{"id":300,"date":"2015-03-09T14:49:28","date_gmt":"2015-03-09T14:49:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timelesslifeskills.org\/cttc\/?page_id=300"},"modified":"2023-05-12T06:14:49","modified_gmt":"2023-05-12T06:14:49","slug":"divya-gururaj","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/timelesslifeskills.org\/cttc\/divya-gururaj\/","title":{"rendered":"Divya Gururaj"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row bg_type=”no_bg” css=”.vc_custom_1426771006217{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/3″]

\"\"

Divya Gururaj<\/h2>

CEO, South East Asia
\nMediaCom<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\n
There is an African proverb which I like very much \u201cIf you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to walk far, walk together.\u201d<\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Divya is\u00a0currently\u00a0the Global Account Director for Coca-Cola at MediaCom. Earlier she was CEO for South East Asia and Managing Director for MediaCom India.\u00a0MediaCom is a global media agency providing media planning and buying services, ROI research, online\/search engine marketing, consumer insights, media strategy and branded content.\u00a0Divya did her graduation in Economics (Hons) from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi and Business Management from Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow.<\/b><\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row bg_type=”no_bg” css=”.vc_custom_1426770983594{margin-top: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: contain !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1425910104066{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

What sort of formal education is an absolute essential for your profession? Also, could you share with us the kind of internship or experience that would be helpful for a young person considering this line of work?<\/span> <\/strong><\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]A post-graduate degree in maths, statistics, economics or business management. We have an internship program for fresh graduates. But we also look for people with experience in analytics, digital, marketing.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1425903775143{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

If you simply had to draft that elevator pitch for your profession, what would it be?<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]If you like spending millions of dollars, love brands and advertising, want to work with a cool bunch of people in a job that involves crunching numbers but also creating big ideas \u2013 join a media agency![\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1425903866325{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

What are the new trends you notice that are changing the complexion of your profession?<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]With the advent of digital, consumers have the choice on which (medium of) advertising they want or not want to see (their brand). This was not the case earlier when an ad on TV was watched by everyone. Secondly, with the limited mindspace and attention span that people now have, advertising needs to be relevant. Else people have no need for it. Thirdly, you have to constantly keep innovating, as people are always seeking the new and the next.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row bg_type=”no_bg” css=”.vc_custom_1425906704242{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1425906721247{margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1425903968707{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Show me the money! How do you see this profession faring 20 years down the line?<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1426771290332{margin-right: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;}”]\"Divya1\"Advertising has always been around, so I don\u2019t see this profession ever becoming extinct. But it will evolve \u2013 it will become more dependent on data and technology. It will be about creating utility, providing engaging content and being purposeful. It will be about more personalised, specific communication \u2013 about billboards that talk to you, about how it\u2019s hot and you – Mr. X – should have that drink now, or your refrigerator telling you that your bread is over and there are XXX brands available which you can just click on to order home delivery. Advertising is going to surround us in media and places that do not even exist today.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1425904104704{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

What do you do when you are stuck with a problem?<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]I go for a walk, listen to music, do something that relaxes me, so that I can think about the problem without feeling stressed about it. I also discuss it with my family, as I trust their advice.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1425326047054{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

When we\u2019re in school, we\u2019re told cheating is bad \u2013 \u2018Don\u2019t talk to each other, don\u2019t discuss.\u2019 And then as we come out of it, we begin to realize that there\u2019s something called \u201ccollaborative thinking\u201d and it\u2019s not bad! What\u2019s your opinion?<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]I believe collaboration is absolutely essential to our existence. The best ideas, work, projects are created when people collaborate. There is an African proverb which I like very much \u201cIf you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to walk far, walk together.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1425467047817{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

How do you overcome roadblocks in your profession?<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]I continue to work at it till it is overcome. Every problem has a solution.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row bg_type=”no_bg” css=”.vc_custom_1425469856907{margin-top: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1425904291249{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Did you ever want to change the world?<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Yes I did, and I still want to change what I don\u2019t like. With age, you get a little more patient and accepting, but the desire to make things and yourself better stays the same.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1425913374484{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Describe a typical (business-as-usual) day and an atypical (screw-up-fairy-lives-here) day at work.<\/span> <\/strong><\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]In my current job, I travel a lot. So a typical day would find me working very late hours, in some strange city of the world, with colleagues whom I don\u2019t really know. An atypical day would be going to office 9am-5pm in the city that I live in![\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1425904457631{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

What would your advice be to a young person at the start of his or her career and confused about pursuing passion versus being pragmatic?<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Always pursue the passion.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1425904610200{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

If you could do some time-travelling and go back to meet yourself at 17, 25, 35, what would you say to your selves then?<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Take some risks, try something new, do something different, explore, travel, don\u2019t settle for less \u2013 wait and work for more.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row bg_type=”no_bg”][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1426019309839{margin-right: 5px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

\n
The ability to listen can provide the best learning.<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1425913519239{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

What is the kind of supplementary informal learning that will give you that edge on this job?<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]There are of course trade press\/portals, which I read as much as I can. But my biggest learnings come from connecting with people. The ability to listen can provide the best learning.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

What is most rewarding about your job?<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]I work on Coca-Cola, which is one of the most exciting brands to work on!<\/p>\n

I get to travel to different places, I meet people of different cultures, there are different challenges & learning every day.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Do you still have days when you think, \u2018What the hell am I doing with my life?\u2019 How do you get over that, if you do?<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Very often when I am having a bad day! Whenever it happens, I think of what else I could be doing and then what I am doing now, seems right for the moment.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your advice for a resume that\u2019s just about to enter circulation?<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]It should be concise and interesting in telling me what is great and different about you. It shouldn\u2019t be long, tedious and an essay on your life.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

How does one network in the beginning to get that initial presence felt, in this profession?<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]I\u2019ve not felt the need to network. If your work is great, everyone will know you. So focus on learning more and doing more outstanding work.[\/vc_column_text]

<\/div>[vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
Interview conducted by Pooja Pande.<\/h6>\n

[\/vc_column_text]

<\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row bg_type=”no_bg” css=”.vc_custom_1426771006217{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text] There is an African proverb which I like very much \u201cIf you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to walk far, walk together.\u201d [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Divya is\u00a0currently\u00a0the Global Account Director for Coca-Cola at MediaCom. Earlier she was CEO for South East Asia and …<\/p>\n

Divya Gururaj<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"plain-container","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/timelesslifeskills.org\/cttc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/300"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/timelesslifeskills.org\/cttc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/timelesslifeskills.org\/cttc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timelesslifeskills.org\/cttc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timelesslifeskills.org\/cttc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=300"}],"version-history":[{"count":51,"href":"https:\/\/timelesslifeskills.org\/cttc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2030,"href":"https:\/\/timelesslifeskills.org\/cttc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/300\/revisions\/2030"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/timelesslifeskills.org\/cttc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}