Ten days as a homo sapien(t)

Executive job movements can be bittersweet for all involved.

Three and a half years as the Chief Marketing Officer of Zensar, a proud, vibrant and successful organization, ensured that I became a part of the fabric that made the company what it was. Thing is, as an executive there can be no half measures. You cannot only focus on the good and ignore the challenges. You cannot stay hemmed-in inside a job description. All of it, the good, the bad and the ugly (and every organizations has all three) are your responsibility and there is no scope for detachment. (A detached leader is not really leading) This kind of immersion is highly satisfying spiritually and professionally, but can also drain you and over time make you lose perspective. So when the time comes to leave, it can become emotional and bittersweet for both the departing, and the ones being left behind. And so it was for me and my team, when I left Zensar a few weeks ago, to start my new journey at Publicis Sapient. Forty-two months of incredible learning, momentous achievements and deep relationships at Zensar have left an indelible mark on my life. But now, it is time to look ahead.

It's been 10 working days for me at Publicis Sapient, as a brand new leader in a brand new team tasked with taking the company to the next level. Coming in, I already knew that PS (as it is referred to) was legendary when it came to experience design and engineering. Two decades in the technology services industry gives one a very instinctual and organic understanding of all the various players, and before walking into PS I knew that I was entering the "hall of fame" of cutting-edge experience transformation capabilities. But what I didn't know was that I had opened a door into a global creative, media, data and technology giant. From the moment I got a welcome message from Arthur Sadoun, the CEO of the Publicis Groupe, I knew that I was now a part of something special. Since then I have been immersed into all things Publicis, and all things PS. Just reading about the depth and breadth of the services we offer and the value we bring to a majority of the Global Fortune 1000, has been like catnip to the bright-eyed college graduate that I suddenly feel like. And I am reveling in this rare feeling of constant serendipity that surrounds me every time I read a case study, or go deep into our thought-leadership around Digital Business Transformation. I have never had so much fun drinking from the proverbial firehose.

Ten days in, I am acutely aware that I have merely scratched the surface. Publicis Sapient is just one star in a galaxy of veritable brands that are on the forefront of media and technology. Saatchi&Saatchi, Leo Burnett, Starcom, Digitas, Epsilon, Zenith, Fallon... the list goes on and on. What has been heartening to me is that the groupe (pardon my French) is serious about harnessing value across this vast universe. And the opportunities for value creation are just tremendous, especially given the current market environment. Remember the age-old three circle Venn diagram of People-Process-Technology? The same Venn diagram if recreated for today's world would read, People-Platforms-Brands. This is where the Publicis Groupe plays, and Publicis Sapient is the lynchpin that connects People and Brands through Digital Dataful Platforms.

The last couple of years have lifted the veil on what is truly central to the functioning of our global economy. Customer centric companies are leading on every metric, and the rest are playing catch up. Publicis Sapient is on a mission to level the playing field, and there is just so much work to be done! And I am honored to have the opportunity to contribute.

A new journey begins, and I have boarded the train with a suitcase full of dreams.