Avinash Pandey: Passion for networking, compartmentalisation, unwavering delegation skills

A note on Avinash is incomplete without the mention of Atideb Sarkar, Uday Shankar and Peter Mukherjea; however, to see the connect amongst the above, you will have to read the note in its entirety as it has been personally penned down with absolutely no use of the (very in-vogue) ChatGPT or any active AI tool ?.

So here goes! It was around the mid of February when Avinash and I were on a flight to Mumbai. Business as usual – we discussed the upcoming IAA conference in Penang to be held in the first week of March – which happened to be clashing with the Annual FICCI Frames conference in Mumbai simultaneously – which in turn was conflicting with a lecture that Avinash had to deliver at Stanford around the same time. And before all of these there was the ABP annual Ideas of India scheduled for the end February, which meant another trip to Mumbai the following week. So, it was Delhi / Mumbai / Delhi /Mumbai / Delhi/ California / Penang / Delhi – all in a span of 10 days - This is Avinash for you: an avid traveler – who wouldn’t miss a lecture or a speaking opportunity for the moon!

Having known Avinash for almost two decades, the 3 Characteristics that define him - and I can attest to - are his passion for Networking, Compartmentalisation of the mind and unwavering Delegation skills.

As we grow older, we get greedier - we want all our ventures to succeed, we want to collaborate with every interesting person we meet, we want to explore every opportunity that comes our way, and we want to be the best version of ourselves. Avinash Pandey's career is a testament to the above.

There would be no interaction with Avinash without the mention of anecdotes of Uday, from the formative years of Star, and even Peter, i.e., 2000-2005 and how hugely empowered Peter was on creating the Star Network. A similarity that Avinash enjoyed with the Sarkars on establishing the ABP Network with complete autonomy & authority. A common element that binds all of them would be Star News which went on to become the ABP News Network. Another element, albeit more important, that binds them all is their style of management and corporate pedigree. An example of these qualities that reflect on both Avinash and Atideb are the highest level of etiquettes and gestures - every single meet at the ABP offices, I have always been welcomed upon entry and personally escorted to the door, a gesture that reflects their values, and something that I have imbibed, passing it on to all my colleagues at Chrome DM. I witnessed first-hand Avinash’s dedication to fostering meaningful relationships and staying at the forefront of industry trends. His global perspective and ability to build a vast network have been invaluable assets throughout his career.

The second attribute is Compartmentalisation of the mind – One key challenge that we all face is to be in the moment. When we meet someone, that person should get your full attention, that’s Avinash. When in office, at an event or while presenting at IAA, he is fully there in the moment. As the demands on one’s time grow, this is literally the most efficient way to operate.

The third skill is Delegation – We all have different styles of management, but what I see in Avinash is his remarkable ability for delegation. He knows the right questions to ask and when to let go – which eventually leads to trusting teams and empowering them to take ownership of their responsibilities hence fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration. This management style has been a key factor in the success of the initiatives he has led. His keen understanding of the media landscape and knowing which side of the toast is buttered always helped in making strategic decisions that ensured success and growth. His ability to identify opportunities and leverage them to the network's advantage is a hallmark of his leadership.

As business leaders, we need to be fully in charge of the big picture - that’s our end game. However, you can’t do it all. Our team is as good as our weakest player. And the only way to keep improving, as a team, is to give everyone a role, and the space & time to flourish. Things may not work at times. But over time, this is a sure shot way to ensure growth & improvement as a team, and more importantly, a smart way to find time for yourself to focus on the big picture!

No note is complete with a mention of an area of improvement or a scope for growth – So to wrap up what I firmly believe that we all need to actively invest in is our Health. We are what we eat – how much we eat and when we eat… This goes out for all my friends and everyone, in fact – as a result of which I have founded an Initiative called “Nature Bright” - Aligning with nature. Avinash has been part of my WhatsApp groups but I do not see him actively participating in this as yet ?. In a gist – Sleep early - start early. Spend your mornings doing things that are good for your soul - yoga, gym, chai with folks, time with the family, eat when hungry – eat only when hungry – skip meals at times – have some fresh juice - avoid gadgets or screens in the mornings, until it's time to leave home.  

Cheers to a New Beginning, which we shall soon hear of… Avinash Pandey - as he embarks on a new chapter and the media world eagerly anticipates his next steps… and cheers to all the stallworths –  Uday (who is leading India’s biggest media and entertainment empire), Atideb (who continues to implement a professional environment with the highest levels of corporate governance at ABP News Network) and Peter (a very dear friend now – who lives up each day in his very beautiful river-facing villa in Goa).

*All views on the people mentioned are limited to their professional career or corporate lives, nothing to do with anything outside the industry.