Thursday, 12 December 2013 00:00
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Forty-nine aspirers from GroupM Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka gathered at the agency’s local premises recently to participate in a South Asia Training (SAT) program. As a leading operator in a knowledge intensive market, the multinational has in place its own talent development network for the Asia Pacific region.
Aspire is a network driven by GroupM’s own specialists to deliver best practice learning interventions for over 6,000 colleagues across its agencies Mindshare, Maxus, MEC, MediaCom and Motivator. While Aspire comprises four dedicated trainers, its value is compounded by over 500 past and present training leaders and trained subject matter experts from within the GroupM ranks. In keeping with holding company WPP guidelines, GroupM’s new premises includes a dedicated 100 capacity training and recreation zone, where the SAT took place.
Top trainers
Three Aspire trainers arrived in Sri Lanka to conduct SAT 2013. Zubin Tatna, once voted Training Leader of the Year and currently National Strategic Planning Director at GroupM Media India, has driven the company’s training agenda for close to seven years. Partner, Client Leadership at GroupM Media India, Brajesh Dwivedi has dedicated the last five years to the Aspire community.
Together Zubin and Brajesh focused on the ‘Building Client Relationships’ and ‘Media Strategy’ segments of the program. The delivery included identifying and practicing skills to improve client relationships as well as challenging and improving information in client briefs in order to develop robust strategies and achieve stronger results for the brand.
Sanjana Shirke, Senior Director Learning and Development, GroupM Media India provided guidance on Presenting with Confidence and Performance Management. Sanjana brings 13 years of advertising experience and is trained in Executive Coaching. She tackled the finer points in communication that allow media specialists to effectively convey their research, analysis and plans to clients from various industries. The program also encompassed the development of soft skills in managing people issues and attitudes, providing appreciative feedback, situational leadership and performance standards.
Opportunity for employees
“We are delighted to be the preferred market to host various South Asia training meets this year. As a result, many of the budding GroupM Sri Lanka employees received an opportunity to be a part of the sessions and were able to network among their peers and colleagues across our South Asia network. After a detailed analysis, we managed to identify a few key topics which needed immediate attention. Further we are extremely proud to have a pool of Aspire trainers who we could tap in to when needed. We intend to and will continue this momentum in the future too,” said Sabry Haniz, COO of GroupM Sri Lanka.
As the global number one media investment management group, GroupM places emphasis on the acquisition and development of talent with the potential to fill evolving leadership positions.
