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MUMBAI: On an afternoon when most youngsters would have been glued to their TV screens while India?s favourite hero and ace batman, Sachin Tendulkar, created cricketing history -- breaking another world record -- there were over 45 Young Professionals of IAA?s India Chapter and their guests -- all from the field of advertising, brand management, marketing, mass communication and media ? gathered at the NDTV Media Training Centre in Gurgaon to keep their appointment with Sam Balsara. They also had an opportunity to meet and interact with Sam?s young professional daughter Ms Lara Balsara, Business Development & Diversification Manager - Madison India.
Avinash Pandey, Vice President and Head of Revenue ? STAR News & Convener of IAA Young Professionals Chapter, introduced Sam Balsara & Lara Balsara and thanked them for flying in from Bombay to spend time with the IAA YP members.
The audience listened with rapt attention while Sam Balsara and Lara Balsara addressed them in a freewheeling chat of over 90 minutes.
Sam shared anecdotes on his journey till date, right from his childhood days in Bangalore, to getting rejected by IIMs and how he survived the shock of losing 70% of his business overnight. Recalling his experiences with clients, models, actors, producers, he regaled the audience about a time and life that most of the audience found difficultly in believing that, it existed.
Lara, having studied Madison?s actions over the years and having seen what has succeeded, and drawing inspiration from Al Ries, succinctly drew up the 10 Immutable Laws of Madison. The laws ranged from focus, to diversification to the power of PR, to disadvantages - all of which have played a role in the survival and growth of Madison.
