Jul 2012 – Present · 13 yrs 8 mos · Bangalore

• Storywallahs helps organizations discover and harness the power of Storytelling.
• We conduct training programs and provide consulting to organizations that want to leverage the principles of Storytelling for training, talent transformation, change management, internal communications, knowledge management and help people & organizations become better at Storytelling.

Jan 2010 – Jan 2012 · 2 yrs · Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

• Led strategy development for for key clients across Ogilvy's offices in Bengaluru, Chennai and for Ogilvy's second agency Meridian and nurtured and developed a strong planning team.
• ADVERTISING: The Hindu, MTR, Titan Eye Plus, CavinKare (Cavin's Milk), TTK Eva Deodorants, SAB Miller Hayward's, Karbonn Mobiles, Manipal Education, Himalaya
• CONSULTING: Ramco Industries, Manipal Education & Healthcare group, The Hindu
• TRAINING & WORKSHOPS: Himalaya, The Hindu, Manipal, Ramco Industries, MTR, Ogilvy Chennai, Ogilvy Bengaluru, Meridian, Titan Industries
• Dream Analyst: Dream Reader and Dreamguru for the Dream:In project by the design agency IDIOM culminating in ideas for new ventures across sectors.
• India lead for Ogilvy Noor, Ogilvy's full service Islamic branding consultancy for brands catering to Muslim consumers.
• Published papers and articles in the Economic Times & The Brand Equity on Digital Futures and how new technologies are fundamentally altering the way we think.

Apr 2008 – Dec 2009 · 1 yr 8 mos · Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

• Global relaunch of Lenovo through the development and implementation of a single brand strategy for Lenovo across 60 plus countries, for 3 different target segments (consumer, business and goverment), through two sub-brands (IdeaPad, Think Pad) across all media.
• Priceless experience of working with multicultural teams (agency and client) across time zones, leveraging the entire Ogilvy planning network to localize the Global campaign to suit individual market requirements.
• Highlight: Work on a single brand that straddles the entire spectrum from single global idea to localized messaging in over 60 languages, simplifying a complex Brand Architecture, extremely high component of Digital Work given the nature of category -consumer interaction and the joy of working with a global team - all done out of Bengaluru.

Jan 2004 – Jul 2007 · 3 yrs 6 mos · Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

• As head of planning for the Bengaluru office of McCann Erickson led the strategic work for brands like ITC Aashirvaad, Kwality Walls Ice Cream, Intel, TVS Bikes, Scooty, Tata Tea Chakra Gold, Britannia Good Day and Britannia Treat.
• Nurtured a fledging planning team and led successful new business pitches like Metlife, Titan Eye Plus,TVS Apache, Britannia. Got exposure to global and regional accounts like Intel and Kwality Walls.
• Worked on the Launch of Titan Eye Plus, TVS Apache, ITC's Aashirvaad Atta, Salt, Spices and the relaunch of MetLife in India.
• Developed a keen interest and started applying Semiotics and Media Ethnography to my work. Continued my parallel journey as Brand Consultant by mapping the evolution of fashion & branded jewellery in India as part of a new BVP (Brand Value Proposition) exercise for Tanishq.

Jan 2003 – Jan 2003 · 0 mo · Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

• Marketing and brand management responsibility for the then 80 Crore brand Louis Philippe. Led and orchestrated the efforts of the entire brand team comprising of Fashion Designer, Merchandiser, Visual Merchandiser, Advertising Agency (Contract) and the Media Agency towards a repositioning and revival of the brand.
• Introduced new collections and brought in fresh thinking into Louis Philippe.

Jan 1998 – Jan 2002 · 4 yrs · Greater Delhi Area

• Analysed the lyrics of 1500 songs from Bollywood movies from the 1950's to the 1990's to map social and cultural change in India. Levered the insights from this project to apply on categories as diverse as Beauty, Liquor and Cigarattes.
• Handled brands like Mastercard, J.K. White Cement, Panasonic, HSBC and Mortein. Led successful new business development pitches on categories like Insurance, Automobiles, Banking, Early Internet Portals and Cements.
• Led a Brand Consulting assignment with Asahi Glass to evolve new Brand Direction as well as Brand Architecture for Asahi to operate in and straddle diverse categories.
• Developed an interest in Mythology, Symbols and Popular Culture, a passion that informs a lot of my work till date.

Jan 1995 – Jan 1997 · 2 yrs · Mumbai Metropolitan Region

• Co-authored Ogilvy's Pocket Media Guide for the year 1997.
• Worked on the launch of Lever's Kotex in India and handled media research, media planning and buying for brands like Huggies, Pidilite, Bournvita, Parle Biscuits and ANZ Grindlays Bank.
• Developed an understanding of how India consumes media by working on brands aimed at diverse target audiences and geogrophies and discovered an interest / talent in coming up with media innovations.