Oct 2024 – Sep 2025 · 11 mos · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India · On-site

• Worked as a communications consultant, leading new business pitches and strategic responses across key accounts.
• Primary contributions included account planning and creative supervision, working closely with internal teams and partner agencies across the business funnel - spanning OOH, experiential, rural marketing, and government projects.
• The role involved shaping core insights, idea territories, and presentation narratives, while ensuring creative consistency, strategic clarity, and practical execution across multiple touchpoints.

Feb 2023 – Nov 2023 · 9 mos · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India · On-site

• At Shipyaari, I continued to lead Marketing as my core responsibility, and in Year 2, I also took on Sales to drive stronger, faster growth.
• My first phase was about getting the basics right — building a steady foundation and fixing what needed fixing. Once that was in place, I took charge of revenue and focused on building the right sales organisation from ground up. This meant hiring the right people, setting clear processes, and creating a structure that could scale.
• On the marketing side, I worked on improving how customers saw and experienced the brand. Internally, I focused on making operations smoother and more efficient so that teams could move faster with fewer hurdles.
• I also spent a lot of time understanding customers closely. Their feedback helped us refine our product and strengthen our overall customer experience.
• With stronger marketing and a sharper sales engine, we grew our pipeline, expanded our presence, and pushed Shipyaari onto a faster growth track.

Jan 2022 – Jan 2023 · 1 yr · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India · On-site

• As Chief Transformation Officer at Shipyaari, my role was to steady the organisation, fix gaps across functions, and prepare the company for its next phase of growth.
• When I joined, there was no Marketing team and no HR team. I set up both from scratch. This meant building the right structures, hiring the right people, and putting the basic systems in place so the company could function smoothly and grow with discipline.
• A major part of my work was a complete brand rehaul. We created a new identity for Shipyaari and rebuilt the brand’s social media presence to make it clearer, stronger, and more consistent. I also led our first major marketing efforts to improve how the company showed up in the market.
• I worked closely with HR to shape a more people-friendly culture and improve the employee experience. I also simplified key processes, improved efficiency, and removed everyday friction that slowed teams down.
• To strengthen our talent pipeline, I created Yaari University, a bold experiment to bring in raw young talent and grow them organically so we could build a stronger bench.
• Along the way, I helped restructure the overall organisation to add efficiency and supported conversations that contributed to bringing investors on board.
• Overall, this role was about putting the right foundation in place across brand, people, and operations so Shipyaari could scale with confidence.

Nov 2020 – Present · 5 yrs 5 mos · Hybrid

• An idea a day keeps the problems away!
• Ping me if there’s a business problem that keeps you awake. Creativity, culture and coaching are my tools to solve the business problems. Choose anyone or a combination.

Sep 2020 – Present · 5 yrs 7 mos · Hybrid

• Passionate about mentoring and teaching, I found my true calling after a sudden job loss during the pandemic. With two decades of experience in marketing, branding, communications, and sales, I now share my knowledge with aspiring management professionals at esteemed institutes like Xavier Institute of Communications, Indian Institute of Management Studies (Kozhikode), Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Whistling Woods, Global Institute of Sports Business and more. Teaching embodies my passion for nurturing young talent and instilling a principled approach to business, emphasizing ethics and a strong value system. Business ideology is a cornerstone of my lectures, regardless of the subject.
• Another key focus is teaching the art of ideation, vital for effective problem-solving. I offer expertise in subjects such as Brand Management, Marketing, Sales, Advertising & Communications, Creativity & Ideation, and Experiential Marketing. Through engaging and interactive sessions, I inspire students to think creatively, explore perspectives, and develop innovative solutions using real-world case studies and hands-on exercises. Witnessing their growth and curiosity brings immense joy, fueling my commitment to prepare industry-ready talent for tomorrow's competitive business landscape.

Jun 2019 – Oct 2020 · 1 yr 4 mos · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India · On-site

• As the Chief Operating Officer at Geometry Encompass (now VMLY&R Commerce) I was mandated to manage its Mumbai office. While doing so, I faced a daunting task of stabilising a business in disarray. Clients had lost faith in our once iconic brand, compliances were in shambles, and employee morale was at an all-time low. With no clear starting point, I anchored my approach in people management, believing that it would bring other facets under control.
• In just six months, we managed to make significant progress on all fronts. New client logos in our credentials deck, old smiles back on our people's faces and green numbers in flash reports indicated that we were back in the game. However, the unexpected arrival of the Covid pandemic forced us to switch gears. I led the team in upskilling ourselves to stay relevant in these changing times. By focusing on brand strategy work and content creation, we were able to navigate through the crisis and perform better than anyone expected.
• Despite our best efforts, the pandemic proved relentless, and tough decisions had to be made. It was heart-wrenching to have to lay off talent to keep the company afloat. But I was determined to do what was necessary to ensure the business's survival.
• In the end, I lost my own job as well, but I left with my head held high. Throughout this challenging journey, I made sure we did the right things, even during the worst of times. I'm proud of the positive impact we made during my tenure as Geometry Encompass' COO!

Feb 2018 – Jun 2019 · 1 yr 4 mos · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India · Hybrid

• As the transformation progressed, my role evolved into that of Chief Executive Officer at The Bucketlist. Embracing a people-first approach, we fostered a dynamic work culture that promoted creativity and collaboration. The efforts paid off as we experienced consistent business growth and gained the trust of reputed brands. We took on diverse projects, from hardcore brand building to content creation and executing numerous experiential marketing campaigns.
• Despite facing challenges, such as losing our anchor client, we showcased resilience and adaptability. With a strong focus on diversification and client acquisition, we won over 50 new clients, solidifying our position in the market. While navigating ideological differences, we ensured a smooth and amicable parting of ways with the founders. Leaving behind an inspiring brand and a thriving work environment, I then embraced new opportunities with the valuable experience of building a successful and people-centric advertising agency, my first entrepreneurial stint!

Sep 2017 – Jan 2018 · 4 mos · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India · Hybrid

• Over almost 15 years, I flourished in the communications industry, working with diverse profiles and strategic business units at prominent advertising groups. However, my journey took an exciting turn when I joined CampHire, an independent agency seeking a fresh perspective. Recognizing the limitations of their single-client dependency and lack of scalability, the founders approached me to initiate a turnaround. As the Chief Growth Hacker, I was determined to breathe new life into the setup.
• My first focus was to attract industry talent and empower the existing team to foster a more agile and efficient workforce. I rebooted the agency's processes, eliminating inefficiencies and setting up a professional framework to maximize productivity. Additionally, I spearheaded a complete rebranding effort, transforming the agency into "The Bucketlist." This bold new avatar, centered around the promise of "Whatever it takes" created a compelling and inspiring brand image.

Apr 2015 – Sep 2017 · 2 yrs 5 mos · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

• I founded Engage, a new-age content and brand activations agency, within the Geometry Global Encompass Network. In just six months, it became the fastest-growing SBU within the network and continued that success throughout its existence. Starting with a team of three, I quickly expanded Engage to a pack of 40 passionate brand activation and content professionals.
• Engage earned the trust of major clients such as P&G, Asian Paints, Castrol, Nissan, Blue Star, VIP Skybags, Jockey, Sanofi, Nexus Malls, etc. Its versatility and commitment to providing end-to-end services beyond traditional activations and events set it apart. Engage offered end-to-end services beyond traditional activations and events, including paid digital activations, strategic consultation, creative services, shopper marketing services, and content solutions, becoming a comprehensive agency partner for it’s anchor clients.
• The investments made in Engage paid off handsomely, making it the primary growth driver in the GGE network, all achieved organically. Through Engage, Encompass successfully shattered the perception of being solely an "Events only" agency, both for clients and industry talent.
• Although Engage dissolved when I chose to move on from the network, it remains a source of pride and a reflection of the team's collaborative effort and dedication.

Jul 2012 – Mar 2015 · 2 yrs 8 mos · Team P&G, India

• P&G called it Local Agency Lead. Sir Martin Sorrell called it Horizontality. I found the latter more apt. I managed WPP's relationship with P&G in India on Digital Marketing, Experiential Marketing, Shopper Marketing and DTC front via multiple specialised Operating Companies of WPP. This consolidation of P&G business under one virtual entity helped WPP in strengthening its non-media offerings to P&G. The arrangement got WPP Op Cos to collaborate seamlessly thereby providing truly integrated solutions to P&G.

Apr 2009 – Jul 2012 · 3 yrs 3 mos · On-site

• In my first leadership role at DDB Mudra Max, I was handed the responsibility of managing two struggling SBUs: Kidstuff, a once-iconic Brand Activations agency now facing losses, and Celsius, a newly launched Events SBU. In just 24 months, I built an exceptional team of experiential marketing professionals and strategically shifted our focus from being execution partners to becoming strategic partners for brand activation.
• The results were remarkable. We gained the trust of major clients like Castrol, Star TV, Western Union, Abbott, Diageo, VW, ANZ, Viacom, MSD, and others, turning the West P&L into a profitable venture. Not only did I introduce new clients to the group, but I also secured substantial business mandates from DDB Mudra's legacy clients.
• Central to our success was identifying the right talent, ensuring their happiness, and fostering a strong bond among team members, all of which helped us work towards a shared vision. This experience was an incredible opportunity for me, and it readied me to take on newer challenges and continue driving positive transformations in the future.

Sep 2008 – Jul 2012 · 3 yrs 10 mos · On-site

• As DDB Mudra Group's Integrated Planning Lead, my media-agnostic campaign planning and business development expertise helped establish us as a creative powerhouse in the experiential marketing industry. We launched multiple Marketing Services SBUs under DDB Mudra Max, shifting perceptions, attracting clients, and driving business growth. Integrating our through-the-line ideas with creative and media services solidified our reputation and attracted top talent.

May 2008 – Sep 2008 · 4 mos · Mumbai Metropolitan Region · On-site

• Head Planning for Engagement, Events and OOH businesses. A very small stint. It hardly took me 3 months to realize that the job wasn't taking me anywhere and apart from writing dozens of PowerPoint Presentations, I wasn't able to add any value to the organization. Instead of worrying about how a 3 odd month stint look on my CV, I decided to follow my heart and I decided to move on.

Sep 2007 – May 2008 · 8 mos · Mumbai Metropolitan Region · On-site

• During my half-decade stint at Ogilvy, I honed my business acumen and mastered communications planning. Feeling the urge to explore new career horizons, I decided to transition to the brand side of the business. This led me to join Reliance Capital as a Strategic Planner, where I provided disruptive brand building solutions for all Reliance Capital SBUs in the highly regulated BFSI environment.
• Working on the client's side gave me invaluable insights into their functioning and real business challenges. It completely changed my perspective on client management, allowing me to forge more meaningful and enriching agency-client relationships in subsequent roles.
• This job equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of both the agency and brand dynamics, It prepared me to deliver innovative solutions and nurture stronger client connections in my future professional journey.

Feb 2003 – Sep 2007 · 4 yrs 7 mos · Mumbai Metropolitan Region · On-site

• In 2002, my Ogilvy journey began as a Summer Intern, exposing me to the trucking ecosystem of India. The experience was tough but proved invaluable as it eventually made me a specialist in providing business solutions to my favorite client, Castrol.
• Thrilled with the opportunity, I accepted a pre-placement job offer and joined full-time even before completing my masters at NMIMS. Working on Unilever's prestigious IT-based CSR initiative iShakti was a defining moment in my career. It taught me how to solve complex problems.
• Initially, my focus centered around HUL and Unilever portfolios for two years. Later, I took charge of managing the non-HUL portfolio in the West Office. Collaborating closely with various Ogilvy teams, I specialised as a planning cum NBD specialist, delivering strategic solutions for clients like Castrol, bp, Motorola, Cadbury, Asian Paints, Pidilite, and others in the experiential space.
• My passion lied in creating brand engagement opportunities for low-income consumers through on-ground branded content, providing services to diverse clients, ranging from International, Multi-national, Home-grown, Government, NGO, and NPO clients.
• Ogilvy ingrained in me the key focus areas for success: People, Consumers, Ideas, and Brands. The driving force behind every endeavour was to create meaningful impact, where revenues and awards became secondary to the greater goal.
• Throughout my journey, Ogilvy's exceptional kindness and support paved the way for fast-track career growth, exposure to top-notch training programs, and recognition that surpassed my expectations. This transformative experience at Ogilvy not only shaped me professionally but also enriched me personally.