"Networking means making connections stronger or creating new ones, whether you already know the person or meet them for the first time."
Ankoor Dasguupta has been selected by International Board of the global Luxury, Lifestyle and Business magazine Passion Vista, for their collector’s edition- Circle of Excellence 2024.
Felicitated with adgully Leader 2.0 award ,December 2023 in marketing, Ankoor is a thought leader, trained from Dale Carnegie in Mentoring to Develop Talent, a member of the esteemed International CMO Council,and also a GLG Council Member.
Ankoor has guest columns in reputed International portals such as CMS Wire , MMA Global, CMO Council , CEO Worldwide, as their contributing authors, and national online forums/ publications such as Businessworld , Reputation Today , Indiantelevision, adgully, TOI.
A marketing practitioner, a knowledge manager, an avid writer with more than 50 published articles, Ankoor is an active speaker and jury in multiple esteemed forums including reputed B-Schools in India such as IIT Delhi, NMIMS, NIT Trichy, ISB Mohali, GD Goenka School of Management, Jaipuria Institute of Management, IIM Ranchi.
As an industry expert, Ankoor is also on the Advisory Board -Marketing Department at ISBR Business School.
An advocate of social impact, driven by kaizen, Ankoor is a process expert and believes in the power of Energy and Energize while bringing to the table a pedigree of 23+ years with a rare combination experience across the spectrum of media – print, digital, mobile, event production & successful pilot projects.
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Table of Contents
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Ankoor Dasguupta: Marketing has evolved as my romance rather than just a subject. Being a keen observer of human nature and a nurturer of relationships, I have always believed in a people first approach with trust as the unique currency to evolve conversations driving a ‘just cause’ as a vision to drive business goals.
I am about to complete 24 years of my professional journey which has been a mix of challenges, highs, lows and pain where this combination has helped me learn better.
I deeply believe in compassion and empathy which are core to Emotional Intelligence. My inspiration has been my wife and my 5-year-old daughter, and my faith in the power of the universe. I am grateful to have got the opportunities to work with various teams and cultures nationally and internationally.
An advocate of social impact, driven by kaizen, bringing to the table a a rare combination experience across the spectrum of media – print, digital, mobile, media, PR, event production & successful pilot projects.
At present I am wearing the hat of a CMO at Shisham Digital which is a leading performance marketing organization where we cater to some of the top international brands with our amazing team.
How has the significance of networking evolved over the past decades?
Ankoor Dasguupta: Twenty years back there was not social media and not much of the internet as we have it today. But we were thriving anyway. Let’s take a closer look at what seems to have changed but hasn’t much. The offline networking according to me has not changed, though what has changed is the online technology that acts as a catalyst to make it better.
The way events are produced today, from having a networking app on mobile so that you can pre-connect and book meetings at the event prior to even meeting, having QR codes to scan relevant information, interactive walls at the event and more such things that have made this ecosystem better.
Networking for me is to know someone better than before or to know someone for the first time. When I network, I have always kept the person in mind first rather than his/her business. Business happens when it has to. This is one way.
The other way is – supposing I know I am going to attend a closed-door event where I am having access to specific influential people. For this, I will actually prepare more by trying to know the list of people, thinking through what is their ‘why’ to attend that event and how crisp I need to be in communicating during that time. This is the other way.
The goal of networking must be clear while understanding and respecting guidelines and each other’s time.
And the most important part to me is what we don’t do after networking. I strongly recommend not to send out too many follow-up emails, calls, texts right after.
Give it a breather and start with a genuine feel of how that person is doing. For example- some of the key business relationships that I have made has manifested in amazing ways after even two or three or even five years.
Can you share a personal story where one networking interaction led to unexpected doors opening, and how it highlights the ripple effect of networking?
Ankoor Dasguupta: I love this question as there are many such stories in my journey. However, to keep it crisp, around 15 years back when I was not in the C-Suite, I had an opportunity to stand with 5 CMOs at an event (where I was a part of the core organizing team) and having a drink. There I realized the conversation that they were having was literally going above my head and I knew the reason.
I did not have the required knowledge about the industry, I was not doing much reading. What I had was my ability to have smooth conversations but knowing the context was not enough unless I understood what senior executives usually talk about when they hang out.
Later that evening I got to spend sometime with one of the CMO leaders, told him my problem statement and he was kind enough to be a guiding light. He told me few things which was not prescriptive and that is what I loved.
He shared some of his similar experieces and told me to choose my path and approach to network better with people, and also gave me key tips such as — Don’t try being genuine. Be genuinely interested.
So, this quick SWOT analysis for myself opened my eyes and I thought to myself “If I am not able to create an impact and hold a conversation with 5 CMOs at one time” then what am I doing? So yes, I started to work on myself in all possible ways and from there it was good to see doors opening easily.
Whenever I wanted a meeting, I pre-worked on my conversation, practicing in front of the mirror as well, knowledge about the subject of the conversation and being more self-aware. This self-awareness is my biggest wisdom gained. Then I started reading voraciously and making notes, which brought in immense confidence.
What are some common networking mistakes people make, and how can they pivot to turn potential missteps into learning experiences?
Ankoor Dasguupta: Mistake 1 | Expectations at first go
When at an event, be it online or offline, try not having an agenda in the first place, unless you have been invited only with a mandatory agenda to follow (which usually is not the case).
The moment you have a specific agenda to talk, it acts against breaking the ice and takes away the human element of connect, which is essential at the first meeting.
If you know that person very well and keep on bumping in at events then it is a different story. If there is a specific business-related discussion, then you have to get a feeler of few things -is the other person interested in standing/sitting with you at that impromptu moment for 10 to 15 mins? If yes, then build on the context rather than directly jumping into business.
Mistake 2 | Non- effective Listening
This is perhaps the pedestal on which networking rests. Simply put, do not be in a rush to speak too many things at one go.
Have a crisp and exciting introduction ready that captures a little bit about you and the essence of ‘what do you solve’ as an organization (incase you work in a company).
Then listen well and do not listen to speak, listen to add value to the conversation.
How do you see the future of networking evolving with the rise of AI, VR, and other technologies?
Ankoor Dasguupta: I recall the times when we launched customized event app years back, which enables people to set up meetings with the attendees, delegates before the event. Algorithms have been there for a while and AI can definitely bring in better and immersive experiences at the physical events for delegates.
However, Sustainability and Green Events is one thing that I advocate. With an increased focus on environmental sustainability, virtual and hybrid events can contribute to reducing the carbon footprint associated with travel.
This shift aligns with the growing awareness of the environmental impact of large-scale physical events. What can enhance this experience is Haptic Feedback and Sensory Experiences. Advancements in haptic technology may allow users to experience touch and other sensory feedback in virtual environments.
This could add a new dimension to virtual networking, making interactions more lifelike and enhancing the overall immersive experience.
Also, if we look at hybrid events, which the future might see a combination of physical and virtual events, creating hybrid experiences that cater to both in-person and remote attendees; this approach allows for flexibility and inclusivity, enabling a broader audience to participate without the constraints of geographical location.
Though, for me, till date, what a phone call or a face-to-face meeting can do, is unprecedented, may be because I love meeting people in real more than in metaverse 🙂
Jerome Knyszewski, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Ankoor Dasguupta for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Ankoor Dasguupta or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
Disclaimer: The ValiantCEO Community welcomes voices from many spheres on our open platform. We publish pieces as written by outside contributors with a wide range of opinions, which don’t necessarily reflect our own. Community stories are not commissioned by our editorial team and must meet our guidelines prior to being published.
