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Tag: Rahul Kishore

  • In his inimitable style, Rahul Kishore comments on how the English news channels fared on Counting Day…

    Rahul Kishore rips apart English News TV on Counting Day: The Ugly, The Bad, The Good

    By Rahul Kishore

     

    The 2019 elections for the Lok Sabha will go down in history as the most bitterly fought one ever. The name-calling, character assassination, abuse of parents and families were to be seen to be believed. This was at the politician level, but what was amazing was the battle being fought in television studios.

    It amazes me that educated people took positions and stayed with them for the last two-odd years. Fake narratives were carefully built up and seasoned, reasonably normal anchors stuck blatantly and foolishly to them. Of course one side knew the other is winning somewhat comfortably. It was a battle of unequals: a dominant Prime Minister who was an Alpha Male stacked against a motley opportunist opposition supposedly led by a man who was never serious and changed his persona almost on a bi-monthly basis. From soft Hindutva to getting his sister to the fore, forming a mahagathbandhan to showing a humane side to showering suspect love around — all of it was made up and comical.

     

    Now to support this he obviously got his managers to get wholesale media backing
    The media delivered and how! The entire game was winding up to Election Day and what was on view was amazing as all the anchors barring one or two were stripped completely and displayed biases.

    Among the usual suspects in NDTV was Prannoy Roy who tried to recover some of his mojo. Nidhi Razdan was like a bubbly child, trying to impress the boss. Sreenivasan Jain has this air of intellectual superiority about him which doesn’t hold once the mouth talks. Shekhar Gupta, on the other hand, was shifty and looked as if he knew it was all over. It had actually all begun with Rajat Sethi taking on Nidhi Razdan apart and naming NDTV almost as a Congress backer. And an anti-BJP one. They called only known, pliant guests and were quite happy in their little drawing room which btw had a fossilised senior journalist who besides having nothing of note to say was also having a bad hair day and was trying very hard to behave like a diva. Comical. The entire drawing room looked like a funeral as the numbers started piling up against them. Sorry, Congress.

    Their star Ravish Kumar had a meltdown post exit polls and wanted anchors to be given cabinet posts for backing the BJP… he forgot that his channel used to decide UPA portfolios not so long ago. A waster and self-styled defender of the Congress, his best days are easily behind him!

    NDTV had already set its agenda by inviting a blogger Dhruv Rathee to the channel and getting its staff to translate his utterances in Hindi, instead of following up on the Lanka bombings which had the body count growing. Priorities! Modi must be made to lose! SAD to see.

    India Today had already goofed up with Rahul Kanwal leaking the internal exit poll, then Rajdeep Sardesai claimed it was fake, got trolled and eventually said it was a dummy. Their epic takedown was by Giriraj Singh who hammered them and both though embarrassed were going on with the chat. Rajdeep and Kanwal are not good to watch. They never got Anjana after her Twitter spat with Sardesai. Might have been better than these two. The one thing that stood out was the breaking down of psephologist Pradeep Gupta. Though the two men tried to quickly get some well needed TRPs from that, the only chap who gained was Pradeep himself! How accurate he was!

    Now onto the leader by far: Arnab. The channel was loud and exciting.  Everything was ‘breaking’ and Arnab was in control .The only thing he needs to tell his reporters is that they’re all equal.They look petrified most of the time. Chitra, though mild and calm, has a school principal air about her and was mostly ignorable. It must be said that Arnab is the best Hindi speaker of all the mainstream English anchors. For a northeast guy, it’s never easy and must be applauded. It was business as usual there and he had a young jumpy analyst who was pleasant enough without the airs of a Yogendra Yadav or a Dorab Sopariwalla, Both past their best by date. The best though by far and my fav with her smile knowledge and demeanour was Smita Prakash. She needs to be on TV more. Reminds one of the anchors of yore, on DD where else!

    Barkha – a star always, carried on gamely and was her usual articulate self. Where the telecast suffered was that the lighting was not bright enough, and the panellists were dreary. Sadanand Dhume was weary, pompous and his accent was overbearing. Besides he suffered from the airs of most NRIs who comment on India as if they know it all. Part of the same tribe Shivam Vij made bad jokes and I was wondering why he gets invited at all. Mostly looks like he suffers from flatulence!

    The Opindia site it must be mentioned was mostly great on coverage though Nupur had a serious meltdown post the results and wrote many expletives. Not expected and not done. She could have done better!

    To end, I remember five years back, Hindi channels were all noise and no poise whereas English ones followed decorum. Well, the roles have reversed. Also, one can see that the owners have invested in tech but the journos are not up to speed with it. Needs more involvement.

    The one thing that will however be the moment for me was Arnab’s takedown of arguably the most obnoxious woman ever: Renuka Chowdhury. I think there was some history there but he was brilliant. She was stuttering!

    The drama is over and one can now go back to one’s mundane life having lived through the most exciting and bitter election in living memory. It was fun viewing and lots of masks slipped. As they say, Whattefun

     

    Rahul Kishore is an avid TV watcher and runs his own companies Taurus Infomedia Pvt Ltd and The Icon Image Consulting. He has very strong views on most things in life – politics and the media included. Although there may be more people disagreeing with his no-holds-barred views, the good thing that he is consistent with them. Known for his pro-Modi, pro-Arnab, anti-NDTV, anti-all-those-who-dare-to-question-Modi comments on the social media, RK is also a keen golfer, a compulsive fitness freak and loves posting photographs (with him in them) on Facebook and Instagram. A compilation of his Facebook posts was published in 2014 as a book. You can send bouquets, brickbats and legal suits to him at rahulkis@gmail.com. The views here are personal, and MxMIndia does not subscribe to them.

     

     

  • Rahul Kishore gets up, close and very personal with Jaskaran Singh Kapany, Vice President, Marketing at Paytm

    Selfie with RK | Jaskaran Singh Kapany, Paytm

    By Rahul Kishore

     

    It is extremely difficult to get Jaskaran Singh Kapany for a meeting. He works extremely hard and his time is blocked days in advance. However, this time he was offered an interesting session of rapid fire questions and he gave in easily. He’s both funny and serious at the same time and his mind is always ticking. I began by asking him

    What’s your biggest strength?

    Self-Belief. If you believe in yourself, nothing can come in the way of you getting what you want. Sounds simplistic. But it works.

    What’s your biggest weakness then?

    Impatience. I wish could be a better listener. I tend to expect people to get to the point sooner.

    Favourite CEO?

    Steve Jobs. Legendary product passion. Stellar foresight. Brutal execution. All these are killer qualities in a leader.

    Hardwork or luck?

    Hardwork. Always. Luck is boring and doesn’t work. Plus, I have never been lucky!

    How would you like to live your life all over again?

    I wouldn’t. I am happy as I am and that’s an honest answer

    If a movie were to be made about your life who would you like  to play you?

    Al Pacino for sure! He keeps it real, understated but delivers an emphatic punch when it matters and would play me well

    On a scale of 1-10 how weird are you?

    3.63 he answers dead pan

    Four words that describe you?

    Die-hard Optimist. Driven.  Fair. Funny.

    What are your superpowers?

    I can multi-task a serious quantity of work, with precision. Be it at work or home. Or both!

    How often do you destress?

    I learnt this very early in life –  life goes on, come what may.  So stress shouldn’t be given too much importance. It just adds an unwanted unproductive dimension to ones life. I find switching off easy. Spending time with Ira, our young daughter, is the best way for me to unwind.

    Dream job?

    Anything that would pay me for travelling the world 10 months out of 12. On second thoughts, I’d do it for free.

    If Bill Gates gave you 10 million US dollars to change something what would it be?

    Try and improve the apathy we show towards fellow beings.  I mean, just today there was a story about a father having to carry his 12-year-old son on his shoulders to three different hospitals in broad daylight and not making it. How this can happen in this day and age flummoxes me.

    Rate RK as an interviewer.

    Wily

     

    Rahul Kishore

    Rahul Kishore is an entrepreneur-turned-media professional-turned-media entrepreneur. And he’s pretty professional. If he’s not posting messages on Facebook, he’s messaging posts on Facebook. He plays badminton in the morning, gyms and swims and loves sinful shakes twice a day. Once married, always shy, is a father of two and a husband of one. Lives in Delhi. Is Managing Director, Taurus Infomedia

     

  • Rahul Kishore gets up, close and very personal with Deepti Dang, Chief Marketing Officer – Printers, HP

    Selfie with RK: Week #7 | Deepti Dang, CMO – Printers, HP

    By Rahul Kishore

     

    I’ve known Deepti Dang, Chief Marketing Officer for Printers at HP for over 10 years. I’ve always found her feisty, funny, fiery and famous. I count her as one of my good friends. When I first got into the advertising industry, she was among the first ones to put her hand up to help me find my feet. Last year, when I launched my own company she called and asked if she could be of any help. I asked for her help and she was good to her word. The thing I like about her is that though she will help, she always keep the interest of her employers first. A rare quality. As she straddles her job in India, and her worldwide project in the US simultaneously, she somehow managed to find time to meet me for half an hour. I began by asking her…

     

    What’s your biggest strength?

    Springing back to life every morning. Edginess, madness, fun excites me. I thrive on madness. Life is challenging, like a rollercoaster and that gives me a high. Something like having five Tequila shots. Twenty men challenge everything I say… I thrive on it.

     

    What’s your biggest weakness then?

    Emotion. Traffic bugs me, people with BO in the lift, people talking negatively about people who are not wealthy enough, people being derogatory towards family members.

     

    Favourite CEO?

    Shripad Nadkarni from Coke India, I enjoyed working with him. Learnt a lot. He always called a spade a spade, had the guts to take on something non-conventional and find a way to make it succeed. I try to duplicate that as well.

     

    Hardwork or luck?

    No luck. At all. Pure hardwork. I have learnt from my bosses two critical things: What to do and what not to do. The latter is more important, I learnt that very fast.

     

    How would you like to live your life all over again?

    You know, in my teens the three things I wanted to be, was a pilot, Kiran Bedi, and Indira Gandhi. IG was sheer power and I was mesmerised by the way she conducted herself. I would want to go back and be any one of those three.

     

    If a movie were to be made about your life who would you like to play you?

    Deepti thinks for a while, runs her fingers through her mane, and says: Sushmita Sen… I love the fact that she did what she wanted to do in her real life not her reel life. I relate to her on a personal level. She would definitely be me.

     

    On a scale of 1-10, how weird are you?

    9.9, she says with a yelp of laughter. The 0.1 is missing because I’m scared of my parents! I’m absolutely weird. My team consists of weird people too who are a little off-centre. We gel together well and create magic.

     

    Four words that describe you?

    Fun, happy, hyper, emotional.

     

    What did you not get to include in your CV?

    On a serious note, an IIM Ahmedabad degree. Having spent 12 years in the corporate world, everyone seems to look for one. On a funny note, madness quotient – MQ. I wish there was a section on your CV which asked what is your madness quotient? I routinely ask this question when I interview someone.

     

    What are your superpowers?

    Can sell anything to anyone. I remember many years ago, I was at a party and was asked by a renowned CEO to sell him a fire extinguisher. I did. In all of three minutes. He offered me a job. I accepted.

     

    How often do you destress?

    I hit Levo spa pretty often to cool down. My main de-stresser, however, my niece has moved to San Francisco so I will have to find a way to meet her now.

     

    Dream job?

    I’d love to own cafes. Many of them. All over India. You can be a partner, she says with a smile.

     

    If Bill Gates gave you 10 million US  dollars to change something what would it be?

    Sad as it may sound, Men and women today are not treated as equals. Men have to learn to accept that women are in no way any less than any of them. I would focus my energies and this money to empower women and give them confidence that they can go out and achieve anything in the world.

     

    Rate RK as an interviewer?

    I was going to say 9, but your generosity and the way you have guided me on a couple of occasions in the rapidfire, giving me the right advice on how to position myself, I would now give you a 9.9

     

    Rahul Kishore is an entrepreneur-turned-media professional-turned-media entrepreneur. And he’s pretty professional. If he’s not posting messages on Facebook, he’s messaging posts on Facebook. He plays badminton in the morning, gyms and swims and loves sinful shakes twice a day. Once married, always shy, is father of two and a husband of one. Lives in Delhi. Is Managing Director, Taurus Infomedia

     

  • Rahul Kishore gets up, close and very personal with Rajat Uppal, the National Marketing Head of Red FM

    Selfie with RK: Week #5 | Rajat Uppal, National Marketing Head, Red FM

    By Rahul Kishore

     

    Rajat Uppal, the 20-something national marketing head of Red FM, is a pretty boy. Actually, he’s 37! He pretty much leads the Gurugram yuppie life with wife and kid and Harley and BMW in tow. He’s quite easy to chat with and words flow out naturally. I met him over a leisurely cup of chai which he ordered from downstairs as the coffee maker had conked out. I began by asking him

    What’s your biggest strength?

    Being crazy, he never thinks like normal. He’s like an outcast in his family, he’s never been curbed and likes to speak his mind freely.

    Biggest weakness.

    This is also a weakness, society expects you to conform and because you are different people view you differently. Society in general wants conformists.

    Hardwork or luck?

    Hardwork and luck. I was a backbencher in school and always playing on the sports field. I was decent in studies but typically only worked before the exams. Had I worked harder I would’ve scored much higher. My sister and parents were constantly after my life to pull me home but I would be enjoying on various sportsfields. I was never a books person.

    Fav CEO?

    Steve Jobs. Again he was a non-conformist who questioned everything

    How would you like to live your life again?

    Rajat laughs loudly. I would like to be born in a family of 500 crores, study in an Ivy League college, have fast cars and big bikes at home. I would still d o a lot of work, but I would not needed to work.

    If a movie was  to be made about your life who would you like to play you?

    For once during the interview he actually thinks. The characters, the boys and girls in Rang De Basanti, non-conformists who don’t give a damn are him. Question society. Then maybe Leo Dicaprio. Look at the first movie he ever made and look where he is now. One would’ve expected him to be a chocolate boy hero but look at him evolve into the actor he is today.

    On a scale of 1-10, how weird are you?

    7. I could very well go to my boss and tell her, that I want to ride my bike tomorrow so I won’t be in to work. Instead of saying I’m sick and I can’t make it.

    What didn’t you get a chance to include in your CV?

    Ivy League education

    Describe yourself in four words.

    Energetic, Passionate, Persistent, Non-Conformist.

    What’s your superpower?

    I have a gut about people and decisions that I take, for the business and in my personal life.\ I can’t explain why I do what I do sometimes but it always works.

    How often do you de-stress?

    Four times a week with a single malt. I gym and do a lot of cardio, listen to a lot of music and go riding on my Harley on weekends.

    Something that never worked for you?

    Plain Jane logic never works for me. You have to be driven by your heart.

    What’s your dream job?

    CEO of any big company.

    If Bill Gates gave you 10 million US and asked you to change the world how would you do it?

    I’m a non-believer in religion. I believe in one god and I would educate people to seek him only and not waste too much time on religion.

    Rate RK as an interviewer on a scale of 1-10

    11

     

  • Rahul Kishore gets up, close and very personal with Samar Singh Sheikhawat, Senior VP – Marketing at UBL

    Selfie with RK: Week #4 | Samar Singh Sheikhawat, Senior VP – Marketing, UBL

    By Rahul Kishore

     

    I have known Samar Singh Sheikhawat, Senior VP – Marketing at UBL  for 44 years. On the human front, not much has changed. He continues to be as charming, friendly, warm and generous as he was then. Professionally of course he has evolved. It is not easy being surrounded by Kingfisher girls and keep your sanity. To me, he will always be the Kingfisher man. I began by asking him…

     

    What is your biggest strength?

    People skill. I get along famously with people, I’m great at getting them to work together and building consensus.

     

    What’s your biggest weakness then?

    Can’t stand lies and hypocrisy he says with a smile. I hate politicking at work and at a personal level. I let too many things bother me, I’m a bit of a control freak actually.

     

    Hardwork or luck?

    Definitely hard work! I am the most unlucky person around. Almost everything comes to me five years later!

     

    Favourite CEO?

    Jack Dorsey of Twitter. He’s a guy with his heart in the right place, is empathetic and doesn’t shy away from saying it like it is.

     

    How would you like to live your life again?

    Exactly the same way. Life only gets better as I get older, I’ve been a late bloomer. The 40s were brilliant and my 50s are even better. I’m like Beethoven’s symphony, slowly building up to a crescendo.

     

    If a movie was to be made about you, who would you like to play you?

    Samar thought for a very long time on this one. The guy who plays me would have to be as smart as me. Leonardo DiCaprio… he can play anything.

     

    On a scale of 1-10 how weird are you?

    About 7-9 at home and 2 at work. Normal is boring. I like meeting interesting people who have another side to them.

     

    What didn’t you get a chance to include in your CV?

    Game warden in Africa. I applied when I was 20 for the WWF in Africa. I was refused because I wasn’t a local.

     

    Describe yourself in four words.

    Altruististic, Sportsman, Philosopher,  Thinker.

     

    What’s your Superpower, Samar?

    Perception. I can sense anything before it happens almost!

     

    How often do you de-stress?

    I hit the gym everyday, I listen to a lot of music. Since I travel a hell of a  lot  it feels good to be back home always. I like to hear my family in the background somewhere and that relaxes me. SAmars famil,y consists of a wife and a daughter.

     

    Dream Job?

    Teaching, at any business school or university. I’d make a good teacher…

     

    If Bill Gates gives you 10 million US, how would you use it to improve the world?

    I would educate women. Encourage the girl child, it would have a cascading effect on the birth rate. Infant mortality would reduce. Empower women, build more toilets for them.

     

    Rate RK as an interviewer.

    You asked the toughest questions I’ve ever had to answer. Some of them have been quite brilliant I would therefore rate you a 9/10.

     

  • Rahul Kishore gets up, close and very personal with Mahesh Kanchan, Director – Marketing at Carlsberg

    Selfie with RK: Week #3 | Mahesh Kanchan, Marketing Director @ Carlsberg

    By Rahul Kishore

     

    The one thing that strikes you about Mahesh Kanchan, Director – Marketing at Carlsberg is his approachability and warmth. He thinks before he answers and pretty much sizes every googly you might throw at him. In his office in Gurugram , I began by asking him:

     

    What’s your biggest strength?

    Turning around ailing brands into powerful ones and ensuring that I kick the backside of the Number 1 brand.  Take on a Number 3 brand and propel it to Number 1.  Hershey’s took on Cadbury, Calsberg took on Kingfisher… stuff like that!

    Biggest weakness?
    I just cannot deal with failure. I never change for the sake of changing. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

    Hardwork or luck?
    99% perspiration.  Your bosses are good to you if you work hard. In Unilever most people stay for a two-year tenure, so it’s easy to have a boss who’s good to you.

    Favourite CEO?
    Ratan Tata, he has a large conglomerate in India and he was the first CEO to acquire marquee companies globally like a JLR.

    How would you like to live your life again?
    No regrets I would want to do exactly what I did this time around.

    If a movie was to be made about your life who would you want to play you?
    He instantly replies Irrfan Khan. I ask why? No façade. He doesn’t play irrfan… he gets into the character. What you see is what you get. There is no Irrfan Khan style like all the other Khans, he moulds himself into the character.

    On a  scale of 1-10, how weird are you?
    Five-ish, I’m normal. I could be weird around my friends and family though

    What didn’t you get a chance to include in your CV?
    Heading a  company at a young age and global exposure.

    Describe yourself in four words?
    Approachable, risk-taking, action… no debate, team player.

    What’s your superpower?
    Being calm in the most high pressure situations.

    How often do you destress?
    Every weekend with my kids aged 6 and 10. With them and their friends as well. The kids drive the agenda, I  follow. He plays with them, watches movies and ofcourse there is always a chilled glass of Carlsberg at hand, he says with a smile.

    Something that has never worked for you?
    Entrepreneurship. I think about it, but haven’t attempted  it as yet!

    Dream job?
    Unilever CEO in India

    Rate me as an interviewer
    Well, 8, since you managed to get so much out of me in such a short time.

     

  • In Week #2 of the new season of extremely personal questions posed by Rahul Kishore, he gets the very affable Himanshu Dahiya, Head of Media, Digital and Research at Maruti Suzuki to talk like few others have in the past.

    Selfie with RK: Week #2 | Himanshu Dahiya, Media Head @ Maruti

    By Rahul Kishore

     

    It is extremely tough to get to meet Himanshu Dahiya, Head of Media, Digital and Research at Maruti Suzuki. Not only does he keep a low profile, he’s also very hardworking and Maruti takes a lot of mileage out of him. I finally got to meet him in his showroom on the ground floor of his huge office building in Delhi’s Vasant Kunj. Over a hot cup of coffee I began by asking him…

     

    What’s your biggest strength?

    Analytical , being  creative and I’m extremely fond of brand-building. His previous stints have been with HM and Honda.

     

    What’s your biggest weakness?

    I get into too much detailing. May seem a chore but that’s the way I’m built. I’m extremely conscious of the money I spend and always want maximum bang for the buck.

     

    Hardwork or luck?

    Completely hardwork. It’s all perspiration. My bosses have been good to me generally speaking but there have been a few exceptions. I have worked extremely hard…

     

    Favourite CEO?

    Though it’s competition, but it’s got to be Anand Mahindra, he says with a smile. I find him extremely savvy and suave. He’s fully focussed, very active on social media and digitally inclined. What I really admire is that somehow he seems to find a lot of time and money for social causes.

     

    How would you like to live your life again?

    He thinks for a while then he says as a football player. I’ve played at the school level and it’s a game that always fascinates me. Ronaldo is my favourite. I like the glamorous life of the footballers and the money they make.

     

    If a movie were to be made about your life who would you like to play you?

    Aamir Khan. He’s meticulous, is a method actor and can spot nuances in my character that even I may not have noticed. As you might have guessed, he’s my favourite actor.

     

    On a scale of 1-10 how weird are you?

    My family would rate that an 8. I have two kids 15 and 9 and this question would seem better directed at them. Life is a great teacher and I try to appear normal at work. And work is a large part of my day.

     

    What didn’t you get a chance to include in your CV?

    An IIM degree would have been handy even an international  one. I do go to IIM Lucknow for courses but it’s not the same thing.

     

    Describe yourself in 4 words.

    Hardworking, Attention to detail, Innovative, Creative

     

    What is your area of interest?

    Sports. Im passionate about it and I’m very fond of music.

     

    How often do you destress?

    Not as much as I should be… he says with a wry smile. I listen to rock music in English, in Hindi music I do the full range. Guru Dutt, Dev Anand are eternal favourites.

     

    Dream job?

    I would love to work in a sports club like a Chelsea or a Real Madrid and enjoy what I love to watch.

     

    If Bill Gates gave you 10 million dollars and asked you to change the world what would be your big idea?

    He thinks long and hard, looks at me as if searching for answers. And then says: I would like to empower poor kids, educate them, teach them about sanitation and health and offer them opportunities to secure their futures by creating jobs for them. This remains a #1 cause for worry in India. I believe in his sincerity.

     

    Rate RK as an interviewer?

    He smiles, since you’ve managed to extract so much from me and your questions have been excellent I would say 10/10. I nod in agreement.

     

  • We're back with a second season of Rahul Kishore's intimate, ah, well, you-get-the-drift interviews. This time he will speak to leading marketers across the industry. This week, he speaks with Rajiv Dubey, Head of Media, Dabur India

    Selfie with RK: Rajiv Dubey

    It is easy to mistake Rajiv Dubey, Head of Media of Dabur India, for a cyclist/athlete. Extremely fit for  a man of 46, he not only controls Rs 400 crore of adspend but also manages to cycle at least  50 km almost four times a week! Of all the media heads  I know, and I know almost all, he is easily the most prompt, courteous and organised. There is NO attitude. Just a focus to do the job and do it well…

     

    I began by asking him

    What’s your biggest strength?

    Numbers he replied. I am very good with them. I have been doing them for years. I also understand the industry very well. And especially Dabur where I have been almost since I began my career.

     

    What’s your biggest weakness then?

    I am a very safe player, take very few risks. This works for me, he says

     

    Hard work or luck?

    Only hard work. 100% turned things around. Bosses have always been good to me and given me a free hand with zero interference.

     

    Your favourite CEO?

    N R Narayana Murthy, he says instantaneously. He let people perform. Had confidence in them, didn’t interfere. Most importantly he didn’t keep the job indefinitely and knew when to exit. In many companies, a succession plan is absent and people like to keep their jobs. Not him.

     

    How would you like to live your life again?

    Pursue sports at a serious level. Running and cycling are my passions, he says. He’s been a late starter in the running bit but has made up for lost time and is an eager participant in all the marathons across the country. In cycling he says he’s in the 2% that will beat the rest of the 98% Quite an achievement!

     

    If a movie were to be made about your life who’”d you like to play you?

    Irrfan Khan. I like the fact that he’s from a small town like me (Lucknow), has tehzeeb which Delhiiites lack and portrays the small nuances rather well. All these factors are essential in playing me

     

    On a scale of 1 to 10 how wierd are you?

    He seemed to like this question. Normal according to him is boring and he doesn’t trust those people quite as much. He himself is quite wierd for a lot of people, he says. The thinking and the things he likes are quite different from what is seen to be normal. He likes weird peiople, he says.I s fond of punk rock, in keeping with his character traits. People who are simple and straight are boring for him

     

    What didn’t you get a chance to include in your resume?

    An IIM degree, though he’s an Electronics Engineer and an MBA from Nagpur.

     

    Describe yourself in four words?

    Passionate, Objective, Wierd, Sporty

     

    What’s your superpower?

    Cycling: When I am on the bike I feel invincible!

     

    How do you destress?

    Cycling and running. I stretch a lot.Yoga, though my wife practises it, is boring.It’s something I might do when I m 75! I see him cycling even then though.

     

    Dream job?

    Anything interesting in Apple

     

    If Bill Gates gave you ten million dollars, how would you change the world?

    Change peoples habits. Two lakh people die on the roads each year. I would take a city at a time and teach people discipline and road safety.

     

    Rate me as an interviewer?

    6.75, with a smile!

     

  • 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

     

  • Rahul Kishore gets more than professional in the third edition of his Coffee & Conversations series. This week with Nisha Narayanan, COO, Red FM

    Coffee & Conversations with Rahul Kishore: Week #3: Nisha Narayanan

    Coffee & Conversations normally appears on a Friday. We missed two weeks – the first since Good Friday was a holiday and in the last week as we had a connectivity hitch in Goa where he had shifted base for Goafest.  We are carrying one today and will henceforth appear on Fridays. Thanks – Ed

     

    Nisha Narayanan is easily the most glamorous COO I have had the pleasure of meeting. Ever-smiling, tough, balanced and easy-to-get-along-with are some of the things I know about her. I met her in 2009 and she continues to be a good friend till this day and some one I greatly admire.

     

    I began by asking her:

     

    Do you consider yourself lucky?

    Yes, of course, she says. Opportunities come, you have to grab them and learn. I was an RJ in AIR about 20 years back. Was taking a break from Economics,  and listening to music, when I heard an advert for RJs. I applied and got the job. From there till here is all about a lot of hard work. I don’t come from a media family. My bosses were supportive and gave me space to perform.And I did.

     

    Difficult being a woman in a man’s world?

    The challenge is to be taken seriously whether you are a man or a woman, she feels. Initially, the possibility of being taken lightly is higher, being a woman. Once they know you mean business, it goes away. I was travelling 28 days a month for almost the first four years of my job. Sometimes I would come home just to change my suitcase. I got taken seriously pretty soon. I feel for me its business as usual.

     

    Do you intimidate men?

    No, not at all. I am accessible to all and pretty open with all my colleagues. I like wearing sarees to work, which is rare, but I wear them just because I like them.There is no rule for office attire, is there? Ultimately it’s your work that talks, not what you wear to work! People do speak to me very formally and with grace, maybe because of this. I dont think I intimidate anyone

     

    How do you destress?

    I travel a lot on work and this helps me destress as well. Work for me is everything and I love my job. I am learning music nowadays. I know Carnatic music, am learning Hindustani classical these days.

     

    If a movie were made on your life, who would play you and why?

    Nandita Sen is the instant answer. She is grounded, simple and level-headed. What Nisha forgot, is that Nandita too, like Nisha, has lovely hair! She supports causes and has a social consciousness that’s essential in today’s age.

     

    Nisha’s dream job would be?

    I will focus on radio only. Right now radio does not reach villages and small towns which is the real I ndia.I want to drive this when the government allows it and help in educating and empowering people via this medium. This is a dream of mine. This wil happen once the regulations are easier for the broadcasters. I will lead this movement once am allowed to.

     

    Three things most important to you?

    Happiness

    Freedom to do what I believe in

    Honesty and hard work

     

    How much time do you spend on yourself?

    Currently I have no work-life balance. Work, for me, is religion. I have no time for myself, and I don’t feel the pinch either. I do a bit of yoga now and then and some exercise when I find some time

     

    One word that describes you?

    Passionate

     

    Favourite animal?

    Horse. Because it’s strong, has speed, is regal, and powerful. Also has a great mane (that’s my addition!)

     

    Lastly one CEO you admire?

    Narayan Murthy for his vision, simplicity and for being so humble. Inspiring leader, hands-on guy , leads by example, grounded. Built a huge empire with practically nothing, willing to take risks and maintaining great standards of integrity. In a corporate world which is in the grips of scandals and scams, he set himself high standards of corporate excellence and transparency. And a man with a huge social conscience