Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das | While one can always appoint a microbiologist as an Editor or a film-maker as director of a science museum, do you think the adsales head or editor must be headed by a mediaperson?

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Q. While one can always appoint a microbiologist as an Editor or a film-maker as director of a science museum, do you think the adsales team or editor of a large legacy media organisation must be headed by a pedigreed adsales/editorial person? Or it doesn’t really matter?

A: I don’t agree that domain expertise is an indispensable condition for running a marketing or sales department of an organisation.

While domain expertise can provide an advantage for any function, it can also create a blindness towards new possibilities. Relying too heavily on past knowledge or experience can hinder innovation and adaptability. I have seen individuals from different disciplines make significant contributions in new industries when they possess a curiosity to learn, a commitment to work, and an appropriate passion.

Transitioning into a new industry might initially pose challenges, but with the right approach, it can lead to a shift in business trajectory and expansion. It’s crucial to learn from multiple disciplines and apply that knowledge effectively. Today, learning occurs at the intersections of various fields, and technology has blurred the boundaries of functional knowledge or territorial myopia.