Throwback to a visit to Symbiosis as Keynote Speaker

I have always enjoyed opportunities to interact with students across B-schools, share my experiences and journey with them, discuss aspects of marketing, communication and advertising and in the process learn from them through their questions. Here are a few throwback pictures from 2015 when I was invited by Symbiosis Institute of International Business (SIIB) to give my perspective on a very interesting topic 'Retailing, E-tailing and Beyond'. I was honoured to be one of the keynote speakers along with seniors and stalwarts like Mr. Damodar Mall - CEO of Reliance Retail and Mr. Kinjal Shah, CEO of Crossword Book Stores. I am hoping to interact with more students in the future as well. 

hashtag#Symbiosis #SIIB #throwbackthursday #retail #ecommerce #marketing #communications #keynote

Impact of Artificial Intelligence across Sectors

You may like it or hate it but AI is here to stay and it will only get bigger and better. AI will touch and impact all of us in some form or the other. Here is a case of a startup in Finland who is using prison inmates to train artificial intelligence algorithms!
Prison Inmates learning AI

Everyone is happy with this arrangement:
1. Prisoners get to do something meaningful, learn and get prepared for the outside world and also earn money.
2. The startup company gets labour at a fraction of a cost in comparison to what it would have to pay to technical people.
3. The jail authorities are happy as it keeps their prisoners busy without the risk of violence as the task only uses a laptop. Quite an interesting move and an insightful article.

Analog Innovation in a Digital World

On a recent trip to Berlin, Germany I got a chance to visit their famous World Clock, which shows the current time in 148 cities around the world! You can stand at different points and read the name of the city and the current time in that city. While today we have access to the time of any city at the press of our fingertips, what makes this clock special is that it was installed in 1969 when technology was not as advanced as today. 

Designed by a lecturer Erich John, the construction of the clock required more than 120 engineers and a sculptor to put it together. In 2015, the German government declared the clock as a historically and culturally significant monument.

This clock has stood the test of time and it is still accurate in its analog timing in the current digital world. It is a masterpiece of innovation and engineering.hashtag

#Innovation #Inspiration #Engineering #Analog #Digital

Advertising Review : Hyundai Elevator, USA

The Hyundai 'Elevator' film was launched during the #SuperBowl this year and it is a brilliant film made by the ad agency Innocean USA. 

 

This film uses humour and wit to show people the different scenarios in their life that are nothing but painful experiences. So think a visit to the dentist, a middle seat in an airplane, jury duty in the court room or even a car buying experience! Each of these experiences are symbolized by different floors of the elevator. 

Then comes the opportunity of buying a Hyundai car from a Hyundai Shopper Assurance dealer, which of course means that you have made the right choice and hence, instead of going down the elevator floors of poor experiences, you actually go up to the topmost floor for a great experience. 

I think it is a film made on strong, universal human insights that resonate with people across the world. The casting and characterization are perfect, and it delivers the message.

#advertising #communication #advert #marketing #Hyundai

Creativity in Outdoor Advertising

We all know that there are only a few seconds for an outdoor ad to create an impact. Therefore, it is important that the ad gives out the message and informs people about the brand behind the message in those few seconds. 

Now what if you use your brand, its colours and its logos to integrate into a simple and minimalistic message that helps people. 

That is what McDonald’s did last year with their outdoor campaign ‘Follow the Arches, where they very smartly used the iconic golden arches of McDonald’s to create directions and guide people to the nearest McDonald’s. It also shows the power of the McDonald’s logo as there was no mention of the brand name anywhere on the billboard and yet people were able to recognize it. 

This campaign was not only appreciated by people but also by the stalwarts of the advertising world and it won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Lions in 2018.

Flexible Leader = Successful Leader

Do not underestimate the power of flexibility as one of the key #leadership traits. Here are five things every flexible leader understands!

Change the Reference and see the Impact

People often use the term 'Million' and 'Billion' in the context of money - be it revenue, bottom line, net worth or market cap. Quite often, the difference between a Million and a Billion doesn't come out that strongly. Now if you change the reference from 'money' to 'time', it just changes the #perspective.

A million seconds means 11 days whereas a billion seconds means a little more than 31 years!
Pause for a second and think about that. 11 days and 31 years! That's the difference between a million and a billion.

Instagram Rolls out Check Out Feature to Win in Ecommerce

The boundaries between social media and e-commerce are blurring further, and with this new feature that Instagram is rolling out, it will be a win-win for everyone: 1. The consumer will not only get to see different products but also buy them on the same platform with much ease. 2. Brands will not only be able to reach and engage with consumers, but will also be able to generate sales out of these posts. It will also be a great way of measuring ROI. 3. Instagram as a platform will make more money from the brands that not only promote on their channel but also do commerce through them. 

#ecommerce #socialmedia #checkout #Instagram #online #ROI

Meetings that go nowhere.

We have all been there. A #meeting that goes on and on in circles, and towards the end, we realize that we haven’t covered the key agenda. There will always be some people who will find all the points to discuss except the key one that will result in action. 

At that point, it seems so frustrating. But it’s alright to remember those meetings and have a laugh about them later on.

#PictureStory 41 : Colour

Balbir ran his eyes across the room to quickly form an opinion on who could be the trouble makers and hence need to be watched out.

Having been a Chief of Security at one of the leading Music Festivals of the country for more than a decade, Balbir knew that people of various mannerisms come to enjoy the fest and some of them have to be cautioned when they start showing any signs of trouble.

It wasn't the youngsters that bothered him as much as the middle aged men. These 40 somethings had earned their stripes in the corporate world and always had an air of authority and attitude in them. A few drinks down, they would change colours faster than a chameleon and behave like hooligans just to feel a part of the crowd and feel younger again. If one would try to stop them, they would get offended and would try and show their might of money.

Today morning, Balbir had cautioned his entire security staff to be extra alert but yet diplomatic to as much extent as possible. After all, today was when 500 delegates of a company were coming to be a part of the festival. Balbir knew it very well that a combination of power and the strength of numbers wouldn't take much for some of them to show their true colours, hidden behind that mask of professionalism.

Pic details: Clicked in Goa, India in Sept'16

#PictureStory 40 : Windows

Sitting in her room and watching the world go by, as she sipped her coffee was a favourite pastime of Svetlana every day.

People rushing to work, hawkers carrying their wares, couples enjoying a few kisses without bothering about the world, a child skipping while holding his mother's hands - all of this gave Svetlana a moment and opportunity to enjoy the world and its happiness from her eyes.

But she knew that all this was temporary. Because she knew that by evening, it would be her standing in the windows and this time people would be staring at her. That was the reality of the windows of Amsterdam - while you were the audience in the morning, you became the source of entertainment to the audience outside by evening.

Pic details: Clicked in Dublin, Ireland in Aug 2016.

#PictureStory 39 : Lost

George went to the police station to file a lost complaint.

The cop looked at him and laughed when George told him what he wants to file the report for.

George looked confused and persisted for the report to be filed.

The policeman asked him to be thrown out of the police station and told the other police officers "He seems crazy. He says that he has lost love from his life and he wants our help to find it. Who files a report for love lost."

It had been four years since George had been searching for love. All his friends were falling in love and finding a partner except him. All of this had made him lose his mind a bit. Today, in an act of desperation, he entered the police station but realized his folly after he was thrown out.

Pic details: Clicked at a parade in Glasgow, Scotland in Aug'16

Creative Print Advertising : Adidas Forever Sport

Print advertising is a tricky business. You have to ensure that either your headline is quite catchy or your copy is powerful enough or the picture makes them pause. 

The other way is to engage the consumer and give the message in a simple yet powerful manner.

Here are a few examples from Adidas where they have used a double page magazine ad to catch the attention of the reader, involve them and give their message 'Forever Sport' in a unique way.

Since each page folds into the other, as the reader flips the page, it results in the athlete doing an exercise - crunches in one ad, lifting weights in the other and back exercises in the third one. 

Quite creative, witty and effective!

 print #advertising #printad #communication #creativity

#PictureStory 38 : Castles in the Air

It all began with a message on LinkedIn. Sanaya had reached out to Kevin for a job opening in her organisation, where she was responsible for recruitments. He showed interest. So she started texting him on Whatsaap asking for his CV. After a few days, he mailed her the CV.

But the twist in the tale happened when Sanaya turned around and asked him on Whatsapp if he had any opening for her in his organisation! He found this very funny but this was a good ice breaker. Soon they started texting to each other and talking about various things other than just professional discussions.

Kevin found her very pretty and so he took a chance and started flirting a bit during these chats. She would just smile and deflect it with some other topic. Even though, he hadn't met her, he started forming castles in the air.

It reached a stage where they were chatting all through the day and he was now keen to meet her soon. Then in one of the chats, she gave him a hint. He latched on to it and probed further. Soon she told him that she has a boyfriend. He was crestfallen. But on further thinking he found the entire situation funny and ironic as without meeting her, he had been thinking what he shouldn't be!

She had put him in the 'friend' zone. He hated that feeling. This had happened to Kevin before too. He made up his mind. While she could think of him as a friend, he wasn't giving up. Not so soon and not so easily.

Pic details: Clicked somewhere in the skies in June 2016

#PictureStory 39 : Chase

He had done it again. Been with a woman for months, flirting with her, sharing sweet messages with her and kindling romance with her.

But the minute the conversation veered towards commitment and towards marriage, he would go into a shell. He would start finding reasons for not going ahead with it. He had done this many times now with different women at different points of time.

He knew that time was running out, but yet he could not find the reason for his problem. If only he had met a psychiatrist who would have told him that he still has some genes from the prehistoric cavemen who loved the chase much more than the conquest. Yes, that was his problem of turning away all the amazing women that he had met.

                  

Pic details: Clicked on the streets of Kolkata, India in June 2016.

#PictureStory 36 : Expression

When the #eyes speak their language, then #words are not needed as the expressions of the eyes are always stronger and truer than that of the tongue!

Pic details: Clicked in a mall in Delhi, India in July'16

Trashtag Challenge : The Most Impactful Hashtag

If there is a #hashtag challenge that is not frivolous but rather impactful, then it is the #trashtag challenge that has been doing the rounds of social media lately.

As the name suggests, in the Trashtag Challenge, users pick a place filled with litter, clean it up, and post before and after pictures.

While the challenge was created way back in 2015 by outdoor company UCO Gear as part of a campaign to protect wilderness areas, but a recent Facebook post directed at "tired teens" has apparently given it new life and made the hashtag viral. 

There is no doubt, that to clean, and then protect the #environment, not only do Governments and companies have to play a role, but each and every individual also has to step up and contribute.

Maybe an initiative like #SwacchBharat in India should also be linked to this challenge to generate greater traction.

Trashtag Challenge - BBC

When New Age Innovation meets Old World Charm

Here is a great example of merging tradition with modernity. This is a picture from a hotel room in England that I stayed in. It is a heritage property, hence they have retained the icons of the past without compromising on the practicality of today. So this telephone will remind you of an era gone by, but its utlity is for today as there are push buttons on the top instead of the ringer buttons of the past, where you would have to put your finger in each number and turn it all the way to the end.

This is a great lesson in #innovation where you don't throw the baby out with the bath water. You modernise what needs to be upgraded but retain the value of those attributes that the #consumer wants or cherishes. You nurture the nostalgic #values and give consumers ease of functioning. 

As I always say, you can learn lessons in #marketing everywhere as long as you keep your senses open to those signs. Have you seen anything recently that pleasantly surprised you because of its fusion of modernity and tradition? Do let me know. 

#modern #technology #nostalgia #productdevelopment

6 Ways to Succeed as a Leader

Everyone is a leader in his or her own right, irrespective of their role in an organisation, in society or in the family.

The question is whether you see yourself as a #leader or not?

Here are some simple leadership tips that, if practiced well and consistently, can bring success to you as well as the ones around you. 

#leadership #successmantra

Knowledge speaks, Wisdom listens

'Knowledge speaks, Wisdom listens'.

Simple words but with so much meaning! Every time your curiosity gets piqued, you speak to ask questions and to gain knowledge. But do not forget, that quite often, to attain wisdom, you have to listen.

There are so many instances in meetings, in conversations, in debates where people keep on speaking to show their #knowledge but they do not want to listen to attain #wisdom. If only they stop to listen more, they will be able to know more.

There is a reason why humans have two ears and only one mouth. So that you can listen more!

There is also a reason why the owl is considered the smartest and the wisest bird in the forest or in the darkness. It relies on its listening ability. 

So next time, do remember that Knowledge speaks and Wisdom listens.

4Cs of Social Media

On #socialmedia, you have 4Cs to play with. You could be:

1. Consuming Content 

2. Curating Content

 3. Creating Content 

4. Copying Content

I know very well my choices, the ones that I want to play with and the ones that I do not want to. 

How about you?

Qantas gives a great lesson on Public Relations

As the world is still grappling with the recent Ethiopian Airlines crash and wondering about the safety of a Boeing plane, there is lot of fear and negativity regarding air travel.

In the midst of all this comes a spark of joy when the CEO of Qantas Airlines decides to write a letter to a 10 year old boy in response to his letter where he talks about having his own airline!

Now this could have been a simple incident that would have gone unnoticed by the world, but Qantas tweeted about it with the words 'CEO to CEO' and turned this into a fantastic PR and brand building opportunity and smartly spoke about the features and qualities of their own airline while answering the boy's questions.

Very well played #Qantas!


#PR #BrandBuilding #Leadership #Marketing

#PictureStory 35 : Chemistry

It wasn't love at first sight as they always say. These two were different from each other. He was an outspoken, gregarious and extrovert guy whereas she was a reserved, quiet, and a shy woman with a few friends.

He was like the waves of a choppy sea - moody, short-tempered, with his highs and lows. She was like a moving stream - peaceful, tranquil and consistent. 

He always gave advice to her and thought that he was the person in control here. She would quietly listen to him but do her own thing, not letting him know that she knows how to get her way.
He was her sounding board on the worldly advice, whereas she was his anchor when it came to matters where emotions and heart had to rule over the mind. 

They never realised that they were meant to be together but when they did happen to get together, it was magical! They merged in a seamless and beautiful manner - the red and the white couldn't have asked for a better partner for each other.

This was the perfect chemistry!

Pic details: Clicked in a lobby of a hotel in Delhi, India in May, 2016.

#PictureStory 34 : Invent

Churning out stories from thin air!
Creating something on a page, where nothing existed months ago. With every word, a chain is formed. A series of such chains is what leads to a creation.
Sometimes the writer's block keeps the chain small, but sometimes the chain keeps getting longer and longer.
I say if this is not an invention, then what is?

Pic Details: Clicked on a para gliding trip in Maharashtra, India a couple of years back.

#PictureStory 33 : Seduction

Ice cubes: Check

Strawberries: Check

Honey: Check

Chocolate sauce: Check

Ragini was pleased with her shopping list and read it out to Rajan.

Rajan smiled when he heard Ragini's list and said "I am impressed sweetheart and am looking forward to a night of passion and seduction".

"Oh Shut Up Rajan. This is for the birthday party of our four year old." 

Rajan sighed. He should have known that after six years of marriage, expecting such a surprise was quite a fantasy!

Picture details: Taken during a hail storm in Gurgaon, India in May'16

#PictureStory 32 : Space

Jonathan was never able to understand Maria despite all his attempts. There were days when she would call him and talk for hours, go out on walks with him, sit by the river with him by her side. And then, there were days where she would not pick her calls, open the door or come online. Jonathan would always think that Maria is upset because of something that he has said or done and it would bother him as he loved her deeply.

He would often ask Maria if he had done something wrong and she would always brush off the topic by saying that she just needed some space.

Jonathan was a very easy-going guy who always encouraged Maria to go out with her friends, do a dinner without him and enjoy her own space and this was what attracted Maria to Jonathan as she could not be with a person who made her feel stifled. Despite all this, when Maria would cut all contacts with Jonathan saying that she wanted some space, he would get extremely upset and hurt.

Today, it was their 5th anniversary since they started dating, and Jonathan decided to book a Limousine for their drive. He reached her house in his finest clothes and rang the bell. Maria came out, looking resplendent in her pink gown and was pleasantly surprised on seeing the limo arrangements that were done for her and Jonathan was very happy with her reaction.

Jonathan's joy was short-lived as Maria asked him to stop the car within five minutes of the car leaving her porch. She stepped out and ran back to her house, leaving Jonathan wondering where this relationship is headed.

Neither he nor she knew that she was suffering from a serious case of claustrophobia that would strike her at anytime and anyplace. At that moment, all she needed was solitude in her room by the window.

Pic details: Clicked at a car museum in Haryana, India in 2015.

#PictureStory 31 : Reflection

It always took the famous sculptor Zayed a year to finish each of his sculpture, and industrialists and corporate houses would wait patiently. Every auction of his saw them trying to outdo each other to win the bid and get his piece of art in their homes or offices. 

Today, as Rajeev placed the beautiful sculpture near the window of his 27th floor corner office, he reflected on how he had come to this city 15 years back with the aim of finding just a clerk's job but how life had given him such amazing opportunities that he had reached a stage where he could win a bid for the most coveted and most expensive piece of art. 

The minute Rajeev heard what the piece of sculpture is called, he knew that he wanted it. It was aptly called 'Reflections of Life'.

                              Pic details: Clicked in a hotel in New Delhi, India in May'16.

Advertising : Samsung Galaxy 'The Future'

Last month (Feb'19), Samsung Galaxy launched the advert: The Future which gives us a glimpse into the world that we will be living in, sometime soon.

The ad created by Leo Burnett Chicago shows the use of robotic arm for tattooing, foldable phones, a fashion designer using a virtual mannequin, kid's drawings coming to life, an ultrasound through a smart phone in the comfort of your home and virtual gaming with a real experience.

So we are talking of artificial intelligence, seamless integration across platforms, virtual reality, next level of gaming and much more.

What is very smart is the use of the classic song of Doris Day 'Que será, será', which translates to 'Whatever will be, will be'. 

There couldn't have been a better song for this film - a song from the past to show us what lies in the future!

#advertising #communications #Samsung #future #brand #LeoBurnett #AI

#PictureStory 30 : Preserve

When Rolland had been posted in Iraq. Ashley knew that her husband's new post was a risky one, and one never knew what could happen.

They had talked about this in the past, and both of them had agreed with this life and its risks. Ashley had become a nurse to help victims of war as she was a very compassionate person and she wanted to do something for her country.

It would often be months before Rolland and Ashley would get a chance to be together again. Every time, Rolland would get back home from Iraq, both of them would continue working the building work of their their new house.

It was their dream to build a house that people would preserve for generations to come. They knew that this house had to be distinct, unique and different from anything else that the little town had seen.

The war is over now and the house is complete. It took them longer then what they thought, but what they see in front of them just makes the wait completely worth it! The only thing different from their plan is that Rolland is enjoying his house in a wheelchair.

                                          Pic details: Clicked in York, UK in Feb'16

#PictureStory 29 : Tranquility

Jennifer had been living a crazy life since the past 16 years. Being a Vice President in a leading corporation and running her own restaurant simultaneously wasn't an easy task at all. While the weekdays were all about presentations and business plans, the weekends went in studying different recipes and being in touch with the latest food trends. All of Connecticut admired Jennifer for her ability to manage two successful roles and putting Connecticut on the global map, as she kept appearing on talk shows and magazine covers as the 'Top 50 Women Worth Emulating'.

People thought that Jennifer had the best life that one could ask for, but no one knew about the turmoil that she was facing inside. Two break-ups, one divorce, high blood pressure was not allowing her to enjoy her stature and accomplishments in life.

She decided to take a sabbatical of a year and get away from all this chaos. It was a risky decision at this stage of her career but Jennifer was known to be firm about her decisions.

Today, as she finished the last month of her sabbatical and soaked in the sight of the sunrise in front of her, she felt a strong sense of tranquility that was missing from her life since the last 16 years.

She knew that she had to do this often!

  

                          Pic details: Clicked on Ram Jhoola in Rishikesh, India in Mar, 2016.

#PictureStory 28 : Growing Up

Meera felt a sense of deja vu. She had heard this before as well.

Radhika's response to the question 'What do you want to become when you grow up?', took Meera back to the memory of her fifth class, where everyone had laughed at the response of her friend Sonali. Sonali's response was: "I want to become a balloon seller."

Meera had lost touch with Sonali after school and Meera had moved to another city, where she became a school teacher. Since both Meera and Sonali came from the pre digital era, there wasn't anyway to find each other.

Meera came back from her nostalgic thoughts and asked Radhika why she wanted to become a balloon seller. Radhika said "Because I want to be the one who brings smiles and happiness to many children in this world".

Meera's next question to Radhika was "What is the name of your mother?"
Radhika replied "Sonali" and Meera knew instantly why Radhika had always been her favourite student.

Meera knew that the time had come to meet the balloon seller who she knew, from her fifth grade.

                        Pic details: Clicked outside my residential lane in Delhi, India in Jan 2016

Outdoor Advertising : Ikea

The simpler the communication, the more effective is its impact. 

Few days back, I was passing through a town and came across this gigantic chair at the roundabout. It was prominently placed right opposite the #Ikea store. So chances are, that you could miss the Ikea store but you wouldn't be able to miss this chair. 

Such a good example of #outdooradvertising and delivering the message.

hashtag#advertising hashtag#communication hashtag#advertisingandmarketing

Weekend Humour : Thoughts in a Meeting

Time for some weekend #humour 

Have you ever been in a meeting where you have either heard these lines or felt it in your head?

I know I have.

Trends from the Top 15 Most Subscribed YouTube Channels

Many of you must have seen the video that shows the Top 15 Best Global brands since 2000 and how it has been changing over the years. It has been doing the rounds of #LinkedIn for the past few weeks. In case, you have not seen it as yet, you can click on the link below:
https://lnkd.in/eMPzTDh I wanted to share a video of the Top 15 Most Subscribed #YouTube channels. While the Top 15 Best Global Brands shows the brand valuation of the different brands by #Interbrand, it is still an estimation of the brand equity and goodwill and not the market capitalization of the company. On the other hand, this video is based on actual #statistics of the subscriber growth of each channel. As a result, it gives you a perspective into various #trends: 

1.The changing #culture dynamics: Shift from comedy videos to music videos 
2. Increase of #Internet penetration in certain geographies: Rise of Tseries in India 3. Growth of new #artists and their global reach: Rihanna and Ed Sheeran 4. Increase in #DIY videos: Emergence of 5-minute crafts in the Top 5 list 

It can give you a good historical perspective of changes in society, its thinking and its behaviour across nations. Video Source: TheRankings 
Data Source: https://socialblade.com


hashtag#trendwatch #subscription