Vineet Bajpai - The 30-Something CEO

Published by Jaico Publishing House
A-2 Jash Chambers, 7-A Sir Phirozshah Mehta Road
Fort, Mumbai - 400 001
www.jaicobooks.com

Vineet Bajpai

THE 30-SOMETHING CEO
ISBN 978-81-8495-820-1

First Jaico Impression: 2016

No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

To
Vedika, Aditi
&
Vandita

Acknowledgements

This is the third time I am getting to write the acknowledgement for a book, which gives me the third opportunity to thank mostly the same people. And I am delighted to be able to do this.

As I age from being a 26-year-old author of my first book Build From Scratch, to a 33-year-old writer of my second book, The Street to the Highway (and its Hindi translation Aasmaan Se Aagey), and now to being a 38-year-old writing veteran so to speak, I have realised something very precious. I realised that the people I want to thank today are largely the same as the ones I thanked twelve years ago, when Build From Scratch was released. What more can one ask for?

As always, the first set of people I want to express my deepest gratitude to is my team from my three companies Talentrack, Magnon eg+ and Magnon\TBWA. I take Talentracks name first because it is the youngest, and needs a bit of pampering! The total number of people in these companies together runs into several hundreds and I cannot name everyone, but I am equally indebted to all of you. You are my business militia, my force, my confidence and my courage.

I have to take a few names because without these people I would not have enjoyed the knowledge or the authority to write this book or any other. Vivek Merani, Managing Director of Magnon eg+ and my friend for two decades, is my dearest and most dependable confidante. Vivek, you are my brother from another mother. Nitin Naresh, Managing Director of Magnon\ TBWA, is someone Id take a bullet for. And I know he will take one for me. Thanks so much, Nitin! Krishna Jha, Executive Director of Talentrack, you are a full-blooded battle soldier, bro. We will conquer the world together. Prashant (or Sheelu as we lovingly call you), you are my partner in crime for three and a half decades now. I hope it stays like this for another few. Manishi Singh, my co-founder at Talentrack, I am fortunate to have found you, my friend. There is a lot we are destined to achieve together.

There are many more names from the Talentrack and Magnon families that I owe boundless gratitude to. Sunil Ahuja, Naved Aqueel, Vikas Misra, Joydeep Kalra, Jitentra Sawant, Ayush Gupta, Pratul Gaur, Denny Joseph, Siya Khanna, Sakhi Khanna, Jivak Davare, Hemant Nagar, Reena Singh, Chanda Sarma, Swati Gupta, Jatin Madan, Pankaj Soni, Naveen Sharma, Jagdish Pant, Jitendra Kumar, Sankar Basu, Vikas Tiwari, Kavita Siddiqui, Sonu Bansal, Gurpreet Singh to name a few. Thank you for everything guys!

My story would be incomplete without a heartfelt mention of the Omnicom, TBWA and eg+ Worldwide networks, where I have spent several years of invaluable learning, growth and rich exposure. I express my sincere gratitude to the following iconic and fantastic leaders of the Omnicom, TBWA and eg+ families Troy Ruhanen (President & CEO, TBWA Worldwide), Denis Streiff (CFO, TBWA Worldwide), Paul Hosea (CEO, eg+ Worldwide), Simon Toaldo (President International, eg+ Worldwide), Alain Rhone (COO International, eg+ Worldwide), Keith Smith (President International, TBWA Worldwide), Philip Brett (President, TBWA Asia), Emmanuel Andre (President International, TBWA Worldwide), Dara Akbarian (CFO, APAC, Omnicom Group), Mark Rhys Thomas (Chief Strategy Officer, eg+ Worldwide), Darren Jackson (CFO, TBWA Asia), Ramzi Raad (Group Chairman, TBWA\RAAD), Reda Raad (CEO, TBWA\RAAD), Neeraj Puri (Director, Omnicom India) and Paul Fothergill (CFO, eg+ Worldwide). Thank you all for being my greatest mentors and for supporting me at every step.

I am fortunate to have the encouragement of some extraordinary people in my life, who have had a profound impact on me and my career. I will not miss this opportunity to thank them. Nishish Jha, Founder & Managing Partner, Unigrowth Canada Inc., for trusting me and for investing in Talentrack when it was just an idea. Asheesh Khanna, Chairman, SISAR, for betting on me the second time. Navin Chawla (Navin Uncle), Former Chief Election Commissioner of India, for being an infinite source of inspiration. My dear friend and National Spokesperson of the Samajwadi Party, Gaurav Bhatia, for loving me selflessly despite all my silly whims. You are a true idol for Indias youth, Gaurav. Anil Shastriji and Dr. GL Sharma, Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management, for giving me more affection than anyone expects from his alma mater . This is my ninth year as the President of our powerful alumni association. Thank you! And Praveen Puri, for hand-holding me into the world of academia and writing.

This section would be incomplete until I write about Guruji , Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Art of Living). I have met you in-person only once Guruji, but the impression will remain etched on my mind, heart and soul always. You are a true sanyasi and I pray to God that I get more opportunities to be by your side.

The Jaico family, my publisher, is a glaring example of what successful companies should be like. They are one of the oldest and most respected publishing houses in India, but work with the sincerity and humility of a start-up. Akash Shah, thank you for being a friend and partner as we release our third book together. Vijay Thakur, you are the one who makes sure my books reach thousands of readers. Thank you very much!

If I even begin to express how much my family means to me and what role they have played in my journey, I will end up writing a whole book. I think they know. They know my very existence is powered by their love.

Success & spirit
Vineet Bajpai

How great are the dangers I face, to win a good name in Athens

Alexander the Great

introduction

I have spent 17 years on the corporate battleground. And I dont use the term battleground just for melodrama. It has been a battleground in perhaps every sense. Also, more than just the time that has passed, I can safely say that it is the rigour and intensity of the journey that has been the highlight of these years. Bankruptcy, office-sealing, client walk-outs, betrayal, public slander, sunk investments, sour deals, gangsters, failed business plans, mergers & acquisitions, crushing loans, litigation, multinational corporate politics there is very little that I have not been through over the years. Some people call it madness to withstand such sustained and insufferable pressures, for so many years continuously. I call it the price I have paid for a good name in Athens.

I am the Founder & CEO of Talentrack Indias leading mobile & web platform for media, entertainment, creative & art talent- hiring. I am also the Chairman of the Magnon Group. Before this, I was the Group CEO of the TBWA\India, one of the largest multinational advertising corporations in the world. And even before that, I founded and built Magnon, one of the biggest digital media companies in Asia. I am 38.

So while I still have many miles to travel I am a 30-something CEO.