Crucial Success Skills Forged Through My Journey
I have spent the last 18 years in FMCG industry working across geographies & categories in helping launch & establish new brand in upcoming categories across India. Some of these include Petfood, Chocolate, Organic staples, Olive Oil & most recently premium exotic dates. There are multiple skill sets which I have learnt & mastered over the course of time & these have helped me achieve my results in the best possible way. Few of the key skills which have been crucial to my success :
Strategic Thinking : Set achievable goals & execute it in the best possible manner. In my opinion strategic thinking need not be complex idea but it could be simple ideas but executer with precision.
Relationship Building : It is people who drive/ run business. I have always strived to build a great connect with people which will ensure smooth functioning of business.
Transparency : Be as transparent as possible. Radical transparency is one of the hallmarks of a good leadership. Being transparent need not mean revealing everything but revealing right things to right people.
Prioritization : Always there are multiple tasks to be completed but one must always prioritize to ensure that the most important tasks get done These are some of the top skills which have been crucial to my success in the industry which I have developed during my journey in last 2 decades. I believe as one climbs up the ladder in corporate or any other field the most important skill set is to handle/ manage people & lead them in the best possible way.
Crafting Creative Opportunities from Every Challenge
I see adversity as an opportunity in both personal and professional life. It's important to acknowledge challenges and discuss them with experts to find logical solutions. It's crucial not to panic but to take responsibility and learn from mistakes to avoid repeating them.
As marketers, it's essential to take full responsibility for challenges and remain calm in adversity. It's crucial to address issues logically and learn from mistakes to avoid repeating them, as rectifying them the second time around can be costlier. I believe in encouraging people to make mistakes but not to repeat them, always viewing adversity as an opportunity for growth.
My Impact
In my career spanning almost 2 decades I have spent considerable time building new categories/business as well as building my own brand identity. I have lived in 5 cities across India where I have interacted & engaged with multiple stakeholders from management to key accounts to end customers. I strongly believe that I have had positive impact across geographies with relevant stakeholders at multiple levels. Some of my achievements include:
Pet Food - Helped establish Pedigree as a brand & drastically scale in Tamil Nadu both in distribution & revenues in 2009. To have the foresight to establish a new category in India & educate consumers regarding the benefit of pet food requires tremendous foresight & insight into the category.
Mars Chocolate - Helped launch & establish Mars chocolate across Karnataka in 2011. I led the team which overtook market leader ( Cadbury) in market share in a particular segment. India is a country with tropical climate & chocolates melt if kept in ambient temperature & my team at Mars chocolate were the 1st team to pilot chillers for chocolates in India so that chocolate would taste best.
Pro Nature Organic - Helped Pro Nature further establish & drastically scale in revenue in 2018. Being a boot strapped company we grew 3X of category & grew to becoming the 2nd largest player in India.
Flyberry Gourmet - Led the team which further established Flyberry as a leader in premium dates category in India across Amazon & other channels All along I have helped people improve their skills & also led them to managerial positions.
Scaling New Heights in Personal and Professional Triumphs
Success varies from person to person; for some, it's wealth creation, while for others, it's making a societal impact. For me, success is not just individual but shared with the team. Creating wealth is part of it, but it's more about sharing that wealth with those who contributed to its growth. At Flyberry Gourmet, we aim to be market leaders and provide a great working environment. Culture, to me, is demonstrated by leadership, not just what's written in manuals.
Empowerment is key to satisfaction. At Flyberry, we empower employees to make decisions aligned with company objectives, optimizing results. This approach fosters satisfaction and contributes to organizational success. Success, to me, is when the entire team is happy, satisfied, and proud, achieving the best results together.
The Synergy Between My Path and Recognition Values
In my two-decade FMCG journey, I've learned and demonstrated many values, including humility and a commitment to learning. I believe in setting clear goals and persevering consistently, considering consistency a crucial but underrated quality. Wahstory recognizes individuals who, like me, have shown these values and skills, contributing not only to personal growth but also to that of their organizations and communities
It is the story which will inspire others to also put in efforts in their respective fields which will ensure that others who read about it are also inspired & will strive towards making efforts in that direction. This recognition is for people who have demonstrated extraordinary results consistently over time & my journey has also been similar. I have consistently demonstrated over the last 2 decade my skills & efforts which have led not only to my growth but also to the growth of the organizations where I have worked. I have also had the foresight to launch & establish categories which have been ahead of time & which over time have become benchmarks in the industry.