MxMIndia

Tag: Coffee & Conversations

  • In this edition of Coffee & Conversations, Rahul Kishore meets up with Ashish Bagga, Chief Executive Officer, India Today group

    Coffee & Conversations with Rahul Kishore: Week #6: Ashish Bagga

    By Rahul Kishore

     

    Ashish Bagga is a difficult person to meet. Since he runs a large media corp as CEO of the India Today group, it’s very important for him to budget his time.After trailing him for almost two weeks, I had a cup of coffee with him. He always has been razor-sharp, with a keen sense of humour and rumour and laughs loudly. I began by asking him

     

    Do you consider yourself lucky?

    Indeed, I do! Luck has played a large role in my life but I have worked very hard to get where I am.

     

    Beliefs that define you?

    Behind every threat is an opportunity. While nothing succeeds like success, lessons arising out of failure are equally important. It is imperative to enjoy and learn from the journey of life! He lives by this and I think I agree with him

     

    How do you destress?

    By riding a Harley!

     

    What’s your dream job?

    Being the world’s top media honcho. Who knows he might get there

     

    If there was a movie made on you who would you like to play you and why?

    Aamir Khan. Because Aamir is an extremely talented and versatile actor and is at the top of his craft. Comes across as genuine, warm, approachable and humane. I relate very well to his value system and ideology.

     

    Your fav CEO?

    Richard Branson he says with a twinkle in his eye and a smile that hides something

     

    If Bill Gates walked in and gave you a 100 million for one big idea. What would it be?

    Contextual mobile commerce is the future and he has some ideas he would like to implement there

     

    Your fav animal?

    Bruno, our Golden Retriever

     

    One word that describes you?

    Go-getter…that he is!

     

    Who would you like to be reborn as?

    Marc Zuckerberg for what he has done.

     

  • In this edition of Coffee & Conversations, Rahul Kishore meets up with Rahul Johri, Executive Vice President & General Manager – South Asia & Southeast Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific

    Coffee & Conversations with Rahul Kishore: Week #5: Rahul Johri

    By Rahul Kishore

     

    It is very tough to get a long response to anything from Rahul Johri, Executive Vice President & General Manager – South Asia & Southeast Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific. He doesn’t talk very much. He agreed to meet me instantly though and said that he had never had an interview of ‘this’kind. He was forthright and crisp in his responses. What came across was a man involved totally in his job and very happy doing it. I began by asking him…

     

    Do you consider yourself lucky?

    I have always worked hard and strived for excellence. Luck definitely plays a part. Being at the right place at the right time has its advantages and I have been fortunate

     

    Beliefs that define you.

    Always have a goal and work tirelessly towards achieving it. The happiness and satisfaction you derive is unmatched.

     

    How do you destress?

    I like to read and travel with my family. But what gives me maximum pleasure is the opportunity to satisfy people’s curiosity and make a difference in their lives through our enriching content.

     

    If there was a movie made about your life who would you to like to play and why?

    Tom Hanks for his versatile acting abilities.

     

    What’s your dream job?

    This is my dream job. I work with one of the most admired global brands, finest team and create compelling content that is watched by millions across the world.

     

    If Bill Gates were to give you $100 million what would you do to change the world?

    I would invest in developing sustainable and clean energy sources so that we leave behind a pollution-free world for the generations to come.

     

    Your favourite animal.

    Elephant.

     

    One word that defines you?

    Passionate.

     

    CEO that you admire.

    It has to be David Zaslav, CEO, Discovery Communications Inc. for his business acumen, energy and effervescence.

     

    Who would you like to be re-born as?

    As myself. I consider myself fortunate for the life I’ve had. I have no wish to be reborn as someone else.

     

  • In this edition of Coffee & Conversations, Rahul Kishore spends some quality time with Shantanu Bhanja, Chief Digital Officer, HT Media

    Coffee & Conversations with Rahul Kishore: Week #4: Shantanu Bhanja

    It’s is very difficult to pin Shantanu Bhanja, Chief Digital Officer of HT Media, down to anything. He operates out of Gurgaon and Delhi and is super-busy. But he’s forever courteous, agreed to meet at short notice, and once you are with him, he is at ease and gives you all his attention. I think the time he has  spent in London and Lisbon helped!

     

    I started by asking him:

     

    Are you lucky?

    Yes, Life has been good. Fun things have happened along the way. He worked with Reckitt in London and Lisbon. His bosses have been nice to him although he has taken care to choose his bosses carefully!

     

    The beliefs that define him?

    He read in Reader’s Digest that it’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice. He follows it. I have not known of anyone in the industry say negative things about him. He is very courteous, soft-spoken and genuinely makes you feel nice, even if it’s with an impish grin. Whatever you do, do it with a 110% of what you can bring to the table. No half-measures for him.  Ethics: Life needs it. The world is so open. Everything is so transparent. Can’t afford to be non-ethical. It’s not like Shantanu to not be genuine.

     

    How do you destress?

    Shantanu takes three holidays a year. Two of these are international. One is in the UK with a large part of his family being there. If he is really stressed whilst at home, he takes refuge with TV and likes to surf the internet. Reading is a long time love as is theatre. Work is worship for him, so he never lays off it.

     

    If a movie were to be made about his life who would play him?

    He said ME. That is, Shantanu himself! Acting is a hobby and he has essayed the roles of Professor Higgins and Shylock. When pushed, he said Farhan Akhtar or Aamir Khan. They are smart and intelligent and that would be required to play him, he says.

     

    If Bill Gates were to walk in and say here is a 100 million, give me one big idea and it’s yours?

    He has the big idea in his new digital job, though he will not share it for now. It would come in very handy, he says for his new business venture. The digital business can create large business ides, he says.

     

    Dream job

    Doing what I am doing today, else I would have moved on. I work for long stints with companies. He completes eight years this year at HT

     

    Favourite animal and why?

    Tiger, because it’s majestic, powerful and a leader.

     

    One word that describes him?

    Passionate

     

    And, lastly, a CEO he admires?

    Steve Jobs is an almost instant reply. He loves everything about him. His ideas, the fact that he was a visionary, passionate, driven, obsessed and a perfectionist.

     

    Coffee & Conversations with Rahul Kishore will henceforth appear on Mondays