Alvin Saldanha's Story
The Journey So Far:
I've known roller-coasters to be smoother.
The Decisions That Matter
The decisions proved to be irrelevant. Napoleon Bonaparte was right: It's all 'luck'.
Career Profile:
When something goes wrong, I'm to take the blame. When something goes right, I have to give the credit. Nothing has changed from the day I first became a Creative Director in 1994.
Degrees That Matter:
Life lived utterly thoroughly.
Working Life Management:
I don't. My work is my life.
Done Differently:
Can't say. I had a charmed start: HTA when JWT was the largest advertising agency on Earth and called by FORTUNE as "The University Of Advertising". I'd just want to do it exactly like I did it.
Plans For The Future:
Doing what I love doing: poring over a just-finished ad with Rajendra Mohoni, Clint Ratnam, Ronak Shetty, Rajesh Lotlikar, Sudhir Patkar, Sneha Iyer, Priyanka Kataria, Sa'na Kazi and the always lovely Aarti Naidu. Subhash Padave and Vivek faithfully keeping the tea and biscuits coming...
Prized Accomplishment(s):
26 years in advertising without "burning out".
Changes In The Professional Environment:
I started in 1982, 30 years ago, this very month. That was the last century, indeed the last millenium. This is the second decade of the third millenium. Imagine an agency without computers, and of course, no Photoshop, email, Illustrator, Word, facebook .... Unchanged: customer, brand, good work.
Growth Strategy:
Step out of my office as often as I can. Not step back in as often as I can. Never summon people to my office. Sit with my crew and see it all through their eyes. My textbooks and my teachers are the people I work with. Real authority is the authority your crew grants you. Designations can kill.
Required Reading:
www.google.com
Advice For New Professionals:
The advertising universe is changing every single day. If I answer this question, it will be irrelevant tomorrow. But, "learn from everything, everybody and all the time" should do for now.
Role Model:
Neil French. Hasn't submitted to a single rule, and still rules.
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