McCanners of New York: Meghna Rajaram
Welcome to 'McCanners of New York', a series that delves into the lives of the talent behind McCann New York's greatest work. Featuring employees across departments and various roles, this series is an exploration of their personal stories, side-hustles, passions and the projects they cherish.
'McCanners of New York' offers a glimpse into the lives of these talented advertisers, showcasing both their professional and personal journeys.
In this edition, we’re getting to know Meghna Rajaram, director global rights management.
Q> Why did you decide to pursue a career in Advertising?
Meghna> I actually began my career in the music industry having received my bachelors in vocal performance and music business management from Berklee College of Music. I received a LinkedIn message from an HR recruiter at McCann while working at a Music Digital Distributions company and was searching for my next endeavour, and that’s honestly how I made the switch!
Q> Outside of work, do you have any personal interests or hobbies that you're particularly passionate about? Has this hobby/passion influenced your work in advertising at all?
Meghna> Yes, I’m a Bollywood singer! I travel and tour for shows and performances around the country. I have been singing since I was a child and can sing in over 10 languages. I have performed for Bollywood legends like Asha Bhonsle, Bappi Lahiri, Sukhwinder Singh, Shankar Mahadevan, Latin Grammy Awar winning Producer Javier Limon, and many others. I recently opened for the Afif Aslam show in Arizona.
Q> Can you share a project or campaign you've worked on that you're particularly proud of?
Meghna> I think the project I’m most proud of was the surprise RFP we had for the Coca-Cola account. It’s an account McCann has had for almost 14 years, and we were hit with a surprise RFP. Having been recently promoted to leading the Global Rights Management team for Coca-Cola, this was a huge responsibility to ensure we fought to keep the contract. And with many long days and early mornings, I worked alongside upper management to craft the perfect pitch to retain the business. I was part of the presentation to the Coke clients, and it was a very nerve-wracking experience. But having been a member of the team for over seven years, I was confident in my knowledge of the work, and was thrilled when we won the contract!
Q> What advice would you give to someone aspiring to pursue a career in advertising, especially at a large agency like McCann?
Meghna> There are SO many unique roles and positions at advertising agencies that are dependent upon the nature of the brand and requirements. I would advise any aspiring advertiser not to limit yourself with one sole focus but be open-minded to understand all facets of advertising and all the work that goes into creating a production or marketing campaign for a brand. Advertising is a huge space with opportunities for all kinds of people, so take time to explore all aspects that go into advertising.
Q> What is your favourite area in NYC and why?
Meghna> Favourite area is and will always be Brooklyn, where I lived 😊 My favourite view is the view looking over water to the city and the river when walking either the Brooklyn or Williamsburg bridges.
Q> If you could recommend one hidden gem in NYC that not many people know about, what would it be?
Meghna> Hidden Gem: There’s a really nice, hidden lunch area in FiDi off of Pearl St. that has this large, open green field where you can eat or take a nap, all while enjoying views of the river and all the helicopters landing and taking off at the helipad. It’s so beautiful and the area is so calming and peaceful. My fave spot to eat when I’m downtown!
