Year-ender 2021: 'Believe in people, their resilience and their creativity' – Gautham Narayanan

An outrageous prediction for 2022?

 

I’ve resisted the temptation to talk about NFTs and the inevitable rise of the new CCO (chief crypto officer) in agencies.

 

My prediction is that culture (and not technology) will be our most effective weapon against the biggest threat we face as an industry, which is the brain drain, (recently dubbed, the great resignation). Whether we like it or not, this will continue. Some may see this as a threat, but I see this as a great opportunity for creative companies to embrace asynchronous working practices and give people more freedom in how, when and from where they interact with employers. Our job is to find the best talent, give them the flexibility to work on their terms, but safeguard emotional well-being and protect them from burnout.

 

W+K’s company-wide week off will continue. Our work from any air policy allows people to escape the Delhi pollution from November to January and work from anywhere in India is here to stay. We’re back in the office to figure out how to not (always) be in the office and we’re very open to working with people anywhere in the country.

 

We need to listen and respond to the changing nature of work and how we look at the emotional and legal contract with a new generation. Failure to do so will have material consequences for the future of our industry. 

 

Year-ender 2021: 'This year has memories that I will always learn and lean back on' – Babita Baruah