Ignitee rocks!!

Nine Months back when I was suppose to be dreaming about my much awaited wedding scheduled in October’08 all I was dreaming was the Launch of “Ignitee” which was scheduled on 30th September precisely 8 days before my ceremony. My first ever experience in an agency, my first launch ever and of course my first ever wedding. All I had launched previously was SOP’s (Standard operating procedures) and promotions in hotels! Butterflies flew all of that month in my stomach. To do list was endless and words like Virals, DM’S, and JPEG sounded Latin! I dint even know what Afaqs and E4M were.....hush hush!

Youngest Ignitees cut the cake on the day of Launch!

Now when I think back it truly has been the most amazing time. A roller coaster ride which I am never ever gonna forget. I enjoyed every bit of it and more then I enjoyed, I was learning something new every nanosecond. By the way now when I am asked to launch any project I always think of the Dhoni’s Aircel ad “Aur Bolo”!!!

Some of our prominent launches have been Spark, Our event initiative, Ignition and Ignitee but everyone’s favorite is Moksh. I feel elated when I see ignitees distressing and enjoying themselves in Moksh. I love Bhavna’s painting there. I am so happy to be associated with such a forward thinking company. I think ideas like Moksh and Spark are super cool!!!

Before concluding I wanna use this platform requesting all of you to chat with me as and when you think of any new initiative Ignitee should take!

Signing Off,

Ruchika

First Times...

This week seems to be full of ‘first times’ for me.

This is the first time I am writing a blog!

We are in the midst of receiving our first major rain-fall of the season.

Today I will experience, for the first time, the flooding lane outside the office.

The new business we signed on yesterday was the first new business I helped get, since I joined Ignitee.

Last night was the first time I went for ‘post work’ drinks with my new friends from the office.

And this week I signed on my first recruit for Ignition.

First times can be supremely exciting, some times nerve wracking, sometimes easy and sometimes, the hardest thing in the world.

But it is something that we all experience at some point of our lives. And more often than not, it symbolises accomplishment.

This week saw exciting ‘first times’ for me and here’s to many more for all of us at Ignitee

Cheers

-- Tarini

Winning IS everything

Revealed! 4 Friends that Get You Gold

And 3 Enemies that Take it Away

On June 19, 2009, the Power Rangers—a live wire team of fifteen (Captain Sahal and cronies Manish, Ritesh, Ajit, Rahul, Priyal, Devendra, Sandip, Suresh, Ganesh, Kaushik, Radhika, Harry, Sejal, and yours truly)—romped home with the GOLDEN TROPHY of the IHE series and individual medals inscribed with praise: ‘Best House 09’.

Celebrating the sweet taste of success

Missing in the snap: Power Rangers Harry and Radhika

Three days prior to our victory, on July 14, 2009, a team was defeated. India, Defending Champions, crashed out of the T20 series after losing by a whisker to England—a team we beat easily in 2008.

Both incidents compelled me to think about what it takes to win—or lose—a match.

From whatever I’ve read in Management books, there are 4 Friends that can undoubtedly ensure the outperformance of a team:

Friend # 1: Courage

To think BIG, to go against the grain.

Friend # 2: Conviction

To follow your heart—against all odds.

Friend # 3: Commitment

To give it all you’ve got—right till the very end.

Friend # 4: Confidence

In yourself, but more importantly, in your team.

And who are the enemies just waiting to snatch victory away?

Enemy # 1: Fear

Enemy # 2: Pressure

Enemy # 3: Wrong decisions

What warms my heart is that Ignitees have loads of Friends. How else could we have grown so exponentially—and won 3 of the most prestigious accounts in digital history: IPL, MOT (Ministry of Tourism) and the Indian National Congress? And still be hungry for MORE?

Keep rocking, Ignitee! Here’s to greater times and still more success. Cheers!

Glory, Glory To Ignitee!

Yes, I am an unabashed Man United fan. Who isn’t? It’s really great to see them win game after game (ok, so they lose a few times, but who doesn’t?) And, my favourite colour happens to be RED…

Oh, you must be wondering then what Ignitee’s all about. It’s the place where I work these days. No, sorry, not work, ENJOY. When you do something you really enjoy, you can’t call it work, can you? I’m a web designer and I get to do the coolest stuff around here. Websites, banners, site caps, you name it, I done it.

The best part about this place is that I don’t have to sit hunched at my desk all the time. We have a TT table, and a room for relaxation we call MOKSH. In the evenings, after office hours generally, there’s an army that gathers at the TT table. I form part of this small army and I enjoy myself after a day’s hard work (oops there I go again). Another great thing is the events that are staged every alternate Friday. It is fun to see everyone run helter-skelter at the last minute, and even through ridiculous deadlines and mountain loads of work, we do manage to have a lot of fun every time!

If I had to describe Ignitee in one word, it would be ‘magic’. It really is a magical place. Even my team is a magical team. And every day, from Monday to Friday, we perform magic tricks to amaze and appease our clients. Come over sometime. You’ll enjoy yourself, I promise!

- Elton Afonso

Ignitee Days

As I was not comfortable working with my previous company, my friend Aurnob Mitra suggested that I should try out Connecturf (Connecturf had not changed to Ignitee back then). Gautamm took my interview—believe me, I was extremely nervous. But I realised pretty soon that there was nothing to worry. Gautamm called me a few days later and told me I could join from 29 September, 2008.

Ah! This indeed was the perfect place to work in. Every morning I am greeted by the smiling face of Julie, our receptionist, who wishes me good morning.

In the beginning, my team (Search Team) was a small one—it consisted only of Gautamm, me, Kamlesh and Monali. Within a short span of time, the number of projects increased tremendously and we had to hire two new recruits, Krutika and Bhakti.

But Ignitee isn’t ‘all work and no play’. We do have a TT table and a carom board. And we also have an ‘Inter House Event’ every alternate Friday, where Ruchika (Corporate Affairs Head) and Yamica (HR Head) organise events like karaoke, Antakshari etc. We also celebrate everyone’s birthday in office.

What I enjoy most is LUNCH TIME, when we all sit together and think about how we’re going to tackle the post-lunch session. The most memorable time is when Ramani (Chairman), Sandy (Vice-President), Gautamm (Business Head—Search/SMO aka my boss) and Kamlesh (Manager—Search, another boss of mine) sit together and share thoughts.

All I can say is that Ignitee has given my career a new dawn. Thanks to Ignitee, there has been a significant improvement in my work, skills, knowledge and thinking power.

-- Kunal Shah

Another Business Pitch?

It’s really encouraging and heart warming to read all the passionate posts that have been put up so far. There are posts by the new Ignitees talking about how they like the place, how it’s not just an office, but a learning ground; and how they look forward to each day at office. There are posts by the older lot talking about how they have seen the undying spirit of Ignitees in good times and bad. And then there are posts by Ignitees talking about how they have embraced the digital media and how the digital media has touched every small spec of their life. And of course there are those entertaining posts and musings from Nihal after almost every post .

So what’s new about this post? Well, this post is about a business pitch at Chennai. (At this point, I’m sure you are thinking, what the hell? but just humour me)

It was in the sweltering May heat that three of us (Sandy, Ashok and I) had landed up at the Chennai airport for a business pitch. We were very pleased and confident of the work that we were carrying and therefore the usual nervousness and last minute fixes were missing. We gorged into the Masala Dosas and the Idli Sambhar at Suvarna Bhavan, courtesy our hosts (Priya and Arun). In our excitement, we landed up early at the client’s office. The client was also quite accommodating. We had a good meeting. Came out and celebrated at Kalakuddi with some awesome prawns, mutton, chicken and fish. Shopped in the bylanes of Chennai, saw the Marina beach, waited for four hours for our flight at the airport and reached home at 1:00 AM.

Sounds like any other business trip right? So, why am I telling you all this? Because, when we entered the client office, the client politely told us that he had shortlisted another agency and that the deal was done. But we insisted on presenting our work. Thirty minutes in that conference room and the client promised us more ‘eyeballs’ in a follow-up meeting to see the great work that we had put together! We made a client rethink his decision about signing up an established local agency, purely on the merit of our work!!!

And that’s what this post is all about—the pride I felt to be part of a brilliant team, a team that is

• So passionate and so hungry for winning that it opens up even closed doors

• So full of ideas that it there are ideas flowing in even at three in the morning

• And so full of life that it doesn’t miss out on its food parties and IHE even in the midst of handling the biggest three campaigns in the last six months of digital space!

I’m sure I echo the sentiment of all of us when I say, “Proud to be an Ignitee!”

- Harminder Kaur

My experience @ Ignitee…

I distinctly remember my first day @ Ignitee. It was 10.00 a.m. when I, along with Dharini and Ritesh, three of us having joined on the same day, was waiting with immense anticipation in the visitor’s lounge. It being my first job, I could feel the butterflies in my stomach. I was scared, happy, excited, anxious, nervous, all at the same time. I didn’t know what to expect out of this organization. From what I had heard about the corporate world, I was not expecting much except for deadlines, targets, formal environment etc.

The wait got over as we met Yamica, and there began our day with friendly smiles and warm welcome. Next few days we got to know the industry we had ventured in, the agency we were now a part of and the people we were to work with, thoroughly. Each day and each task brought with it more inquisitiveness, excitement and exhilaration.

Six months down the line, I don’t yet feel I have taken up a job. Rather than an office, it’s more like a college, each day loaded with friends, canteen, and assignments. Your bosses at Ignitee are mentors who guide you at each step, making sure you not only perform but outperform. And not to forget, your performance is rewarded with appreciation, time and again.

I have been the quieter lot amongst the always buzzing Ignitees. But even in my silence, I have cherished each moment @ Ignitee. The lunches with Dharini & Samruddhi @ Cafeteria, the evening snacks, the Friday evening events, the rare but fun late work nights, the challenging tasks, the list goes on and on.

Here I end my note, awaiting more fun and thrill in my tenure at Ignitee.

What’s on my mind? I don’t know!

I have started to type this sentence without any knowledge of what I am going to say in the next 300 odd words. This is a familiar situation to most creative people who sit and stare at the white blank paper everyday of his/her life while cracking an ad. A blank paper is scary at times; you don’t know where to start, what to draw or what to write.

The Facebook status asks ‘What’s on your mind?’ And I find it extremely difficult to fill in that blank. My mind is constantly churning thoughts. And they happen to be random every moment. Good, bad, meaningless, philosophical, childlike and wicked. And the list is endless. Information, Messages, Words, Images, Sounds gets tattooed on the brain. And this hard disk is storing everything I think or not think? Where am I heading? Why am I thinking in the first place? Why can’t I stop thinking? Shut my brain. Was it like this a few years ago? I ask this question to myself. I don’t think it was. Life was definitely not like this.

So, what has made this change? Not long time ago someone helped me open an email account. It was simple; writing a mail to a friend. Today, I don’t have the time to reply to any mails. Too much is happening in the virtual world which I have been part of it knowingly or unknowingly. I am sucked into it. It’s like I live another life in the virtual space. Can I discover a new dimension of myself? Am I the same person who is in the real world? I have noticed, otherwise unassuming, shy and quiet person suddenly showing completely opposite personality on the social networking sites. Should I call this double life?

We are social animals. But today we want to be even more social in a new world.

We like to know what is happening in other people’s lives, we want to share, we want to comment, we want to chat and we want to give our opinion. We want to sell, we want to buy and we want to get entertained. We have the option of changing our identity. Live vicariously. Will it stop here or is there something to be unraveled; something different and bizarre. Is life getting simpler or complicated? I don’t know. I don’t understand. I am not a psychologist.

We (Ignitees) live in one world and work in another. Isn’t it fascinating?

A project developed by American scientist for the United States Defense way back in 1973, known to us as Internet is now become part of ‘our’ DNA. And everyone’s too.

- Ashok Karnik

My Affair With Ignitee…

Fast, challenging and thrilling, is how I can describe my journey so far. Travelling woes to action filled schedule, happy/not so awaited moments make every day special in its own way.

Day starts with Julie’s sweet smile at reception desk, smiling faces, greetings by fellow Ignitees as you enter, which is followed by witty & humorous comments of Naresh and Nihal (they sit in the opposite bay) and by the time the work station is up you are geared up for the week.

Time actually flies, it’s been less than a year but it feels as if have been around for ages. The strength has almost doubled in last few months (renovation has already started), many new faces on the floor. However, the way they bond with each other, crack jokes and have fun while at work or in our small and special “Ganesh cafeteria” is awesome to see.

Friday (when we have IHE), I think is the attraction of the month as of now for Ignitees. Struggling with the daily work schedule, house captains & members running from post to pillar till the last moment, enthusiasm and the “Lets do it” attitude is something to look for. Bottom line is to have fun, fun and fun (no hidden agenda!!!).

Another common interest (how can I forget that!!!) of the Ignitees is “GOOD FOOD”, its one of the hottest and attention grabbing topic of discussion for majority of us. May it be the hard core maharashtrain cuisine of Annanthashram, Chinese of Shang Dynasty, Maroosh or any other outlet where you get taste bud tickling and to “die for” food. We, very regularly update each other of the newly discovered “Best food outlet” references too, which is almost a part of our TO DO list.

Even with all the fun, seriousness for work remains intact. Working on stringent deadlines, striving to do and deliver best is what I can see everyone is up to right now. Coming days are going to be filled with much more action and rocking stuff for sure!!!

Come so far but still a long way to go…

I'm Possible

The first words which come to my mind when I think of Ignitee is ‘Unstoppable’.

From the days of evangelizing the medium day in and day after, with little returns. Interacting with clients who were otherwise comfortable with the advent of every other new medium, but had little or no understanding of the power of this new medium.

To the days when ‘we’ were the market. Our efforts saw long term gains. There was no ‘nearest’ competitor (there existed nearly a dozen others, in fact, make that a baker’s dozen) in sight. Euphoric days when we were the most sought after to take to the altar and say ‘I do’.

To a large trough after the crest. Where the Ignitees did not waver. In fact, the adversities brought out an even higher sense of commitment to achieve and reach dizzying heights.

To today, when we have once again proved to the world that no human is indispensable. People make the Company. The Company’s thinking, culture and vision, make the people. A team which makes me proud. A team which today is the most sought after by the head hunters.

What we have seen and achieved is just the beginning. There are many more plans to take this to much larger levels. And this can only happen, if the personnel and the management concur to action. The next 12 months are ‘all action stations on the GO’.

MOANDAYs!!

Oh how I hate Monday mornings!!! This is a common wailing that happens in any office. Universally. For me, though Mondays are blessing...albeit in disguise. As I reach office, I am greeted by a bunch of mails and by the time we’ve had MMM I am totally charged up for the week ahead. If you look at Ignitee office from a bird’s view, it will seem as if industrious bees are working with a single minded dedication to nurture their bee hive. Truly, in sync.

At Ignitee, in the beginning you receive a diary in the shape of a matchbox with interesting trivia in it. You realize that this is a part of their branding. But, when you start working and get settled amongst Ignitees, one comes to understand the brand philosophy which is ingrained deeper than the match shape diary (no offence intended for the diary, in fact I find them really cute).

Another noteworthy aspect of this company (I like to call it a company as its values and work culture are far beyond that of a regular agency) is the seniors who are akin to pillars of foundation. They stop not at mere guidance or kind words of encouragement but motivate you, coach you so as to outdo your own expectations about yourself.

Achieving a family of 100+!! Seems impossible after Kauravas? Until you meet us Ignitees!

By the time, the so-called doomed day (Monday of course) nears its end I can’t imagine living without a crowd of Ignitees around me!

……And 9 Months after….

It was 20th August’08…I was coming for the Interview in Connecturf……Gautamm gave me address. It was something like Sitaram Mills Compound, N.M.Joshi Marg, Lower Parel (E).

I got a cab and told driver “Sitaram Mills Compound Jana Hai “...he took me to all compounds in Lower Parel except Sitaram Compound. Lol. After the lower Parel darshan when I finally reached Sitaram Mills Compound I saw all the old mill buildings and I thought where I am? It seemed as if time had stopped, koels chirping merrily. The hot blazing sun silently continues to throw more heat. No noise of cars…it felt like I was far off from Mumbai. I started wondering is this the right place for me? After the nomadic roam around for half an hour, I called up Gautamm several times to help me navigate my way. I finally reached & to my amazement the office seemed exceptionally larger-than-life, serene & full of positive aura.

Looking back now, when we started Search Department, we were only 3 people and we had only 2 small projects to handle. But things changed very rapidly after that. We had the opportunity to work with reputed clients. It’s just the beginning...Goodwill spreads eventually & here we are- NOW looking out to grow our Search Team...And after almost 10 months…with Jai Ho Congress, MOT and may more clients. Sparks like Ignition happening, I can safely say that this is the right time to dive into Digital Marketing & Advertising. I am proud to be a part of Ignitee which has a blend of talent, creativity, madness & lots of fun…great people to work with…hardcore foodies…hilarious dancers…crazy workaholics…singers…actors…& what not!

- Kamlesh Ek Sawal?

Why Ignitee Is the Much Coveted Place to Work

Ignitee is the coolest place to be on this earth! Ok I know the initial enthusiasm wears off like that for the newly married couple once they are back from their Lemon Sun (hmm honeymoon sounds too boring). But more than 3 months & I know I can safely say that the Lemon Sunny period is still going on man!

Ok here I go with some cool reasons to work with Ignitee (note: it’s NEVER ‘work for’ but ‘work with’)

* Words like ‘kit kit’ & ‘bossgiri’ ‘chamchagiri’, ‘I-am-the-boss-attitude’, ‘Only If…’, and ‘If you don’t then…’ blah blah blah don’t exist at Ignitee.

* Get unlimited access to internet, chai, kaaphi & nimbu paani

* Get Nihal’s idli chutney (early birds only!)

* Every Alternate Friday evening you can showcase your ‘kala’ i.e your talent

* Makes you feel at home (especially for the creative keedas who spend most of their weekends at moksh. (Ignitee’s abode)

* The fact that each karmchaari has some kind of uniqueness for e.g : Kunal’s taste for dukhi aatma gaane, my manager Kamlesh’s constant antics which include innovative style of mixing up a couple of songs & coming up with a funny composition, Monali’s amriki accent which tickles even our tongue bones (that was sad) & for my boss he keeps pulling our leg whenever he gets a chance hmmm…as for the new chick Bhakti we ragged her & made her remember her good ol’ college days! (Btw it was healthy ragging-we made her meow like a cat & dance her garba). As for the Creative team karmachari’s Nihal & Amyth (real name Amit) have the weirdest, funniest anecdotes just tell him anything & there it goes twisted & strangled to yet another ‘dilbert stumpleupon’. Creative Director Bhavna has a penchant for words, loves to scrabble & can smash guys! …I mean at table tennis…Our VP Mr.Ramani is a die hard cricket fan. There are many more characters here but for that you got to come to Ignitee for a live performance!

* We all keep dieting (decode dieting: a process of continuous diet intake)

* We have our lunch when the rest of the Iggi’s have their chai/kaafi/nimpu paani/etc & we still love it!

* You get a free body massage (b’day bums BUT only for GUYS!)

* Cool Ignitee Tees

On a serious note each day at Ignitee is learning & the people here are just so cool & chilled out! No one feels out of place here & infact each once of us discovers the ‘Ignitee’ in him/her. Hmmm till then will keep you updated with the Iggy Antics. Ciao!

IGNITEE NIGHTS

Big accounts. We’re getting some REALLY big accounts these days to work on. For security reasons (and to keep my sanity intact) I won’t reveal the names, but let it suffice to be known that they’re BIG.

And what do BIG accounts do? They keep the creative team up during the night. Yup, that’s us, the CREATIVE team. Web designers, art director, copywriter, creative director, illustrators, visualisers… the works. We stay up all night to work for a pitch that tons of other agencies are pitching for. We need to win, we WANT to win, we WILL win (it’s a kind of imaginary war cry I’ve made up in my head).

The best part is, we have fun during these nights. LOADS of fun. We do a lot of stuff in between work to keep us going through the night. We dance, we sing, we EAT (eat a LOT), and sometimes, if something interesting is happening on TV, we watch that too. Hey, I said we do this stuff IN BETWEEN work. We do work, you know. But we make sure that it doesn’t feel like work. We make it feel FUN and INTERESTING. Without that, you really can’t get through a night of work.

So, if you ever do want to know what having fun means, walk into our office past 10 PM on any given weekday (sometimes, weekend too). You’ll find us fooling and laughing around… and of course, working EXTREMELY hard. We just love this place. It’s truly ‘ignited’.