At the age of 25, Preksha, is running a creative agency and heading a team of 20 people.
What’s your story?
Running a creative agency can mean many things to all sorts of people. For me, it is the opportunity to create a world where I do not get bogged down in the numbers game and create digital experiences that are nothing short of perfect for the brands we partner with.
I do not wish to be in league with the likes of Steve Jobs, where the brand’s story starts and ends with one man. Charisma like his will help me attract people but it’s the stability akin to Sheryl Sandberg (COO, Facebook Inc.,) that would help the company maintain relationships and that is what I am in for. I believe it is my responsibility to create a culture of self-growth and leave behind a legacy of delivering perfection so that digital advertising utopia becomes not only a possibility but a habit.
I’ve always wanted to try new and different things and being a digital media agency in the era of the internet, made every little impossible, possible. Life as an entrepreneur has been crazy, exciting, and incredibly satisfying. I work with some of the greatest, most creative minds I have ever come across, and together we design, redesign, and innovate to create an effective digital presence for brands.
What excites you most about your industry?
The fact that every day is new and knowing nothing you can still learn everything. Everything is a clean slate. If tomorrow I want to be a graphic designer I can be a graphic designer or if I want to be a copywriter, I can be a copywriter. What excites me about my industry is this flexibility. You can do whatever you want to do. The opportunities are endless and you don’t have to confine yourself to one thing. You can just keep on exploring.
What’s your connection to Asia?
I was born and raised in Mumbai and have lived and worked here ever since. I started my
company in the same city, making Asia both my home and my office.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
Singapore and Hong Kong. Keeping in mind the new business I plan to venture into, these two have a huge scope!
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
Having faith in yourself and nobody can take away from you what you have achieved.
Who inspires you?
For me, more than who inspires me is what inspires me. No one person can keep on inspiring you. The fact that I am 25 and heading a team of 20 people who constantly look up to me to guide and mentor them, inspires me. I am trying to figure out my way every day. Getting my team going, making them better in what they do is challenging for me but at the end of the day my greatest inspiration and strength.
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
Just a few days back someone told me that you can lift a 120-pound man with your fingers! That shocked me but am not sure if that counts here ;). We live in the era of internet and nothing is really shocking anymore. Recently, a video of a 19-year-old Indian girl winking at a boy went insanely viral and got more followers on Instagram than Mark Zuckerberg. So, I don’t think anything shocks me anymore.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
Give more credit to myself!
Entrepreneurs are obviously not 9-5 people. But I definitely think I should have had better work life balance which would have given me more time to pursue the things I could do to enhance myself. Just like Jack Ma says, what you do post work and before work is just as important in your careers as what you do during your work time. It basically helps you build yourself. So, if I had to do things differently I would strike work and personal life balance.
How do you unwind?
It’s not scheduled but can be called as my regular jane. I enjoy food so my way of unwinding is cooking. It’s therapeutic to me. I truly enjoy the process. My ideal unwinding would involve me cooking a nice homemade meal, sitting and eating it by myself. I have to interact with so many people on a daily basis so at the end of the day I want some me time and that’s the best way to unwind.
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
Bali.
Everyone in business should read this book:
I am not the kind person who’s a book nerd. I want to! It would make me smarter, wiser, and more intellectual. But when I start reading I zone out. It’s like the book has to be really, really good to grab my attention. If I was to recommend one book I have read it would be ‘Steal Like An Artist’.
Shameless plug for your business:
Introducing our clients to the world they only thought was utopian!
How can people connect with you?
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prekshaseth/
Twitter handle?
@PrekshaSeth Although you will hardly find me there. How about Instagram: instagram.com/prekshaseth
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This interview is part of the ‘Callum Connect’ series of more than 500 interviews
Callum Laing is an entrepreneur and investor based in Singapore. He has previously started,
built and sold half a dozen businesses and is now a Partner at Unity-Group Private Equity and Co-Founder of The Marketing Group PLC. He is the author two best selling books ‘Progressive Partnerships’ and ‘Agglomerate’.
Connect with Callum here:
twitter.com/laingcallum
linkedin.com/in/callumlaing
Download free copies of his books here: www.callumlaing.com
