Nitin is a results-oriented Marketing professional and Entrepreneur whose career spans a breadth of consulting and corporate assignments for US-based Fortune 500 firms. He has overlooked the marketing operations of corporations such as AT&T, Marketbridge. Upon his return to India, Nitin co-founded a BPO funded by legendary investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala and grew it into a 250-people operation.
His Strategy and Operations experience within Management Consulting and Fortune 500 firms has given him immense credence. As homage to his Marketing roots, he founded Asymmetrique in 2008. His vision for Asymmetrique is to become the #1 partner for Digital-Era marketers seeking to re-imagine the world with their brand. To build a truly GLOBAL Brand Democracy (TM) for the new age of marketing is the mantra that Nitin believes in and plans to implement it.
Please provide a brief overview of your product/ service.
Asymmetrique is a Marketing Transformation Agency for a Digital world. We help CMOs make their marketing effective in an era of media fragmentation and consumer distraction. For this, we make integrated use of Human Analytics, Digital Technology, and New-Age Creativity to penetrate consumer lives, super-charge sales, and drive marketing ROI. Our services fall into the following four areas: Brand Strategy, Digital Platforms, Integrated Advertising, and Brand Experience.
What inspired you to build the above product/ service?
A serious marketplace gap! Marketers know that Advertising is no longer the only brand solution in the digital era. Providers that understand this are rare.
What is your life mantra?
Foundations matter, in work and in life.
What was the most challenging part of your journey till now?
Convincing clients that we can truly help them beyond advertising
Share some details about the investments that you have been able to fetch for the business till now.
We are a self-funded/bootstrapped venture. However, we are preparing ourselves for fund-raising later this year, for which we shall be tapping Angel networks with our business proposition.
How do you protect yourself from the problem of Brain Drain?
Attrition is a reality of life in the Indian workplace. The only way to protect the organization against its ill-effects is to have strong human-independent systems wherever possible, and rigorous documentation of everything produced by the people in various roles. Creative a knowledge management system is the key.
That being said, the purpose behind any business is the key towards controlling high attrition rates in the organization. Creating a motivated workforce is hard work, but highly rewarding as well. At Asymmetrique, we achieve this by clearly stating our purpose and treating people like adults with very few stringent rules and regulations. Furthermore, we run as transparently as possible on organizational decisions, making everyone an equal part of the journey. We also communicate rigorously with everyone on issues such as discipline, professionalism, and the client satisfaction philosophy of our organization. This lends clarity to everyone in terms of their role in achieving satisfaction while working together as a team towards a common goal.
Finally, mentorship at every level makes a key difference to employee motivation since it shows the organization’s interest in making them successful. As an organization, we believe that we offer careers, not jobs, and we ensure that our Managers and Leaders to their bit to live up to this promise. After all, life is one long road, and great careers require great mentors along the journey!
According to you, what are the three qualities an individual must have to achieve success?
A bright and curious mind, unrelenting work ethic, and a calm temperament.
Which online tools/ services/ apps do you use the most and would like to recommend as well?
LinkedIn for professional networking Twitter for staying up to date with your Industry OneNote to take notes on the go and always be in sync Facebook for quick relief breaks throughout the day Email (still!) and Messanger to stay in touch with everyone daily
Share any one habit which you think makes you more productive.
Waking up early in the morning and deciding exactly what I would like to achieve at work, even before I arrive there.
Share any one habit which you wish to change in yourself.
My short temper!
Answer in less than 50 words
Marry well. The right partner can be the difference between success and failure in your life.
- One mistake you believe every individual must avoid:
Success and failure are transient. Never consider them permanent.
- One most important lesson that you have learned till now:
All meaningful things in life take the time to achieve. Persistence is the key to success.
What are your plans for next 3 years?
To lead Asymmetrique into the top league of Digital-Era Agencies in India.
If you get a chance to start your career again what would you do differently this time?
Become an entrepreneur at the age of 25!
What are your top three getaway destinations?
Goa, Paris, and New York
Share a quote that inspires you the most.
The human spirit is truly unconquerable. But the will to win, to succeed, to shape one’s life, to take control, can only be harnessed when you decide what you want, and believe that no challenge, no problem, no obstacle can keep you from it. When you decide that your life will ultimately be shaped not by conditions, but by your decisions, then, in that moment, your life will change forever…. Tony Robbins.