Barsha Panda Advisory Services
I spot and deconstruct patterns of leadership, culture and stories; and help people, orgs and ideas become powerful brands.
Here, I share my points of view on business, technology, creativity, political economy and the occasional travel and food story.
Contact me, for enquiries.
Don't rush into rushing.
Rush is neither effective nor cool. It is a self-delusional belief that people have about getting something done faster.
Except that "the something" that comes from that kind of fast is never the thing you really were after. It is either poor quality or doesn't fully work. Or it meets a terribly low baseline that nobody is happy with.
Rick Rubin’s ‘The Creative Act’
One of my most fascinating discoveries from last year is Rick Rubin’s book “The Creative Act: A Way of Being”. In a world obsessed with productivity and productivity hacks, this book is breathtakingly audacious as it deconstructs creativity instead - how we humans ‘truly create something new’ by manifesting an impulse, a thought or an idea into being.
A Case for Reclusive Creation
The worst thing about the deluge of information that surrounds us is the sense that everything worth making is already getting made - but by someone else. And what we build will only be incremental.
Logic and Magic
The core problem with many marketers is that they chose to do marketing because they didn’t like maths and sciences, and not because they loved marketing.
Because to be a really good marketer, essentially you need both Logic and Magic.
Purpose, on the path of survival.
When you “have to” work to survive, you are a far sharper observer of how the world really works. Because that experience is “lived”, not learnt in the classroom. You are clear what works for your survival, and what you’d absolutely change in your world to sustain it.
WFH is making conversations real. Here is why it matters to business.
So many things have emerged from the WFH situation. The good, the bad, the ugly, and the yet unlabelled. Among them, one small pattern of culture is also emerging and could have huge implications in future - people have normalised being their natural selves, rather than following the template of the 'Perfect Professional Prototype'. Is this good for work? Or business overall? Here’s my point of view on it.
Is Dove too ‘soft’ on taking a stance for women?
In the weeks leading up to this year’s Women's Day, brands turn to their seasonal strategy of weaving women empowerment themes into ads. Few get this right. But it is especially surprising when brands such as Dove, preferred mostly by women, get it so wrong.
Is social media making marketers and storytellers tone-deaf?
As social media surrounds our lives, as marketers and story-tellers, we run a huge risk of developing tone-deafness. My take on how this may hit all of us (not just Pepsi) and why we need to watch out.
What my fitness journey taught me: ‘showing up’ is THE thing!
I reached a personal best of doing a 75 kilos deadlift for the first time a little while back. 15 months before that, I'd have laughed at the idea. My journey showed me the way to build up from basics - no rush, no crazy goals, no competitive strategies. A clear focus only on showing up, every single session - something common to the worlds of business and fitness. Which btw, as a goal, wasn’t easy at all. And working with a trainer who’s focused on doing the right things. And who went on become my coach and mentor - Laura Rogers. For all you professionals who want to be fit, but wonder if their day has time for it. Trust me, it does
Who is the Venus to your Serena?
The difference between random, default competition and pitting yourself against a worthy benchmark is immense. The first leads to a zero-sum game and the latter to incredible growth. Serena William's unforgettable response to a journalist is the trigger for this story. Tell me what you think.
Meet Jean, the parrot.
Was testing Blue Jeans today for a call. Guess who I met?
Remembering Tony.
Three years back in June, we lost Anthony Bourdain. The unforgettable, inimitable Tony. It is strange to feel so much for someone so far away from your life. But that was the power of his personal brand. He made 'being real' cool. He made 'outsiders' feel included.
Roland-Garros had a great brand opportunity, but they missed.
There’s no better way for an individual or a brand to emerge as a leader than by taking a risk. When you go out boldly, grapple with the new reality and understand a problem in the space-time it belongs to - you lead. Roland-Garros's response to Naomi Osaka was a huge brand miss. They appeared outdated and out-of-touch with reality. Here's my point-of-view (6 minute read / listen) on how they could have done better; and what learning that has for brands - people, organizations and ideas - in a creative economy.
Political brands are the most difficult to sustain.
Was reading a profile on Hassan Rouhani, the outgoing Iranian president, in the Middle East Eye. On his long political rise and now decline. While interesting in itself, what jumped at me in the story is the meta: that political brands are the most difficult to sustain.