Opportunities are precious - SAAS is bringing some more
Stories of Role Models
After my MBA, I was based in Delhi and worked for Blowplast. I was good in my sales job and every of those 3 years, I was always amongst the top 5.
I moved to Bangalore after my marriage and my new life asked for adjustments.
Soon after, I was expecting. Due to some difficulties, my gynae advised complete bed rest for the full term.
It was the very opposite of the hectic life I had come to thrive on. My professional life came crumbling down.
One year off from work, left me with a pain of missed opportunities.
Along with it, came a resolve that all opportunities are precious. I would never ever refuse one from hereon, if I could help it.
When I started working again, I embraced the bustling IT sector. Proposals, Bids, Pre-sales and alliances became my lifeblood again.
Action revolved around ERP products - with focus on particular verticals and their domain specific customizations.
In the ensuing years, I did well professionally. I had learnt never to deny opportunity to myself.
We - my family along with - also moved briefly to the US and then Canada - for the same reason.
An offer to join Cognizant with a promotion came along. I would have to move to Chennai. I nodded my yes by relocating there briefly.
Soon after, an opportunity to lead MarComm from Bangalore arose. I pointed out to Powers, I had never done this before. They said, ‘never mind’. Who was I to say no?, after that :)
In my MarComm tenure at Cognizant - over the last 6 years, I saw the world move from platform ERP solutions to SAAS.
With this - the time in which new functionality goes out has shrunk considerably. What took 2 years earlier, now gets done in 2 months.
This requires a closer ongoing embrace with the customers. To understand them faster and better. To respond to them, as a micro-niche instead of a segment.
How the brand is portrayed is also undergoing change.
What employees say about the service, what associates say – has more credibility in the customer's mind than what the official spokesperson says.
Earlier, traditional PR was the custodian of the brand. Today employees have an opportunity to be influencers.
Correspondingly, the role of MarComm is also veering towards being an enabler (and watchdog :)) for influencers in the ecosystem rather than crafting one message that fits all.
Opportunity is in air again and I look forward to adventures in new avatars ahead.