11 minute read

GC Advisory

media, and technology sectors and has been actively involved in thought leadership initiatives with industry associations. In the past five years, she has been a part of the entrepreneurial community and has played a crucial role in establishing and growing sustainable lifestyle initiatives. Currently, she leads the finance function and growth plans of General Carbon and contributes to sustainability disclosure and transaction advisory practice areas. Her area of specialisation includes non-financial disclosures and assurance standards and guidance, including ISAE 3000 and SAE 3410.

This read comprises excerpts from the conversation held with the CEO, who has made significant strides in taking the company higher from the position it was in after the market dip. Today, the steady presence of the organisation in its respective field has been said to be the outcome of the new-age business philosophy introduced by Priyanka in the company’s operations. There is a lot more to explore when it comes to the success story of GC Advisory; ergo, trimming the fat, let’s dive into the narrative.

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Company Overview

With the evolving business landscape, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and sustainability advisory services have come to play an important role in allowing companies to integrate sustainable practises into their business operations. Today, companies have become sensitive enough to mitigate the risks associated with environmental and social impacts due to their business practises. Hence, to curtail the damage to the environment as well as generate long-term value for their stakeholders, ESG/sustainability advisory assists in identifying ESG risks and opportunities, developing sustainability strategies, improving sustainability performance, and providing guidance on ESG disclosures and reporting. It also helps companies stay in line with the changing regulatory landscape, meet stakeholder expectations, and build a positive reputation, thereby lending them a competitive advantage in the market.

On that note, GC Advisory Services (GC Advisory) has come up with newage solutions to offer to modern-day businesses to help ensure that a nurturing landscape can be developed without straining nature. To explore the length and breadth of the company, we decided to conduct a one-on-one interview with the CEO of the company, Priyanka Pothana, who walked us through various aspects of the company. She is a chartered accountant who was associated with KPMG for over seven years. Accumulating diverse experience, she has worked with clients hailing from the financial services,

In 2009, General Carbon Advisory was established as a contributor to developing structured carbon and climate finance transactions in Southeast Asia and India. The team of ESG and sustainability advisors communicate with company leaders about the value of ESG and sustainability and how it can be tailored to meet investor concerns. The establishment also collaborates with various departments, including human resources, operations, EHS, CSR, supply chain, and product development and marketing teams, to enhance sustainability performance. Additionally, they help clients with ESG and sustainability disclosures using various frameworks such as GRI, IIRC, BRR, CDP, DJSI, and TCFD. The company offers strategy and operations improvement consulting to the energy, water, and waste sectors. They support renewable energy businesses in areas such as project management, power sales, management of REC and carbon revenues, and mergers and acquisitions.

At present, the team has over 30 expert advisors with extensive technical, regulatory, and financial experience in sustainability across different sectors. Their clients applaud the experience of their advisors, who have been involved with the first reporters in India and Asia since 2000 and have witnessed the evolution of sustainability and ESG reporting frameworks.

Meet the brain behind GC Advisory.

Dr Rambabu is a renowned thought leader in the field of Asian sustainability and climate change, with a wealth of experience in the industry. Previously, he held key positions such as Managing Director at Cantor CO2e Asia and Head of Sustainability and Climate Change Practise in Asia at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He has provided invaluable advice on sustainability reporting and performance improvement to various companies under the Tata Sons umbrella, ITC, and numerous multinational organisations.

With over 35 years of experience in consulting, research, and teaching, Dr. Rambabu has established himself as an expert in governance, sustainability, and climate change. He has successfully led over 200 sustainability assignments, which were sponsored by prominent organisations such as the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), the World Bank, and UNDP. In addition, he has advised the Government of India and state governments on streamlining the environmental clearance process and has been involved in several Central Governmentinitiated committees and task forces to develop standards for environmental sustainability in industrial development. Dr Rambabu has also provided valuable guidance to the Indian Judiciary in environmental litigation matters.

The worth-mentioning fact is that Priyanka Pothana is Dr. Rambabu’s daughter, who is carrying forward his legacy and taking the organisation to greater heights owing to her strategic approach to business expansion and client relationship management. Since Priyanka took over as CEO, Dr. Rambabu has become the company’s mentor and advisor and guides her based on his expertise in the industry.

The USPs

The most considerable competitive advantage gained by GC Advisory in this industry is the legacy of its leadership team, which is enriched with the insights and expertise of highly dedicated and adept professionals hailing from the ESG and sustainability space. The top management at the company has more than three decades of extensive ‘know-how’ in delivering the most effective solutions to clients, which has garnered worldwide applause. Owing to this proficiency, the thought leaders of the company are regularly invited to share their valuable industry knowledge at globally acknowledged conferences such as the World Economic Forum.

The sectoral expertise accumulated by the company after serving more than 200 clients so far has offered them a distinct view of curating solutions, which is indeed commendable. Additionally, in terms of geographical reach, be it working across Southeast Asian regions or African regions, they have been able to establish a firm market presence. Policy advocacy at the government level as well as the global level offered by the leadership panel of GC Advisory is something that speaks volumes of the impact induced by it in this space.

“Above all, the benchmarks set up by us in project delivery, service execution, and technical implementation are inimitable in the market. And this is how we are ceaselessly adding value to society and getting an edge in the area,” Reveals Priyanka.

The Leadership Mantra

When it comes to leading at the forefront, Priyanka believes in nurturing collaborative leadership, where she asserts taking her team members together to greater heights. She encourages her followers to put their ideas forward and suggest the best possible solution for the company’s growth. Her leadership style allows each employee to make free-willed decisions that help in their personal as well as professional growth. And the non-hierarchical culture established by the top management endorses her practises effectively. The leadership outlook of the company is not restricted to business growth alone; the culture facilitates the upskilling of the workforce and encourages them to learn new things that could allow them to reach better positions in their corporate trajectory.

GC Advisory has been awarded Asia’s Top Carbon Management Company for two consecutive years. Not only this, but their clients’ success is also something the leadership takes immense pride in. Needless to mention, their clientele has received accolades and recognition for their sustainable practises at the global level.

Pizza is the universal food. It can be found in all types of restaurants, and there is no shortage of options for those in need. Because of so many variations and toppings, the possibilities for tasteful Pizza are endless.

Pizza is one of the world’s most loved dishes. It is a popular food for all ages and an excellent protein and comfort food source for people in need. But have you ever tried to find the best pizzas in the market? Well, here’s your chance! In this article, you will be introduced to the ten best pizza brands one must try at least once. Stay tuned, and be sure to read on! Let’s get started!

01. Domino’s:

Domino’s is a famous American restaurant specializing in Pizza. With more than 18,000 locations worldwide and many successful franchising operations, it is undoubtedly one of the best pizza brands. It originated in 1960, when the first store was opened in Ypsilanti, Michigan. This restaurant chain is named after the founder, Tom Monaghan.

One of the factors that made it one of the authentic pizza brands is that it was the first in the industry to offer online ordering. Nowadays, people are more comfortable ordering online and enjoying their delicious pizzas at home.

Apart from being a favorite among many, they are also known for providing excellent service and a diverse menu with a variety of Pizza including Double Cheese Margherita, cheesy Pizza, Peppy Paneer Pizza, Spicy Veg Pizza, and many more. Apart from Pizza, they also serve pasta and desserts. Having said all that, is it not one of the most famous pizza brands in the world?

02. Pizza Hut:

Pizza Hut is a fast-food chain known for its tasty pizzas and good customer service. With over 12,000 locations worldwide, the restaurant is one of the largest chains in the franchise industry. It was founded by two friends, Frank, and Dan Carney, in 1958. Over the years, it has become a successful international business with a significant presence in over 90 countries.It is no wonder why Pizza Hut is one of the best and gourmet pizza brands in the world. It uses fresh and quality ingredients, offers excellent service and customer satisfaction, has high-quality standards, and, most importantly, it serves delicious pizzas.

Its original menu includes sides including breadsticks, garlic rolls, Chicken Italian Pizza, and many more. You can also order pasta or salads for lunch or dinner. They also offer a variety of desserts, such as chocolate lava cake or crème caramel.

03. Papa John’s:

Papa John’s is a restaurant chain best known for its Pizza, which has been serving delicious pizzas since 1984. Papa John Schnatter, a former bartender, founded it. Papa John’s is an international chain with over 5,100 locations worldwide.

Papa John’s Pizza offers fantastic taste and value, and it is served burnt-on-charm pizza crust with fresh ingredients that include mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and basil. Its menu comprises usual sides such as breadsticks, garlic rolls, and even Coca-Cola products. It has a great quality-to-price ratio and an excellent menu with several options. Its excellent service, affordable prices, and delicious pizzas make it one of the must-try pizza brands.

04. Laziz Pizza:

A well-known pizza company in India called this one started in Kolhapur by providing various pizza items at affordable prices. The chain is currently present in India with at least 80 operational stores and plans to expand internationally. They place their pizza orders at the restaurant known as Big Bazar, which is Kolhapur’s first location.

This pizza chain is one of the best pizza brands because it is filling, offers great taste, and provides excellent service. Its professionally-trained team works hard to provide the best quality pizzas. It offers a gluten-free menu with gluten-free crust options consisting of cheese, tomato, or Hawaiian. If you wish to try something out of the box, try its chicken tikka sausage pizza. A 100% vegetarian pizza option is also available for vegans.

05. Little Caesars:

Little Caesars Pizza, American pizza brand, is an fast-food chain specializing in pizzas; It was founded in 1959 by the three brothers, Mike, Marian, and Robert De Michieli. Today, there are around 4500 functioning locations all over the world.

Little Caesars is one of the best pizza brands because it consistently offers great quality pizzas at affordable prices with excellent service throughout its stores. They offer a variety of toppings, including Italian sausage, pepperoni, cheese, and many more. They are also known for their signature Crazy Bread and Hot-n-Ready menu options.

A distinctive feature of this chain is that they do not deliver their pizzas; instead, they make them fresh every single time and deliver them to your door.

06. Oven Story Pizza:

The pizza brand Oven Story provides cutting-edge insight into local flavors and Pizza with Indian fixings. The pizza brand in many cities aims to attract the best customers by improving administration. The brand also sells baked goods, such as biscuits and pita bread.

Oven Story is one of the best pizza brands in the world because it is tasty, offers great taste and value, has excellent service and customer satisfaction, has high standards, and, most importantly, offers wide delicious varieties of Pizza, including Veg Pizza, Indian Pizza and many more.

Additionally, they also offer a variety of sides, such as Mozzarella sticks and Potato Tikki’s. Oven Story Pizza has an excellent array of toppings, like Chicken or Paneer, and many exciting choices for vegetarians.

07. Papa Murphy’s:

Papa Murphy’s is a pizza company known for its delicious and fresh pizzas. It is headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, and was founded in 1985 by Craig Taylor. Papa Murphy’s offers a unique menu with a variety to choose from and high-quality service.

Papa Murphy’s, American pizza brand, places a high value on the freshness of its ingredients, noting that none of its stores have freezers, that the dough is made daily from scratch, that the 100% whole-milk mozzarella cheese is grated, and that the vegetables are hand-sliced. Numerous toppings, including pepperoni, sausage, and two varieties of cheese, are available on their menu.

They also offer a variety of sides and desserts. Papa Murphy’s is one of the leading pizza brands because they serve delicious pizzas with excellent service and provide high standards.

08. Pizza Express:

Pizza Express is a well-known pizza company with a sizable buyer’s organization. The company is also well-established abroad, with over 100 cafés in countries like China, India, and Europe. The pizzas are excellent and must be tried.

Pizza Express is an excellent choice for Indian-style pizzas. It is one of the best pizza brands because it offers good quality pizzas and vegetarian options at reasonable prices. Pizza Express uses fresh ingredients, and it has an excellent service record.

It is also known for its variety of delicious pizzas and sides. The company offers an excellent menu with various choices and high-quality service. So, Pizza Express is one of the best pizza brands.

09. Marco’s Pizza:

Marco’s Pizza is an American pizza company that delivers delicious pizzas to your door. The company was formed in 1978 by Pasquale “Pat” Giammarco, making it the only significant American pizza chain founded by an Italian American. The pizzeria inspired the brothers they frequented while growing up with their family in Sicily.

Marco’s Pizza is the leading pizza brand in the USA, and it is known for offering a variety of toppings such as pepperoni, mushrooms, and others. It has jalapeño cheese, a unique mixture of spicy peppers, garlic, onions, and spices. It also offers many vegetarian options like tomato sauce and vegetable toppings to go on top of your choice of cheese or veggies.

10. Hungry Howie’s Pizza and Subs:

As one of the first pizza chains to introduce flavored crusts, Hungry Howie’s Pizza and Subs calls itself the “Home of the Flavored Crust Pizza” and began serving it in 1985 with eight different flavors, including butter, butter cheese, Cajun, garlic herb, onion, ranch, sesame, and Asiago cheese. The menu at Hungry Howie’s features calzone-style subs, chicken wings and tenders, bread, salads, and brownies in addition to Pizza.

The chain entered the world of digital marketing late and had to learn some painful lessons along the way. Still, it is now having success thanks to a fully integrated marketing strategy, complemented by having the same point-of-sale system across all locations to implement daily specials quickly.

With 33 company-owned locations in the US, the company has 527 locations overall (down from its previous total of 534). It was founded in 1973 and has been franchising since 1982.