Goafest 2024 Begins with a Bang with Biggest Festival Yet
The Indian and South Asian advertising world descended on Mumbai today to mark the return of Goafest for 2024 – the first instalment to take place away from Goa.
The latest iteration of Goafest is the biggest ever, with over 1,600 attendees across 25 sessions over three days.
The festival’s prestigious ABBY awards also saw a record number of entries, with 273 companies submitting over 3,500 entries.
Since its inception nearly two decades ago, India’s Goafest has placed itself at the centre of the region's diverse and exciting advertising and creative communities.
Having to temporarily relocate from the beachside setting of Goa to the more urban, but equally stunning, surrounds of Mumbai’s Powai Lake has in no way tempered the excitement around this year’s event.
This year’s festival theme is aptly titled ‘Age of Adaptability’, kicking off with a high-impact appearance from international musical legend and Indian national treasure Sukhwinder Singh performing a selection of his much loved hits.
The day's business commenced with Harit Nagpal, managing director and CEO of Tata Play and author of the acclaimed book 'Adapt to Survive’ with a well-considered keynote. In his highly engaging session with a full room, Harit cited his family history to illustrate that our ability to adapt to change was the defining characteristic of prosperity in an ever-changing world.
Declaring “Disruption is the new norm”, Nagal explained that from the internet to AI, each breakthrough is shrinking the gap between disruptions - and we're just getting started. With the parting words, “either you disrupt, or someone else is going to do it for you, and the best time to do it is when you feel the most comfortable!” certainly left the audience with some food for thought.
Effective leadership is a constant across all businesses. As the marketing world continues to evolve based upon the challenges and opportunities of new tech, it's a highly prescient topic for our industry. Sanjiv Mehta, executive chairman of L Catterton India, explored this changing landscape with his thoughtful insights into leading with ‘flexibility and purpose.’
Sanjiv emphasised the importance of innovation with several examples, pointing out that no business progresses in a straight line. He stressed that resilience and adaptability are crucial for organisations to recover and thrive in a constantly changing environment.
He remarked, "Learning happens when you have the humility to say, 'I don't know.'" By admitting this, organisations open themselves to new knowledge and understanding, cultivating a growth mindset that allows them to learn and grow from others' expertise and experiences, rather than focusing solely on profit generation”.
Of course, Mumbai is known for far more than a bustling business hub, with the creative powerhouse of Bollywood located right here. Star power is in focus, and next, we are fortunate to see award-winning writer and film director Tahira Kashyap in conversation with Atika Farooqui, anchor and creative director at Viacom 18. Farooqui shares her personal and intriguing journey with the audience, reinforcing the idea of obstacles as opportunities in any endeavour.
Celebrity host and actor, Tahira shared personal anecdotes and professional experiences, illustrating how resilience and determination have been instrumental in her success. “Women go through hardware upgrades a lot; every day is so different for women, every hour is so different than the previous one," she said, also candidly referring to the books she has written on womanhood and motherhood.
When asked about the various facets of her identity, she smiled, “My identity is no longer defined by my title, but by the relationships I cherish. I take immense pride in being known as a wife, mother, daughter, and Mrs. Kashyap. It's the people in my life who give my existence meaning, and I'm humbled to be seen as a person, not just a professional label.”
Throughout the discussion, she underscored that setbacks are not the end but opportunities for growth and reinvention. With a personal commitment to growth and self-improvement, she embraced the challenges that lay ahead, knowing that her perspective and journey would shape her path.
Her story resonated deeply, offering a compelling reminder that persistence is key to overcoming challenges and achieving long-term success. This session underscored the transformative power of perseverance in turning obstacles into stepping stones
And the glamour doesn’t end there. Day one concluded fittingly, with a session titled Embracing Failure to Touch Success featuring local actress Medha Shankr and actor Vikrant Massey.
Moderated by the multifaceted actor, producer, and entrepreneur Neha Dhupia, the audience was fortunate enough to witness Medha and Vikrant, the cast of the film 12th Fail, enlighten the audience with their insights on embracing failure as a stepping stone towards triumph.
Reflecting on his 21 years in the industry, Vikrant emphasised adaptability, evident from his diverse experiences in television and movies. He stressed that success cannot be understood without acknowledging failure, noting that out of 365 days a year, only 65 are successful. Sharing insights from his latest project, '12th Fail,' which explores themes of familial responsibility and values inspired by Manoj Kumar's vision. Medha, who moved to Mumbai years ago, agreed with Vikrant, emphasising that embracing failure is crucial for growth.
