Thursday, December 2, 2010

My First digital ad agency experience...

Yo estaba pensando que debo escribir en Español, pero mi español no es muy bueno… no importa, voy a escribir en Inglés. Por lo tanto, aquí va… [I was thinking that I should write in Spanish but my Spanish is not very good ... doesn’t matter, I'll write in English. So, here goes ...]

Well… it’s been only three months since I’ve joined, but I think I have already learnt a lot from all of you.

This is the first digital company I’ve worked with. I’ve had a lot of fun working with the team so far. It’s been a really good experience; every day I learn something new working with my team. In this regard, I would really like to thank Sreekant and Vikram for guiding and inspiring me.

I would also like to thank the Search team, Creative team, and Tech team, and all the other members at Ignitee, who’ve helped me a lot.

My first fully fledged campaign was Whirlpool’s Ek Jodi Kapda initiative. I didn’t realise it back then that it was going to be a case study for us. Again, I’d like to thank Vikram and Sreekant, who’ve guided me on this live project. I was worried whether something would go wrong. But I’d like to say ‘thank you’ to all the teams who supported me, because of which the project was completed smoothly.

I really enjoyed the Induction session when I went to Mumbai. Some people said things like, “Arre yehi hai… Ek Jodi Kapda… Pakdo isko…” I also enjoyed the welcome given by the tech and creative team there.

The audio workshop too, was awesome. It’s such a great idea to ask the employees to create a theme song for their own company.

Sitting late in office, working on weekends, shouting at clients, getting stinkers, bosses shouting at you—these things don’t create any negative impact. Instead, it gave me a new perspective and I was able to approach my work positively. Also, I’ve learnt that we, the client servicing people, are like ‘Dholaks: jo dono taraf se bajte hain’.

Here’s a small example:

Me: Hello, Saurabh, sir kaam kab tak kar ke doge??

Tech: Kaam ho raha hai yaar, jaldi de dunga…tere chakkar mein poora tech team baitha hai abhi tak office mein….

Me: Are mein bhi to baitha hun…

Tech: Karta hun yaar, jaldi karta hun…

Me: Bhai banner to resize karo jaldi… Aaj se campaign live hona hai..

Designer: Kal milenge saare…bahuit kaam hai yaar… Chal theek hai…. Half of them will be done today…rest tomm…

Me: Ok…Thanks…

So far it’s been a superb experience and I’m waiting for more challenges to come my way…

Saludos a todos!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Why my being with Ignitee was not a co-incidence?

Most people say that time is like a river that flows swift and sure in one direction. But I have seen the face of time and I can tell you that they are wrong. Time is like an Ocean in a storm. You may wonder why I say this. Come, sit down, and I will tell you a tale unlike you’ve ever heard.

I still remember the time when I walked into ‘Sitaram Mills’ for my interview. How worried I was as the place looked like a ‘Bidi ka Karkhaana’ with a touch of place where you kidnap people for ransom. But then luckily it wasn’t. My first step into Ignitee was my first step into the Digital World. And thus the journey began.

At start I was very chilled about things and didn’t really care where I was heading but with a great bunch of people around, I was destined for bigger and better things. Things changed and I from being a ‘lukha’ was groomed into a social media person. I really didn’t know what changed in me but it was probably because I was always surrounded by people who had the passion to do more. To achieve. To be successful. To be what they really wanted to be. And then began my race for excellence. I strived, I faltered, I accomplished, I chose, I was Ignited.

Day after day I worked and laughed. Worked hard and laughed even harder. From being frustrated to really achieving Nirvana at work. I felt it all. But that was a part of my learning process which is surely the winner in this journey of mine. However it’s not only the work that got me involved with Ignitee. It was the fun. I learnt how you can irritate people here and still get a smile at the end of it. How to help others and still feel you haven’t really done anything. How your smallest of work get appreciated by people who don’t even know you. How you can truly be happy with what you do and leave the day with a smile. But above all, how you can make friends? Cause I truly did.

Slowly and steadily I grew as professional and as a person. It is because I gave ‘Time’ to everything. I was never worried about where I will reach? I never really thought about the destination. It is the journey that mattered. And here I am standing proud to be a part of what was destined to happen.

Sometimes I feel, that if it wasn’t for the call that I had got from Ignitee, how life would have been different?

Would I have been the same ‘lukha’ with no real aim in life? Would I still be happy in some mediocre job I would have found somewhere?

But then, in a magical world there are no coincidences. Everything happens for a reason. It’s being at the right place at the right time. Time is what prevents everything from happening at once and I truly believe that though I still haven’t really pushed it to the limits, Ignitee has given me that thrust which will surely send me flying high in this journey of mine. And when sometime later in life I ever write a book about my life, the prelude will surely be ‘It all began at Ignitee...’

And here is special shayari for what I feel in this journey of mine with Ignitee.

“Main akela hi chala tha jaanib-e-manzil,

Log saath aate gaye aur caravan badhta gaya”

Khudahafiz
Mubashir

Monday, November 22, 2010

Ignitee is Second Home

It’s been over a year since I first stepped into the Gurgaon office of Ignitee. At first I felt very lost. Coming from a hardcore brand strategy background I wondered what am I doing here? SEM, SEO, SMO - What are these complex terms? Now that moment seems a thousand years old!

What I love most about working at Ignitee is working on something new EVERYDAY! I have had a chance to ideate for some of the best & biggest brands in the market and that too in the most interesting & upcoming domain which is social media. And of course the other great thing about social media is our SMO team @Ignitee. I’ve had such a great time working with Gautamm, Deepali, Mubashir, Krutika, Shruti and Kowkab.

Even though I work out of the Delhi office, I feel like I have the best of both worlds. I get to interact & work alongside the Delhi team which is a lot of fun! At the same time I end up working at the Mumbai office often alongside all the teams.

If I were to close my eyes, so many images flash in front of me: My first meeting with Atul, my first day at Ignitee, My induction in Mumbai, My favorite work @Ignitee, living and working in Mumbai, our laugh riot night with the awesome cab drive, the Mumbai Bollywood night party.

Also, I’ve made some good friends at Ignitee. Priyanka, Vivek, Kowkab. Thanks for being there.

If I have a bad day I don’t feel like taking a day off. I feel like coming to work @Ignitee

Looking forward to more awesome briefs, more crazy deadlines and loads of fun with Ignitees!

Cheers
Aditya

Sunday, November 21, 2010

My experience with Ignitee

It has been around 9 months since I first stepped into the Ignitee Office. I remember climbing those lonely stairs of the office and telling myself that this not a scene from a haunted movie and nothing bad will happen here. Fortunately for me, I think God was listening. I got hired, and there was no ghost.

My initial days at Ignitee were a breeze and I spent most of my time complaining of how there is no work to be done. Little did I realize that I was part of a larger plot, which constituted of brain storming and washing sessions, and sending out more ‘docs’ than the words in my thesis paper in my university. I was welcomed in the SMO team with all the warmth anyone could have asked for. Along with hard work also came the laughter riots which at that moment certainly seem can be heard all across Mumbai if not India. With the perfect blend of fun, work and digitizing, Ignitee has been a Life Experience and not something that will just go down my resume.

In my understanding, Ignitee works just like a joint family, with everyone doing their bit to keep the domino straight, working together towards common goals. There are values, morals, respect for each other, and most importantly, support from all the different levels in the organisation.

I have not worked anywhere before, and I don’t really know how other agencies/organisations work. But I am pretty certain that it cannot get better than this. Now I find myself climbing the same staircase that once I used to think was haunted, and now I know, it is haunted. It will haunt me for the rest of my life and remind me of my associations, colleagues, and friends at Ignitee if I was ever to leave.

- Kowkab Naim

Monday, September 27, 2010

Work is Fun at Ignitee !!!

It’s been almost 10 months since I joined Ignitee and it has been really a joyride till now (thankfully). The atmosphere in the office is always upbeat with someone or the other keeping the laughter challenge going on. We actually have laugh riots in the office with people going crazy and that too just by watching others laughing apart from the jokes. The events every week put forth a great opportunity to have a much required break from work and have some fun and team bonding as well in the process. The Birthdays and the beating sessions followed are much gung ho & popular amongst the guys to take revenge on their part.
Apart from the Fun quotient at Ignitee the work exposure is equally good, rather even better comparatively. I have got the opportunity to work on some of the best known brands across verticals and in markets across the globe. With some really popular brands, industry leaders and personal favorites as brands/ clients to work on, work doesn’t seem like work but a project with team effort & colleagues always ready to help out. It’s been a learning experience so far towards mastering my own skills and getting acquainted with new skill which will help shape my career in a wholesome manner.

Life at Ignitee is balance of enjoyment, learning and sports also (though I hardly play any :P). At Ignitee cricket, table tennis & now carrom are widely encouraged with Team Ignitee winning quite a few Inter Agency tournaments. All in all it’s been an enriching experience and looking forward to much more worthwhile times ahead.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

The Bhootbangla – Ignitee ;)

This is the first name we all must have uttered for Ignitee because of its spooky entrance. Once you reach the second floor and enter the Ignitee office you feel relieved that you are at right place. Yes, that’s what exactly I feel after being here from more than 1 year- I am at right place! :)

In the last one year we have grown and added a lot of people, but yet nothing has changed much in terms of the youthful culture and atmosphere at Ignitee (which, by the way I like the most!). Ignitee’s spirit I mean team spirit (don’t get carried away by the spooky start) is incredible. Even new joinees are equally enthusiastic about every project. The Friday events: Be it a Jungle fancy dress competition, Raavan avatar or celebrating any festival, is always fun!

Last but not the least, work here is enjoyable. The mad and crazy socio search team make enormous projects also look like a cakewalk. We have the best lunch with laughing sessions lasting for over 10 mins eacg. These lunch breaks are mostly like inter team lunches. We eat, enjoy and even crib together about the food. The best place in office is the canteen where you get to see all the different ‘characters’ (Especially cartoon characters) in our office. Just watching them is great fun in evenings.

It’s been a great year so far working and having fun at Ignitee. Hope to continue this joyful journey for a longer time with all the jovial people around :).

Friday, September 24, 2010

ASAP


Tring tring …hello
Caller: Hi Nikhil I am calling from ignitee (HR dept)
We need to schedule your interview <ASAP>, tell me by when you can come for interview.
Nikhil: Hello hello …hello ……I will come for interview on Saturday (:O).
Caller : Woohh ! Saturday …!!can u make it tomorrow !!
Nikhil : oaky than I will come after 8:30 PM ..
Caller : Okay , will wait for you !! do come !!

So I invented the <ASAP>tag from my first communication had with ignitee. Even on the day I got interviewed, I was asked whether I could join <ASAP>


To begin with my first high priority assignment. <ASAP>I got high on LSD (Love Sex Dhoka) and have no clue how will I land on the ground.
So my first project completed on the note of <ASAP>…as of now.

What to say about team Ignitees,
Gour Farmayiyega !!!

Teach Team = Khatro Ke Khiladi !!
Creative / Production Team = Bhagam Bhaag (aate aate jate jate khoye khoye jage jage baithe baithe dode dode sare srae peeche peeche aage aage gire pade bhage bhage…. bhag ….bhagam bhag )
Search Team = Saare Zameen Par (Jame Raho …Jame Raho)
Media/BD Team = Apna Sapna Money Money (show me the money ….dil chahe paisa)
CS Team = 3 Idiots (confusion hi confusion hai, solution kuch pata nahi )
Account Team = Rock On (Sinbad The Sailor)
HR Team = Singh Is Queen!!

Phewwww …finally I have done some interesting stuff for u guys ..lol

So ignitees are rockers as on all conditions I personally feel the team ignitee is one of the best team . As a digital agency ignitee have best environment for work , place is good when u have good people around you and you can find the best people in ignitee . I love working with ignitee ,,,,funky place were you cay say anything which you want to say !! Like iski ma ka ….sakinaka and all kind of stuff !! lolzzz

Lets, keep rocking all the time as we do always <ASAP>