1. Tell us about your upbringing, background & journey.
I am born in a Brahmo family in Calcutta. Educated here at St Xavier's College and then the University of Calcutta. I started my career as a journalist with The Economic Times here in the city.
I worked in Mumbai and Delhi across various leading publications as a Senior Editor. I made a transition into the corporate world as a communications leader with RP-SG group and then Ambuja Neotia Group.
For the past seven years, I am here in Calcutta, been heading communications, branding, publications (as Chief Editor) and conferences for a Tata Steel and SAIL JV called mjunction.
I have won several national-level awards in communications and branding. I completed PGP-Business Management and Ph.D. in Economics and was awarded Doctor of Letters or D.Litt by California Public University on luxury and communications. During this period in Calcutta, I became an alumnus of IIM Calcutta, MICA, and University of Cambridge Judge Business School.
I have been a columnist and a luxury commentator with leading publications. I became a published author with The Luxe Trilogy comprising three books on luxury - Decoding Luxe, Dark Luxe, and Luxe Inferno. My latest book How to Communicate Strategically in the Corporate World was released earlier this month.
I am also invited to take sessions on strategic communications or strat comms and crisis communications by IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, IIT KGP, and the University of Scranton (US), among other esteemed institutions.
Besides my work, I love to paint and play golf. My art exhibition was recently concluded successfully in Calcutta. And in golf, I just want to retain my handicap this year.
2. How did you choose this field & what led you to rise to the highest echelons?
As I was a senior journalist for almost a decade the transition to the field of communications and branding was natural. The corporate world has been a great teacher so my journey has been a learning experience.
3. What advice do you have for people who want to rise in a corporate environment?
The corporate world and its inhabitants need to be respected. So to be respected, you need to show respect. Humility, empathy, and the power to listen are the three biggest assets one needs to have and cultivate to rise the ranks here. And believe me, this cuts across all sectors.
4. How has branding changed over the years?
'Branding is an evolving animal', this is a very common saying at my alma IIM Calcutta. So branding keeps changing every minute. However, the basic tenets, the foundation remains the same.
Having your feet firmly on the foundation, you need to be flexible in order to remain effective. Digital marketing has changed the rules of the branding game completely. The thin line between right and wrong strategy has blurred.
5. How should one approach a new partnership for success?
Any new partnership needs to be approached with caution. If there is no synergy on the ethos, it will not last. So it is very important for the growth of any organization to carefully choose its partners.
6. What are your future plans?
I plan to develop a more evolved strategy of communication-based on history, evolution, anthropology, and analytics. Towards this endeavor, I have published an academic paper on the mythic value of communication in an international journal.
7. Which is your favorite book and why?
My latest book on strat comms is my current favorite. It is an elixir of my two decades of experience as a communications leader. It is a handbook for CXOs and corporate leaders.
The title is - How to Communicate Strategically in Corporate World. It is available on Amazon. This book and my writings have received praises from industry stalwarts such as Amitabh Bachchan, Ratan Tata, and Prof Bibek Debroy, who has written the foreword.
Dr. Mahul Brahma, Doctor of Letters, Ph.D., Head, and Chief Editor, Corporate Communications & Branding, Publishing and Conference, mjunction
Interviewed By: Nishad Kinhikar
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