Episodes

  • Welcome to The Indian AdGeek

    Welcome to The Indian AdGeek
    May 21 2025
    Welcome to the very first episode of The Indian AdGeek—a podcast for anyone who’s ever rewound a VCR just to catch that one jingle, doodled imaginary brands in their school notebooks, or wondered why a catchy headline makes the cash register ring. Hosted by Vishal Mehra (lifelong advertising geek, and also The Indian AvGeek), this intro episode is a peek into the gloriously messy, endlessly fascinating world where creativity meets commerce. Get your ad geek on. The circus is just getting started!
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    7 mins
  • Talented and Trending! - feat. Gautam Reghunath (Co-founder & CEO, Talented)

    Talented and Trending! - feat. Gautam Reghunath (Co-founder & CEO, Talented)
    Jun 1 2025
    Gautam Reghunath, the co-founder & CEO of Talented, joins me to detail his journey in the world of advertising. We discuss how Talented is challenging industry norms and reshaping the agency experience. We dive into the company’s unique approach to talent, sharing insights on attracting and retaining top creative minds, what he looks for when hiring, and the importance of fostering an environment where designers and strategists actively participate in the thinking process. We also speak about Talented's business model, unpacking how performance-based pricing sets it apart and why clients appreciate the agency’s approach. Looking ahead, we explore the future of agency models, AI’s impact on creativity, and whether social media will continue to dominate brand strategies five years from now. Gautam also shares his leadership style, advice for young creatives, and the most important lessons he’s learned as an agency leader. Whether you’re an advertising professional, a brand strategist, or simply fascinated by how creativity and business intersect, this episode is packed with valuable insights and bold perspectives, worthy of the podcast’s debut. Gautam - @gautxm Vishal - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • From Kolaveri to Google - feat. Samit Malkani (Head of Brand, Social & Events Marketing, SEA, Google)

    From Kolaveri to Google - feat. Samit Malkani (Head of Brand, Social & Events Marketing, SEA, Google)
    Jun 29 2025
    Get ready for a masterclass in modern brand building as we sit down with Samit Malkani, Head of Brand, Social & Events Marketing for Southeast Asia at Google. Samit traces his journey from crafting iconic TV ads to pioneering digital-first campaigns, sharing the pivotal moments—including the viral sensation “Kolaveri Di”—that shaped his approach to storytelling. He unpacks the principles behind building brand love and trust across diverse markets, reveals how he blends human insight, data, and technology to drive creativity, and offers candid advice for marketers balancing short-term wins with long-term brand value. From the future of social media and AI in marketing to hiring creative talent and outcome-based pricing, this episode is packed with actionable insights and fresh perspectives from one of the industry’s most innovative leaders Samit - @Samit Vishal - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    55 mins
  • Client Karma: Decoding the Agency-Client Tango - feat. Kunal Jeswani (CEO, Ogilvy ASEAN)

    Client Karma: Decoding the Agency-Client Tango - feat. Kunal Jeswani (CEO, Ogilvy ASEAN)
    Jul 20 2025
    Step into the world of advertising excellence as The Indian AdGeek welcomes Kunal Jeswani, CEO of Ogilvy ASEAN, for a truly unfiltered and insightful episode. In this engaging conversation, we embark on a journey through the heart and hustle of client servicing, creative leadership, and business evolution in today’s dynamic advertising landscape. • An Origin Story: Discover how Kunal’s love affair with advertising began and the pivotal moments that shaped his career in one of India’s most celebrated creative agencies. • The Evolving Role of a Creative CEO: Gain firsthand insights on how the job of a creative agency CEO has transformed over the years, and why adaptability, empathy, and relentless curiosity are more vital than ever. • Leading Across Borders: Explore the challenges and rewards of driving creative innovation across diverse markets like India and ASEAN. Learn how Kunal nurtures a culture of excellence and fosters cross-border collaboration within large and varied teams. • Leadership Real Talk: Unpack the most common misconceptions about leading a creative agency, sprinkled with candid anecdotes on tackling team challenges and learning from mistakes. • Tales from the Client Side: Hear memorable stories of client relationships that illustrate how breakthrough creativity drives business impact—and what true client partnership looks like. • Navigating Agency Life: Delve into the process (and sometimes the lack thereof!) from new business development that thrives on word of mouth to the ever-present battle against scope creep and the strategies for maintaining profitability without sacrificing passion. • Pricing for Value: Get a rare behind-the-scenes look at how an agency ensures its pricing stays aligned with value, effort, and evolving industry standards. • The Future Beckons: Kunal weighs in on how AI and digital platforms are reimagining the industry, as well as what still sets human creativity apart in an age of automation. • Trends & Advice: Discover the trends lighting up the Indian and ASEAN markets—beyond AI—and get golden advice for young professionals aspiring to creative leadership. Whether you’re a seasoned ad geek or just starting your journey in the industry, this episode offers a masterclass on juggling creativity, clients, and commercial success—all with Kunal Jeswani’s signature wit and candor. Vishal - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Famous by Innovation - feat. Mithila Saraf (CEO, Famous Innovations)

    Famous by Innovation - feat. Mithila Saraf (CEO, Famous Innovations)
    Aug 3 2025
    In this episode of The Indian AvGeek, Mithila Saraf, CEO of Famous Innovations, joins in as she takes us from her scrappy start in advertising to leading one of India’s most dynamic agencies. We unpack how early challenges, bold growth strategies, and a passion for true partnerships have shaped her leadership and fuelled Famous’s success. Surviving the Scrappy Phase: Hear firsthand how those early “no salary, no clients” days at Famous Innovations shaped Mithila’s leadership philosophy and business acumen. She reveals how working alongside industry great Raj Kamble during the agency’s most vulnerable period taught her the fundamentals of entrepreneurial resilience. The Boardroom Moment: Mithila traces her remarkable journey to the CEO chair - managing growth across 50+ brands, including Raymond, Mahindra, Titan, Van Heusen, Budweiser, and Absolut. Leadership at Scale: With Famous Innovations now spanning three offices (Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi) and nearly 150 people. She discusses the unique challenge of maintaining boutique quality while scaling rapidly. She explains her philosophy of capping office sizes at 75 people before opening new locations. The Art of Saying No: In a brutally honest discussion about pitch red flags, Mithila reveals how Famous Innovations has learned to decline business that doesn’t align with their values. From LinkedIn pitch calls to unrealistic client expectations, she shares insights on protecting agency culture while pursuing growth. Industry Vertical Deep-Dive: Discover which sectors are fueling Famous Innovations’ growth, including their recent standout work for OPPO’s Reno13 Series campaign featuring Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ishaan Khatter, and Vedang Raina - a campaign that captured the “Live in the Moment” philosophy through Bollywood nostalgia. The Future of AdTech: Mithila shares her perspective on how social media, video content, and emerging q-commerce solutions are reshaping advertising budgets and client expectations. She discusses advising brands on investment strategies across fast-growing digital channels. The L’Oréal Pitch Chronicles: Get exclusive insights into a recent major client win, as Mithila walks through what differentiated Famous Innovations’ pitch in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Beyond Advertising Metrics: Learn how Famous Innovations tracks client relationships that go “beyond advertising” - from business partnership indicators to managing scope creep while maintaining profitability. Independent Agency Wisdom: Mithila offers candid advice for other independent agencies looking to scale, sharing lessons learned from Famous Innovations’ journey from startup to South Asia Independent Agency of the Year winner for eight consecutive years. The AI Revolution: Discover why Mithila believes artificial intelligence will be the single biggest disruptor to the advertising business and how agencies need to prepare for this transformation. Breaking Into Modern Advertising: In a powerful closing segment, Mithila addresses young professionals trying to break into an industry that’s no longer “the coolest gig in town” - offering practical advice on building careers in today’s evolved advertising landscape. This episode delivers rare insights into building and scaling an independent creative agency in modern India, combining business strategy, creative leadership, and entrepreneurial wisdom from one of the industry’s most respected young leaders. Mithila - @mithilasaraf Vishal - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    57 mins
  • OHRI-GAMI: Folding Ideas Into Brands - feat. Rohit Ohri (Founder, OHRIGINAL)

    OHRI-GAMI: Folding Ideas Into Brands - feat. Rohit Ohri (Founder, OHRIGINAL)
    Aug 17 2025
    In this episode of The Indian AdGeek, Vishal sits down with industry legend Rohit Ohri. He is the founder of Ohriginal & Former Global Partner at FCB. We unpack a career defined by strategic turnarounds, bold acquisitions, and culture-driven growth. From his early days at JWT to reshaping FCB India into Adweek’s International Agency of the Year, Rohit shares the pivotal moments and leadership philosophies that cemented his status as an icon of Indian advertising. What We Discussed • Rohit’s “aha” moment when he knew advertising was his calling • Mentors, people management, and JWT’s pivot from “too big” to pitch powerhouse • Turning FCB India around with game-changing strategic bets • The rationale behind Rohit’s move to Dentsu after 21½ years at JWT • Crafting and integrating agency acquisitions—from Taproot & Webchutney at Dentsu to Kinnect at FCB • The looming challenge from consultancies (Accenture, McKinsey, Deloitte) and how agencies can win on true creativity • Predictions for an independent-agency-led creative renaissance in India • Ohriginal and the CulturePrint methodology as a competitive edge • If Rohit were launching a new agency today, where his focus would lie Key Takeaways • The art of winning marquee pitches: Walmart India, Maruti Suzuki, and more • How to pivot client-agency relationships from transactional to transformational • Acquisition versus integration: lessons from Dentsu’s Taproot and FCB’s Kinnect deals • Why JWT’s legacy matters—even as it fades from view • How the Omnicom-IPG merger could make or break the next two years of the advertising industry Tune in for a masterclass in leadership, culture-first strategy, and the unshakeable belief that creativity—when harnessed by the right team—is the ultimate differentiator. Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • Taste Matters! - feat. Kunel Gaur and Sayantan Choudhury (Animal)

    Taste Matters! - feat. Kunel Gaur and Sayantan Choudhury (Animal)
    Aug 31 2025
    Join us for an in-depth conversation with Kunel Gaur, Founder & Creative Director, and Sayantan Choudhury, Senior Partner & Creative Director at Animal—the independent creative agency that’s redefining Indian advertising with their fearless approach to storytelling and design. From a design studio in 2013 to one of Adweek’s 100 Fastest Growing Agencies worldwide, Animal has carved out a unique space in India’s creative landscape. This episode dives deep into their journey, creative philosophy, and the cultural insights that drive their award-winning work—including the acclaimed Hyatt “Perfectly Yours” wedding campaign that broke category conventions In this episode: • Their journey into advertising and how childhood dreams of space shaped visual obsessions • The market gap and cultural insight that fuelled Animal’s founding vision in 2013, and how it’s evolved into products like Veu and Deck • Balancing creative independence with commercial growth while nurturing curiosity in the next generation of talent • The storytelling alchemy behind the acclaimed Hyatt wedding film and weaving India’s diverse cultural narratives into global briefs • Their “creative spark” process—from brand brief to breakthrough idea • Measuring the business impact of meaning-driven, culture-driving work for ROI-focused CFOs and CMOs • Winning pitches in a crowded marketplace: what gives Animal the edge • The rise of immediacy and tech-enabled briefs—from NFTs to AI—and where they draw the line on automation • Looking ahead: q-commerce, gaming, new-media opportunities, and how consumer shifts will reshape agency models • Rituals and routines that sustain them through client firefights and people-first leadership • Advice for independent agencies scaling up and the next generation of Indian ad geeks And stick around to find out: Why do Sayantan and Kunel love pitching to junior executives during client meetings? Tune in for a masterclass on forging lasting connections between culture, creativity, and business impact. Kunel Gaur - ⁠@kunelgaur⁠ Animal - ⁠@weareanimalco⁠ Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    58 mins
  • Kinnect-ing the Dots - feat. Rohan Mehta (Founder, CEO - FCB Kinnect and FCB/SIX India)

    Kinnect-ing the Dots - feat. Rohan Mehta (Founder, CEO - FCB Kinnect and FCB/SIX India)
    Sep 14 2025
    In this eighth episode of The Indian AdGeek, we have Rohan Mehta, co-founder and CEO of FCB Kinnect, to trace his personal and professional trajectory—from that serendipitous first spark with advertising to the leap into entrepreneurship back in 2011 and the origins of the name Kinnect. We chart the agency’s evolution from a bootstrapped startup to India’s largest independent digital powerhouse and unpack the strategic moments that led to the FCB Group India partnership and subsequent acquisition—valued at $36.6 million—revealing why FCB became the perfect collaborator and how global and local synergies have driven “exceptional” growth. Then we delve into FCB Kinnect’s commitment to being “the most modern marketing partner” through platform-agnostic ideas and the “3 C’s” framework—Creative campaign communication, Content production, and Creator communities—and explore Rohan’s pitch playbook that won marquee clients like SBI. Along the way, you’ll discover how the pitch timeline has compressed from weeks to days, what it takes to balance quick-fire results with patient, strategic creativity (cue the Cannes Lions–winning HDFC Bank campaign), and how FCB Kinnect achieved 38% business growth in 2024 using AI-powered tools, in-house studios, and performance marketing hubs. Rohan also shares his vision for the next five years, defining what “number one” really means for revenue, creative excellence, services, and scale. We tackle the burning question of AI in advertising—friend or foe?—and wrap up with hard-won advice for young talent entering the industry. Tune in for candid insights, entrepreneurial wisdom, and a forward-looking roadmap for digital marketing in India. Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    1 hr and 5 mins