Wow! Twenty Years…From painted backdrops to dynamic LEDs, from socializing to going social, from executing events to crafting unforgettable experiences –what a long way we’ve come. Reminiscing on the evolution of brand Phase 1through its two-decade journey is a truly overwhelming experience.
I started out as a stage-lights-and-sound-smitten individual who was passionate about theater, entertainment and the arts. Musicals made my nerves tingle with awe and excitement.The experience of live-delight was something I just couldn’t shake off my mind. I was privileged to be part of the CATS ensemble where I was exposed to artistry and entertainment in its ultimate form. Moving on, after college, I joined Godrej for a four-year stint which was a phenomenally positive experience. It was then when I had the crystallized clarity that I wanted to create something that would seamlessly blend my passion for entertainment with the business world.
The journey from a little dream to now has been nothing short of spectacular. We conceptualized and executed ‘Hollywood’, one of India’s oldest New Year party brands, on the very first year of Phase 1’s inception. We went on to conduct the first Tech Ed event in India with Microsoft, piloted the concept of employees as the talent on stage, and were one of the earliest players in the market to do international events! Over the years, we’ve nurtured long-lasting relationships with exclusive clients across various industry verticals including IT, Automobiles, FMCG, Life & Style, Infrastructure, Pharma, and Retail. Our relationship with Prestige, Titan, UB and most notably Novell goes back a long way and there’s a perpetually growing bucket of new partners and clients who continue to inspire us. We value these relationships above all andare truly privileged to work with some of the best brands in the industry.
As with any other business, we’ve had our fair share of elating ups and over castdowns – but what we have now as a cumulative result of these twenty years,is a rich, sophisticated, legacy-leaving body of work that we can’t be more proud of! If there is one thing I would attribute our growth to as an organization, it’s got to be the potent mix of our skilled people who are the real catalysts of our success, along with our dream big and never-fail-to-deliver attitude. Phase 1 is an intimate hub of leaders – of dreamers and doers – who breathe the brand and its values. With some of the best from the talent pool onboard with us, we are able to consistently step out of line, take calculated risks, challenge convention and do things differently. Our success story of two decades can therefore be summed as a story of constant adaptation and revision and change – where the focus has been on staying relevant at all times.
We’re all set to create new benchmarks in the industry with a focus on exponential growth, radical innovation and embracing digital in totality. Our vision is to be the leaders in crafting unique and engaging experiences in the smartest form, anywhere in the world. An exciting venture we’re invested in at the moment involves creating a never-seen-before interplay between creativity, technology and brand experiences.We’re living in a fast-changing digital world of hashtags, clicks, taps and apps – digital is dominating the zeitgeist of our time and we’re ready to exploit its full potential.
Phase 1 has also developed a strategic focus on becoming a purpose-driven organization with CSR and employee happiness at the center of our focus. We are changing the very nature of our work to become more collaborative, constructive and cohesive and have a specialized team of ‘Funsultants’ and Chief Happiness Officers constituted this year to create a culture of wellness, inspire our people and infuse a spirit of joy within the everyday framework of our organization.
Our two-decade stint meets yet another milestone event that’s dedicated to each and every one in the Phase 1 team. We’ve relocated to a spanking new studio – a fluid and visceral space that blends work with play and offers a stunning view of the Bangalore metro.
I want to thank all those wonderfully special people who have helped me, stood by me and nurtured my crazy impulses through this journey. I’m unabashedly expressive with the ones I love, so they know exactly who they are.Our clients for their unfaltering faith in me. My family for being my biggest source of strength and for having my back at all times. My beautiful wife for always believing – it’s a privilege to share my life with her; and my kids who are my biggest assets, for teaching me more about myself and for making me a better person everyday.
Let the good times roll.
(The article has been extracted from BW APPLAUSE)
