Ad land’s Young Guns: Shiv Acharjee, WATConsult

Shiv Acharjee is a Group Account Manager at WATConsult. He is a result-driven marketing professional with multi-facet experience in Digital, Social Media Marketing, Listening, Engagement, Market Research and Analytics. In the past three years, he has built WATConsult’s presence in Southern India and has been leading the Bangalore operations. 

What does it takes to climb up the ladder in advertising? Here’s Shiv Acharjee in his own words... 

How did you get into the role you are serving?
I was always a builder by hands and a creator by mind. That pretty much answers where I’m right now. 

I spent my teenage following Web 2.0, but the real journey started eight years back when I was first exposed to digital and found my niche. Post that, I finished Masters in Marketing & Business Consulting, followed by a few stints in Analytics & Community management. Three years ago, I was given the opportunity to build and lead WATConsult’s Bangalore office and I was psyched by the possibilities. So the building job continues... 

What particular skill sets do you think you bring to the table?
When you are responsible for a sizeable business then you need few skills in your quiver.

1. ForeSight - I’m able to foresee industry trends and identify new business opportunities

2. Resilience - Building something new always comes with challenges. Being resilient helps me recover from pitfalls quicker and spring back in action

3. Analytical - I need it all the time to make decisions. Also, helps to revisit my own work and be critical about it 

One campaign that you have worked on that you are particularly proud of? Please take us through the making of the campaign.
Yet to happen! From me, the proud moment will be when a campaign will bring change to this world or to the people. I’m overly critical regarding my work, this helps me doing better than before. The making of a campaign is no different from drawing a canvas. Colours are your idea pot, a brush is your workforce and the palette is the planning and execution chart. 

While working on the creatives, how do you prepare yourself? What goes on in your mind?
One word – EMPATHY. We need to be empathetic to the end user and see how a consumer will treat and respond towards a creative. The rest is all about meeting the balance between brief and creative. 

Icons in advertising you look up to and how they have influenced you and your work?
You should call me ‘Inspiration Vampire’. I always stay inspired from the team I work with, peers whom I meet, friends I chill with. The whole idea is to learn how they have done it and how I can do it differently. 

What are the five most productive things that you do in your everyday routine?
1. Start early and continue till I finish the previous day’s work. (Work never finishes)

2. Plan & schedule

3. Talk to clients and ideate with team

4. Read and eat during lunch 

Do you think a career in advertising is a viable one in the long term?
Yes, if you want every day to be different, then this is the place. 

What does it take to succeed in a career like advertising?
The list can be as big as one wants, but for me there are three key mantras:

1. Great work never just falls into your lap. You need to work for it, refine it, perfect it. Stay persistent. 

2. Improvise - Committing yourself to improve and keep up with the pace of industry, technology and people. 

3. Be bold and courageous with your work. When you look back on your professional life, you will regret the things you didn't do more than the one you did. 

What would be your advice to youngsters planning to enter this industry?
Stay hungry. Stay patient. Stay inspired. 

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
I foresee growing a strong and large business in Southern India for WATConsult. Positively a few stellar work to compete globally. 

Is there any agency/ organisation that you would like to work with in the future?
In advertising, we don’t work with organisation/ agency, we work with PEOPLE. Campaign don’t win awards, if there is no camaraderie and at WATConsult, the culture of co-creation makes people stay and some come back too.