Our North Stars

A very decorated senior executive from the travel industry who has a heart of something even more precious than diamonds. His wit and phone book is just as priceless. Watch his chat with me on Conversations with Wisdom to know more. Thanks AT for always cheering me up! Your youthful outlook on life despite your personal challenges is truly inspiring!

An embodiment of "limitless thinking" AR, showed me what it really meant to walk into a board room and OWN it. People often laughed at his audacious suggestions, but almost a decade after leaving Onmobile, I continue to marvel at his foresight. He has the curiosity of a child and the gumption of a gladiator.

He is what they call in the corporate world "Blue Blood" - Doon School, IIM Calcutta, then went to on to lead VISA's marketing across Asia Pacific and Amex before turning entrepreneur. 25 years later, we got a chance to work together again, and it was just as stimulating and eventful. Ajay has been fondly guiding me from a distance, and i thank him for that!

One of the most ambitious marketers, well respected by his peers for some breakthrough ideas while at MTV, Turner and Viacom, To be honest, working with Jiggy isn't a cakewalk though. He exacts the same discipline from you that he does himself. Those that get it will thrive by being around him. The pursuit of perfection is the ONLY choice.

I got to know Maura when I started blogging for Licensing International India. Maura had just taken over the reins of the largest licensing body - LIMA, which oversaw the $262 billion licensing industry at the time. She completely rebranded and refreshed not just the brand identity but the thinking at the organisation, which fascinated me. Despite being a global executive, she always made the time to answer a doubt or help with a connection. For an outsider to the licensing business that i was, it truly meant a lot.

MV and his lovely wife, Petula have been my "Bangalore Yoda's". They've laughed with me and cried with me. Helped me through highs and lows (literally!) Theirs is a love story for the ages. MV grew up in an ashram. Petz was a rebellious convent-educated Anglo. Together they became fire & ice. They have a beautiful, intelligent son, Samay, who literally reminds me of the value of TIME. We've been lucky to have them as coaches as parents as well. One salary dual benefits.

Meenakshi has been a doyenne of the media planning business for over 2 decades. She presided over media plans that ran into 100's of crores. She has founded over 4 start-ups and successfully guided them to profitability before exiting. Instead of hanging up her boots, she decided to do something completely unusual. She founded a community-based initiative that is re-imagining "old age". If the kids call themselves GenZ, why can't the ones in their second childhood call themselves GenS (Generation Sixty)! A very bold yet much-needed move that has everyone rooting for her.

Some seniors will NEVER know or accept the influence they had over your personal and professional life. Mukund is one such. He was my first "direct reporting boss" i was extremely impressionable (and desperate) at that time. Mukund instilled some very key values in me. Strong work ethics, the importance of having fun at work and of course, always eating lunch on time. He showed up at our wedding mass to be a part of the offertory (completely unrehearsed) and has since been an additional "elder brother" that god blessed me with.

"Employee No. 72 at Infosys," "Mr Narayan Murthy's blue-eyed boy" were just some of the ways the team at Onmobile briefed me on Mouli. One would never realise this soft-spoken, lanky guy could have such a pedigree. But in my 8 years at Onmobile, it became very apparent. His humility, though, was his strongest calling card. The brash media guy that I was, since he was the CTO i wrote him an email asking about my laptop, and he said, "Yes, let me get that organised for you". Always curious to understand what customers thought of our services and how we could improve. A true rarity. Unfortunately for him, we did put him in the firing line many a time.

Shariq is a giant in the film domain. Having steered over 200 film projects to completion while at Zee, some like Border grossing over 500 Cr at the box office. It's a wonder that he's still so down to earth. i have seen him at conferences, patiently listening to struggling playwrights and motivating them both on and off the stage. Fortunately for me, we got a chance to have a chat over some chai, which you can view on YouTube.

My first "International Super Boss" Hema kept the vibe easy and free flowing. She worked tirelessly to ensure we were on top of everything but never passed any of the stress down the pipe. Cartoon Network is probably one of my most memorable experiences. After all when youre stars are Dexter, Dee Dee, Johnny Bravo, Tom & Jerry and Scooby Doo, what more could you ask for? We staged the largest kids event Toon Cricket and then Toon Hunt with celebrity judges like the late Piyush Pandey, Ram Mohan and  Ashutosh Gowarikar.

I recently got to know Laura when i interviewed her for an episode of Chai with the CEO. We hit it off immediately. A storied executive from the media and licensing domains, Laura has worked for the best of the best. Yet she remains humble to a fault. Even at 65, she's raring to go. (Sorry Laura but everyone already knows your age!) She's got the soul of an 18 year old. Willing to fight for equality for women in the licensing domain. Her own endeavour Fangirl Fashionista was set up to attack this very anomaly. LauraAnn is now a long-distance coach rooting for Random Genius from LA!

If you want to meet a guy with a heart bigger than the universe, head to Ashiana at the foot of Mount Mary's Steps in Bandra and ask for "Darryl".  He used to sell Karaoke Mics and empowered his security to hold cash on his behalf. I often refer to him as the "youngest old man I know". He actually walked into a hospital and told the nurse to get the ER ready, he was having a heart attack! Some people need to be experienced LIVE. Mr. D is one of them.

I have always revelled and relished every opportunity I had to get up on stage and perform for an audience. Joe Cordo helped nurture this passion and satiate this hunger many moons ago by including me in his productions, one of which was called A Child is Born, which chronicled a new reality and explored theatre on a scale never before done. I got a chance to flesh out a production as a script writer and narrator for the production. Over 2 decades later, I still get compliments from people for my participation.

Elder sisters are always special. But mine is a little bit extra. She has been my role model and guide ever since i can remember. In fact, my career in the media as well is largely thanks to my sister and all the people she impressed in the music industry. Shes a self-made woman who has since kicked the corporate corner office after 30 years to squat on the floor and get busier with autistic children. Her enthusiasm to serve her new clients rivals the tenacity she showed launching campaigns like AR Rahman's Maa Tuje Salaam and albums for Shakira, Celine Dion and Beyonce. 

Dale is a senior from school who first shot to fame for winning 20+ "King competitions" on the trot. These were live personality contests which demanded contestants have a quick sense of humour as well as a deep knowledge of current affairs, local and global. Dale has since hung up his boots to care for 2 beautiful kids and nurture countless youngsters in the arts and benchmark themselves against their peers globally via Trinity College of London. He works tirelessly to help his students improve and start their own coaching business, yours truly included. Before any decision, I still consult Dale and he never fails to provide his input. Teachers of his calibre are hard to come by!

My BEST man, my brother from another mother, these days my client. as well Jibi has been the silent soldier, holding my hand when it needed to be held and kicking my butt when it needed to be kicked. Jib and I started at Turner International around the same time, and he has since become family. There's a 6-month gap on many personal milestones, which I will narrate in person. Our wives and kids get along well, which really helps. Jibi is a Chemistry major, but has taken to reading complex balance sheets like a fish to water. He's found his Ikigai! He runs Dream Theatre Group, ensuring all ducks are in order and there's enough money to pay the bills every month. Mature beyond his age, i seek his counsel on personal and professional matters, and he has ALWAYS obliged. 

Carl Mendes is one of the go-to directors in Bandra for the Zonals - an annual competition held to provide a platform for the youth to showcase their talents in a wide range of Arts. Despite being a local celebrity, Carl is extremely down-to-earth and always willing to help. He is also extremely proficient at dealing with the young ones and extracting talent where there is seemingly none in laypeople. I won 2 Best Actor awards at the zonals thanks to his genius! One particular trait of Carl's which used to pique my interest was his nonchalance about awards. He would NEVER stay till the end of the competition to go up on stage and accept his award for Best Director, which he would inevitably win. True artist. Watch out for his CWW interview - coming soon.

If ever there was a real life personification of "Rocket Singh - Salesman of the year" Vivek would be it. As our boss MV would say, Vivek can sell ice to an Eskimo. He has a brilliant mind combined with the singular passion to help people. You want ANYONE's number, you can bet Vivek has it or he will get it within a few minutes. He is a natural born Networker. Based out of Delhi, he now runs his own consultancy helping brands launch and embed themselves in the consumers subconscious in the most innovative ways. Vivek somehow has managed to look at ONLY the positives. A gem of person, he's a battle hardened professional worth having by your side to help grow your business. Find him on LinkedIn. You're welcome!

Derick and I worked together at Star TV before shifting to Onmobile. He became a friend, philosopher and guide for 8 years till I left for HOOQ in Gurgaon. He is as strong-willed as they come. In addition to his professional expertise, he taught me a thing or two about being a devoted dad, committed husband, and dutiful son. When he met with a life-changing accident, after which his leg had to be amputated, one thought depression would take over. But not only did he bounce back but went on to inspire so many more that the German company providing his prosthetics appointed him as their global ambassador. Kudos DF.