With another weekend upon us, it’s the time to unwind with some tete-e-tete that peeks into the mind of a corporate executive. An attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better, by having them share their nuggets on life and their mantras to deal with the curveballs that life throws - not necessarily revolving around work life - and sometimes going beyond work.
This week we have Bindu Balakrishnan, who leads DCMN’s operations and expansion in the Indian market, shares her musings and thoughts with IndianTelevision.com. Bindu also heads DCMN India’s offline and online marketing experts, while also being responsible for client strategy, bridging customer needs and commercial operations. An alumna of the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode, Balakrishnan has over 15 years of experience in marketing, mobile attribution and sales, and has worked across the Netherlands, Germany and India.
Here it goes:
Your mantra for Life
Do good for others and good things will come back to you.
A book you are currently reading/ plan to read
I love reading, but often don’t have time to do so. Recently, I enjoyed Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari.
Your fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic
Long walks with my dog, Loki.
Your comfort food
Comfort food is always one’s mother’s cooking. For me, that’s South Indian food and the dishes I grew up on.
When the chips are down a quote/ philosophy that keeps you going
Not to be put down by failures, because something better is always waiting right around the corner.
Your guilty pleasure
Playing games online, specifically crosswords, puzzles, and the New York Times’ Wordle. It helps me to switch off!
When was the last time you tried something new?
It’s been a while since I’ve tried something new, which makes me think it’s about time to be more spontaneous! One memory that sticks out is going dune bashing in Dubai, a form of off-roading in 4X4s across the sand. It was like being in the ocean, but with pristine dunes instead of water.
A life lesson you learnt the hard way
To accept that some people aren’t a good fit within your team, and let them go when you know it isn’t working out. When I haven’t listened to my gut, this has sometimes backfired and led to bigger problems.
What gets you excited about life?
Family, friends, travelling, food and movies.
What’s on top of your bucket list?
Going to Machu Picchu and skydiving - not necessarily at the same time!
One thing you would most like to change about the world
Putting an end to child poverty. It pains me to see children around the world not having the same access to food, water, education and opportunities in life. My dream, when I retire, is to start a small orphanage, or home, for children who have been abandoned or lost their parents.
An activity that keeps you motivated / charged during tough times
Working with forward-thinking brands, and the impact and growth that DCMN has on our clients. It’s hugely rewarding to have worked with many clients on their way to becoming unicorns or to IPOs.
What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?
Spending time with family and friends, and travelling somewhere new.
Your go-to stress buster
Taking my dog Loki for a walk in nature, where I can let him loose, is the ultimate way to clear my head.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Not to fret over things unnecessarily, because there is a bigger plan for you and things will always fall into place.
