Goafest 2024, hosted by The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and The Advertising Club (TAC), kicked off on 29 May with a performance by playback singer Sukhwinder Singh, presented by B4U Music. Following this, members of the organising committee lit the ceremonial lamp.
GroupM South Asia CEO and AAAI president Prasanth Kumar then addressed the attendees, marking the festival’s 17th edition whose theme was The Age of Adaptability.
In the first session presented by News 18 Network, titled Adapt To Thrive Not Just Survive, Tata Play managing director and CEO Harit Nagpal emphasised the importance of adaptability as a key to thriving rather than merely surviving. In a captivating speech that left the audience both thinking and inspired, laden with anecdotes, the keynote speaker underlined the inevitability of disruption in our lives and the critical importance of resilience in the face of it. “Disruption can be caused by anything or anyone, but it becomes our responsibility to survive and thrive,” he asserted. He then discussed Business Continuity Planning, a strategy used in the 2000s, designed to address both expected and unexpected scenarios, and its relevance to Covid-19. He then moved on to highlight the surge in digital interactions, including video calls and remote work, which have now become the standard. The pandemic, he noted, disrupted traditional office setups but ultimately led to more flexible and efficient work arrangements. From the World Wide Web to AI, each breakthrough is shrinking the gap between disruptions, and we’re just getting started. His parting words were, “Either you disrupt, or someone else is going to do it for you, and the best time to do it is when you feel the most comfortable!”
Thereafter, the channel Sun Neo presented a session titled, Navigating The Age Of Adaptability: Leading with Vision, Flexibility, and Purpose, led by L Catterton India executive chairman Sanjiv Mehta. In this talk, Mehta delved into the critical elements of leading with agility and dynamic purpose in today’s ever-changing market landscape. He articulated how visionary leadership combined with the agility to pivot and a strong sense of purpose can drive business success and resilience. “Agility demands spare capacity and the ability to redirect talent towards value creation,” he mentioned. “Learning happens when you have the humility to say, ‘I don’t know?’,” he said, and by admitting so, organisations and corporations open themselves to new knowledge and understanding, fostering a growth mindset that enables them to learn and develop from others’ expertise and experiences, not just myopically thinking of profit generation. “The concept of a great leader is a myth; it is always the work of a great team.”
The next session titled From Setbacks to Comebacks: The Power of Persistence, writer and film director Tahira Kashyap shared personal anecdotes and her professional experiences with celebrity host and actor Atika Farooqui. “Women go through multiple hardware upgrades; every day is so different for women, every hour is so different than the previous one,” Kashyap mentioned. When asked about the various facets of her identity, she smiled, “My identity is no longer defined by my title, but by the relationships I cherish. I take immense pride in being known as a wife, mother, daughter, and Mrs. Kashyap. It’s the people in my life who give my existence meaning, and I’m humbled to be seen as a person, not just a professional label.” Throughout the discussion, she underscored that setbacks are not the end but opportunities for growth and reinvention. She reflected on the numerous hardships that life can bring, yet felt profound gratitude to the universe for her journey thus far. Her faith had been a constant source of strength, empowering her to overcome obstacles. Recognising that each person’s life is unique, she acknowledged that everyone faces challenges, but it is their faith that enables them to persevere. With a steadfast determination to create meaningful stories, she vowed that her female protagonists would never be relegated to marginal roles, instead, they would be dynamic characters who drive the narrative forward. With a personal commitment to growth and self-improvement, she embraced the challenges that lay ahead, knowing that her perspective and journey would shape her path.
Disney+ Hotstar presented a session Lessons of Adaptability: Embracing Failure to Touch Success, featuring Indian actress Medha Shankr, and actor Vikrant Massey, moderated by actor, producer and entrepreneur, Neha Dhupia. Shankr and Massey, the cast of the acclaimed film 12th Fail, illuminated the audience with their insights on embracing failure as a stepping stone towards triumph. Massey cited his varied experiences from television to movies and the invaluable lesson that success cannot exist without acknowledging failure. He said, “Success cannot be defined as a standard without failure. Out of 365 days in a year, in 300 you’re off the mark, and only 65 are successes.” He shared anecdotes from his latest project, finding resonance in the film’s themes of familial responsibility and the values instilled by Manoj Kumar’s vision. Meanwhile, Shankr, having relocated to Mumbai several years ago, echoed Massey’s sentiment on embracing failure as a catalyst for growth.
After the sessions closed, Abby Awards 2024, Publisher and Media Abby was presented by Sony Liv in association with Zee Media and Wion. The day ended with dinner and an after hours party with DJ Akhtar.
Goafest is being held from 29 to 31 May in Mumbai