Recently met with a CMO friend who’s been thinking about building a stronger thought leadership..
In our conversation.. he was telling war stories from campaigns, leadership pressures, sharing his take on how marketing is evolving, and opening up about everything in between..
It was pure insight gold that any marketing professional would find invaluable.
But here’s what I’ve noticed – most CMOs and senior leaders spend so much time being busy leading teams that they forget to build their own voice.
Then one day, they suddenly no longer have a job, or they quit, or they burn out.
That’s when reality hits
The fancy marketing event invitations stop coming. People stop following them. Comments on their posts decrease. The world was after the designation, not the person or the thought leader.
If you invest time in building and sharing what you’ve learned, you become detached from the designation. You become known for your thinking, not just the company you work for. That’s real freedom.
How many other leaders and CXOs are sitting on their goldmine of insights, waiting for the “right time” to share their authentic stories?
from my experience, the one thing thought leadership does for you personally.. is kill job insecurity.. and drives you towards a more purpose driven freedom wali life :)
Blog/Vlog
Fast, Cheap and Viral session @ INDmoney
The energy, the enthusiasm at INDmoney. The vibe, the culture.. took me right back to early ixigo days. When teams are hungry to learn and experiment, magic happens in the room.
Had a blast doing the Fast, Cheap & Viral session with this incredible crew. Fan of what INDmoney is creating..thanks for having me over! Ashish Kashyap .. grateful :)
PS: Nikita Bhasin loved the interview conversation about all things money to creativity :)
Throwback: This creativity hack requires 0 budget, 6 seconds, and whatever objects are within arm’s reach
Years ago in a hospital cafe, long before videos or short form content or anything.. my friend and I created a fun challenge: make a 6-second film using only objects on our table. A sugar sachet and ketchup packet became a mini-story about Delhi road rage!
These quick creativity exercises are like mental push-ups – they force you to see possibilities in ordinary objects with zero pressure for results.
What 6-second story could you tell with what’s on your desk right now?
Try using CAR method..
C: Conflict or context
A: Action
R: Resolution
And give 2 seconds to each, and you have your 6 second film..
Just take a 10 min break today and create something.. doesn’t have to be perfect.. it’s mind gym.. but do share if not here in DM :)
You’re drowning in digital marketing updates. How can you stay current without losing your mind?
Here’s the thing about updates – there will always be too many. The key isn’t to keep up with everything, but to know what matters for your audience.
From experience: Focus on changes that impact how you serve your users better. Everything else is just noise.
Create a simple process: Keep track of what’s working with your audience. When you see engagement dropping, that’s your cue to check what changed. Let data guide your updates, not FOMO.
Remember: Platforms change, algorithms update, but good content that serves real needs always works.
All the best!
Your team is struggling to keep up with digital marketing trends. How can you ensure they adapt quickly?
Digital trends come and go, but fundamentals stay. Instead of chasing every trend, build a team that’s strong on basics – understanding audience, creating value, measuring what works.
The best way to adapt? Create a culture of experiments. Try small things, fail fast, learn faster. Not every trend needs your attention – focus on ones that help you serve your audience better.
From experience: Teams that obsess about audience needs adapt naturally to relevant trends. Others keep playing catch-up with every shiny new thing.
Create an environment where your team feels safe to experiment. That’s how you stay ahead.
All the best!