Ad land’s Young Guns: Sahil Shah, WATConsult

Featured in this edition of Ad land’s Young Guns is Sahil Shah, AVP - Operations, WATConsult. Shah began his career as a Social Media Executive at WATConsult. He was promoted to his current role of AVP – Operations in April 2015.

What does it takes to climb up the ladder in advertising? Here’s Sahil Shah in his own words...

How did you get into the role you are serving?
It’s a long story! I (straight out of college) started off about seven years ago as a Social Media Executive at WATConsult and through the years grew into the shoes of an AVP. Some key people, clients, dedication and on-off the job learning facilitated the process.

What particular skill sets do you think you bring to the table?
Key things I bring forth are – Deep analytical skills, Long term & strategic planning (internal & client based), Unexcelled knack for numbers & data, Ability to forecast, Effective execution skills, Problem Solving & also the fact that I am aware I work with ‘People’.

One campaign that you have worked on that you are particularly proud of? Please take us through the making of the campaign.
I believe and will always do that I am still to do that one impeccable piece of work that truly makes a difference, a behavioural change in the world! In bits and piece, maybe, I have done it with certain campaigns across clients, but still there is just so much hunger to do much, much more.

While working on the creatives how do you prepare yourself? What goes on in your mind?
I think the best way to work on campaign planning is to see it from the eyes of the receiver. Big or small, every creative, every campaign, every communication a brand has with its consumer, for me it just has to ask this one simple question – “Will this make sense to the consumer?”

Icons in advertising you look up to and how they have influenced you and your work?
I give at least 30 minutes of my day’s labour to this. Love to catch up on every piece of work done by the greats as well as the unknowns. Whatever inspires! And to think of it, whatever I consume has some or the other glimpse of it in my work or to a great extent on who I am.

What are the five most productive things that you do in your everyday routine?

• Read.
• Get Inspired.
• Plan.
• Involve.
• Analyse.

*In the same order throughout the day*

Do you think a career in advertising is a viable one in the long term?
Yes! Career in everything is viable if you are excited.

What does it take to succeed in a career like advertising?
Passion to do something special with the power to communicate in your hands.

What would be your advice to youngsters planning to enter this industry?
Just be super stoked about entering into a new world of communication and everything else will follow.

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
Wiser. Healthier. Richer. *Not necessarily in the same order*

Is there any agency/ organisation that you would like to work with in the future?
Any platform that helps me drive a home run is more than good.