sports can contribute to the economy?
• More gamers are considering gaming and e-sports as a lucrative career option, says a report from early this year. E-sports was also recognised as a multi-sports event by the Indian government in December last year, giving a further boost to the sector. India is also the fastest-growing fantasy sports market globally. What trends do you think will shape India's gaming industry in the next decade?

In this section, we'll be shining the light on LinkedIn members who are creating inspiring content to help their professional community learn, grow and share.

Sumit Sabharwal , Vice President of HR at Fujitsu Global Delivery Centers, highlights key HR trends, including a focus on holistic well-being, hybrid work strategies, and fostering inclusion in this post.

Why this post works:

1. Sumit provides a quick summary of what one can expect in his post at the very beginning. This sets the reader's expectations for the content that follows.
2. The inclusion of Gartner's prediction about the metaverse adds a forward-thinking perspective, while referencing reports and studies provides credibility by placing the discussion within a broader context of industry research and analysis.
3. The post provides a concise overview of HR trends. It has successfully engaged the audience, and with Sumit actively responding to the comments, it has fostered community interaction.

Swati Paliwal , International Business Lead at Disney+Hotstar, shares how AI can integrate with the retail industry.

Why this post works:

1. This post highlights how AI can revolutionise the retail industry by 2025, showcasing an awareness of emerging technologies and generating excitement for the future of shopping.
2. She outlines ways in which retailers can benefit in a structured format which is easier to read. And all this, while using an eye-catching yet relevant visual.
3. Swati concludes the post by inviting the audience to share their thoughts on the subject, encouraging interaction among professionals in the retail industry.

In this section, we'll shine a spotlight on thought-provoking articles to captivating videos –? our Hidden Gems – which will leave you inspired.

• Arjun Prakash , Founder of Pivot, shares a novel approach he learned from his former manager, known as "Proactive Creativity", which helps to sustain a continuous stream of creative ideas, even in demanding and high-pressure situations.?How do you manage to generate creative ideas when you're under pressure? Share your tips.
• “If you are an early-stage founder, the most important north star for your company needs to be the PMF (product-market-fit)”, says Pearl Agarwal , investor, in this post explaining how you can define it. What would you like to add?
• Discover how Rahul Narain Saxena , Solution Architect, simplifies SAP and e-commerce integration with a clear example in this post. Weigh in on the discussion: Can physical and digital retail coexist harmoniously??

Every single one of us is an expert in something and has valuable information and professional experiences to share that others can learn from. In this section, we're inviting you to lean into this knowledge exchange so that you can connect with like-minded members, learn from each other and discuss a different subject every time.

Topic: Minimalist Logos: the new trend

From the iconic London payphone booths to brands across the world embracing flatter, two-dimensional logos and undergoing significant design transformations, a new trend is emerging. With Mahindra having undergone two redesigns since 2021 and other brands like Meesho, and Yes Bank, among others rebranding, a question arises: Are brands shrinking their personalities in this process?

Share your thoughts: Why do you think brands are switching to minimalist contemporary designs?

Join the conversation! Comment below for an opportunity to be featured in our next edition as we learn and grow together.

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