Ad Land’s Young Guns: Avadhoot Revankar, CGO & Business Head, Netcore Cloud

In October 2010, a 19-year-old Avadhoot Revankar started his professional journey at Netcore Solutions (Now rebranded as Netcore Cloud) as an Intern. At the young age of 26, Revankar single-handedly led a team of 15. Today, almost 11 years, he heads the entire global business for CX & CE platform as Chief of Growth & Business Head and plays a crucial role in the company’s overall profits and loss.

Under his capable leadership, Netcore Cloud has witnessed consistent YoY growth of 40-50% globally and have secured a leadership position in Email Marketing, Consumer Engagement & Experience in India + SEA regions.

Through his decade-long journey at Netcore Cloud, Revankar has donned many hats right from execution to managerial and leadership, however, one quality that stayed constant for him has been the fearlessness with which he aims for the stars.

Find out from Avadhoot Revankar, Chief of Growth & Business Head, Netcore Cloud, about his success mantra, specific skills that one needs to get on the table to survive in the industry and a lot more.

What particular skill sets do you think you bring to the table?

Over the years, I have seen myself bringing forth a clear entrepreneurial and optimistic mindset to work, which has enabled me in taking decisions in pressured situations, by looking at the broader picture, and ensuring that it is in line with the overall goals of the organisation. Apart from this, I have always been exceedingly proactive towards identifying solutions to complicated situations faced. My ability to stay calm under pressure has enabled me to build confidence and encourage my team to glide through various challenges. Finally, I have always been extremely eager to learn and venture into new territories, which has been my strongest asset throughout my career.

How did you join your current organisation?

I was in the process of completing my PGDBM Course from the University of Wigan & Leigh. During this period, I secured myself an opportunity to intern with Netcore Cloud (it was then known as Netcore Solutions). I was 19 years old and found myself deeply inclined towards digital marketing, which was in the nascent stage then. 11 years hence, I am glad that I took that decision. Netcore Cloud not only granted me a fulfilling career, but also identified my unique skill-sets and provided me with the support needed to grow. The leadership team has always encouraged an entrepreneurial mindset which has been deeply encouraging. Even after all these years, I still find myself learning new things here.

Icons in this field you look up to and how they have influenced you and your work?

I have always been inspired by Sal Khan, who is an American educator and the founder of the Khan Academy. Through his digital platform, Sal has been successfully granting free online education and has produced over 6,500 video lessons teaching a wide spectrum of academic subjects, originally focusing on mathematics and sciences. Education is key to a developed country and his contribution has been instrumental in improving the lives of many individuals who do not have access to affordable education. Sal’s idealogy of looking beyond oneself to make a difference in the lives of others has been something I hold true to myself and is something I will continue to do so.

What are the five most productive things that you do in your everyday routine?

Firstly, I start my day early, which makes me more productive, as there are fewer interruptions allowing better concentration. I also believe in the power of music and meditation. Listening to music at the very beginning of my day and following a meditation routine helps me to start on a good note. The mind is everything and, therefore, using music to calm down the mind makes sure I am relaxed to address whatever challenges may come my way through the day. The song ‘Deva Shree Ganesha’ by Ajay-Atul has been a driving force behind all the energy I start my day with for many years.

Rigorous planning forms the most critical part of my work. Not only does it help me to be more organised, but also to be able to preempt any challenges that may befall and have a contingency plan ready. Planning ahead also helps me to keep my team focused and guide them with more precision. Following the planning, comes prioritising. I believe that I do not need to do everything. For a few months, I have consciously started to say ‘No’ to certain things, something which I would struggle with earlier. I strongly believe that if you say ‘Yes’ to everything, you may end up accomplishing nothing really in the long run. As a person, one needs to evaluate and identify a practical way to address things. Pushing back is completely alright as it helps you then to prioritise better and, therefore, do much more.

Apart from work, I also engage myself in an exercise routine and sports every day for a minimum of 40 minutes. I have seen this increase my energy levels, making me more productive. Lastly, I create weekly, monthly and quarterly goals in my both personal and professional life. I review these goals every week. These help me to ensure I am on the right path and therefore feel motivated to move ahead.

Do you think a career in this field is a viable one in the long term?

Absolutely yes. There was a recent study by SaaSBOOMi, stating that India could be at the cusp of unlocking a $1 trillion opportunity for SaaS companies, creating nearly half a million new jobs by 2030. SaaS has been growing enormously since the last decade and with new innovations coming in every day, there is so much opportunity to learn and grow here.

What does it take to succeed in a career?

There are many aspects to succeed professionally, but the most important aspect is having the right attitude. Like it is rightly said, some view a glass as half full while others look at it as half empty. While skill sets can be learned over a period of time, attitude is something that can’t be taught. In one’s professional journey, there could be several obstacles that will show up. It is the right attitude towards situations that makes the biggest difference and therefore is a deciding factor towards one’s future.

I also see having a strong sense of discipline and consistency as very important. Consistency and discipline mean wholly dedicating yourself to achieving something, without getting distracted. This is because, it is not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives but it is what we do every single day that pushes the needle.

I strongly believe that I have only one competitor and that’s myself. I constantly strive to bring out a better version of myself every day. This happens because of my eagerness to learn. I believe often after a few successful years, many individuals tend to develop an ego whereby they don’t think they need to learn anymore, which can stunt their growth. Continual learning is a success by itself. When you look back at your journey, you will be nothing but proud of all that you have achieved.

What would be your advice to youngsters planning to enter this industry?

Firstly, it is important to have the right attitude to work. Do things that you love and love the things that you do. It is this passion that will take you places. Having a pessimistic or disinterested attitude not only will obstruct your progress but also those who are working with you. Secondly, keep upgrading your communication skills as they will be critical irrespective of which industry you are venturing into in today’s world.

Thirdly, while making sure that you join the right company, also make sure you work under a great leader. Often having a bad boss during the initial years can result in people feeling deeply demotivated or completely losing their confidence. Therefore, feel free to ask many questions during your interview and ensure the person you are working with is looking to aid your progress just as much as you are.

Fourthly, don’t panic and get disappointed by small failures. The most successful people have often seen several failures. So, as long as you are disciplined and sincere you will see success, if not today, then tomorrow. Lastly, today with so many youngsters suffering from anxiety and mental stress, I think it’s very important that they learn to balance things outright from the beginning. Maintaining a strict work-life balance is very important to ensure that you are thriving and not just surviving. No matter how hard a day gets, always make it a practice to spend some time doing what you love.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I find myself exceedingly passionate about helping B2C brands to create Omnichannel Personalised experiences. In the years to come, I would look at making a more significant mark by identifying more innovative ways to do this. I would also like to work with brands across more geographies to enhance my learning.

Is there any organisation that you would like to work with in the future?

I am very inclined towards doing something for society. Firstly, I strongly feel that education should be accessible for every Indian. Secondly, I also feel very strongly about doing something to help children cope with Cancer & other health challenges. In the future, I would like to start an organisation of my own that would support these causes.

Media
@adgully

News in the domain of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Business of Entertainment

More in Media