Redefining business of communication

She recently received the first ever ‘Best Telecom Brand Marketer’ at the 6th National Telecom Awards-2012, organised by the Communication Media Association of India (CMAI) - the apex organisation promoting Indian IT and Telecom sector. She happens to be the first and youngest Odia woman to represent an Information Communication Technology (ICT)  delegation in Korean electronic show. This apart, she has been nominated as the ‘Young Evangelist in ICT’ for the PSU’s in India by Sinoces, China.  New Delhi-based branding expert Rupa Dash is fast making a mark for herself in the global advertising market. Born and brought-up in Odisha, 27-year-old Rupa is currently the business head of Percept Ltd, India’s leading entertainment, media and communications conglomerate.Considering the fast growing tele-communication sector in the country, Rupa believes that “Roti, Kapda, Makaan and Connectivity have become a necessity for the people of the country today.”She says there has been a huge convergence of technology, media and telecom, which is why she aims at making communication business in the country more engaging. “I am working closely with ICT Councils of South Korea and China for importing best branding practices in the communication industry,” she says.Not just the tele-communication industry, Rupa has designed an array of media properties. Besides conceptualising the 3G and Wi-Max services, she designed the launch of Hayabusa and conceptualised the global premieres of Warner Brothers’ Hollywood flicks in India.On her achievements, Rupa says: “I belong to an industry where ideas are never repeated. Hence, everyday for me is challenging and rewarding at the same time.”As a brand manager, Rupa has worked with Abhishek Bachchan,  Farhan Akhtar, Deepika Padukone, Aamir Khan, Shane Watson and Shane Warne, to name a few. She has also designed the Bihar Sudhar Prasashanik Mission of Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar and Vibrant Gujarat drive of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.However, getting into the industry was not an easy task for her. “Nothing in my life ever happened to me by chance, it was rather by choice. I come from a family where my grandparents and great grandparents all have been doctors of repute. It was obvious for my parents to think that I too will follow in their footsteps. But from my childhood I was always a communication person, in fact, more of a people’s person. I had the inborn quality to convince and sell ice-cream to Eskimos. However, convincing them was not easy, but they gradually agreed,” says Rupa.She did her schooling from Stewart School, Cuttack and holds a masters degree in Strategic Communication in International Business from Indian Institute of  Foreign Trade, New Delhi.  Prior to that, she completed her PG in Media & Advertising from National Institute of Advertising & Media, New Delhi.