'Leaders should have the ability to switch off': DDB Mudra Group's Rahul Mathew

A series to end the decade - part four

Dec 03, 2019 05:35:00 AM | Article | Campaign India Team

Campaign India's countdown to the end of the decade will feature leading names from the marketing and communications fraternity. We ask senior executives from the advertising, marketing and media fraternity about the last 10 years and the year to come.

Here's what Rahul Mathew, NCD, DDB Mudra Group, had to say.

One piece of work created by a competitor in the last decade that you wish you had created/worked on?

For me, competition is anyone who makes you want to up your game. And for that I don’t need to look outside of the DDB network. Almost all of the work on John Lewis has always left me wishing I had created it. But my all time favourite would be last year’s Elton John commercial. It moved a hard-assed person like me to tears.

If hindsight is 20/20, what is the one thing that you could have done differently in the last decade?

I would have spoken more about all that we’ve done and achieved. We’ve had quite the year. Right from the work we’ve done, the awards we’ve won, the kind of clients we now partner to what our talented bunch has achieved.

One skill that you would want to pick up in 2020 and why?

The ability to switch off. I think it’s a very important skill for a leader to have. It’s what enables you to revisit stuff with a fresher perspective. And also helps you preserve your mind and body to be able to do more.