Leadership often varies in form and technique, but a leader’s influence remains unparalleled. Behind every successful business, there is a leader who put forward his visionary concepts into actions. Strong leadership is about lifting the company’s vision to high sights, raising performance to higher standard and building organization beyond its normal limitations. Leadership is the belief that people can make a positive difference in the world for customers, colleagues, and the organization. One such inspiring leader is Uday Zokarkar who believes in co-creating value on a sustainable basis and making a positive difference.
Fascinated by Media and its characteristics, Uday has worked on the business side of media for more than two decades. In December 2008; he founded Mantra Media Pvt. Ltd which is leading digital business company that provides end to end solutions leveraging the Internet and Mobile Media platform. It focuses on leveraging the strength of this New Age Medium while integrating it with traditional media such as Print & Broadcast.
Making Splash in the Business World
Before founding Mantra Media, Uday gave his fruitful contribution to various reputed companies. Uday worked with Consim Info Pvt. Ltd. (brands such as BharatMatrimony.com and Clickjobs.com) for three and half years. During his stint with the company and as a part of the senior management team, Consim went through two rounds of VC funding and secured almost USD 20 million from Yahoo Inc., Canaan Partners and Mayfield Inc. of USA.
As a Business Head of BharatMatrimony.com, he aggressively worked on growing the revenues of the company at the rate of 100% plus on yearly basis. He spearheaded the project of BharatMatrimony Centers to set up 110 brick and mortar centers within a period of one year.
In the US, he co-founded Mantram Magazine, a business, technology and lifestyle magazine targeting the South Asians in America. “Launching a Business, Technology and Lifestyle magazine in the US in record time was a very interesting and challenging assignment”, says Uday. “Establishing “Mantram as one of the most respected Brands in its relevant target segment was a success at that time”, asserts Uday.
He also acquired exclusive rights of advertising of the highly sensational India – Pakistan Cricket- Series for the US market, when Team India visited Pakistan in the year 2004. Uday also has worked with the Times of India Group (India’s largest media conglomerate) in M.P. the market as Response Head.
About Mantra Media and Core Areas of Works
Mantra Media works with its clients to reach out to their relevant target audiences and helps them to monetize Business Strategies and online business models. The company offers Digital Marketing Solutions, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Web Solutions including Website Designing and Development, Social Media Marketing, Internet Business Consulting and much more. Mantra Media has developed India’s first virtual property fair for CREDAI (Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India, formerly PBAP) Pune.
Mantra Media works with companies on the following aspects
- Digital Business Strategy
- Designing Digital Revenue Models
- Digital Transformation of the Organization
- ROI and P & L for Digital Initiatives
- Digital Media Promotion and Strategy
- Product Development like Customized CRM
- Start-ups and/or Early Stage Companies
- Social Media Management and Promotion
Mantra Media has been working with clients across India, USA, Canada, UK and other International markets. Under the leadership of Uday, Mantra Media is working with some of the top brands as well as startups in India. The deliverables from Mantra Media are measureable in terms of ROI and Profit & Loss, and this is what separates the Mantra from the competitors.
Some Valuable Insights from Uday’s Desk
Uday believes that it’s the ‘People’ in any organization that makes the difference. “Competition can catch up with you in any area of business but the only differentiating factor is going to be – the people, as competition cannot have the same set of people”, says Uday. While working with his clients, he believes in sitting and working along the side and not on the other side of the table, thereby demonstrating the ownership of tasks and strategy.
The challenge of handling or doing something new keeps Uday motivated all the time. “Any challenges for my clients motivate me to find effective solutions”, says Uday. Uday believes that that idea may come from anyone or from anywhere. “Ideas are not monopolies, so experiment and give it a try. It’s all about Possibilities”, adds Uday. Chanakya and Swami Vivekananda inspire him in many ways. “Both were futuristic and had higher goals. One is known for Strategy and other for Spirituality, says Uday”
Words with Wisdom
If budding entrepreneurs were to take a leaf out of Uday’s life, what would it be? Keep innovating; keep delivering value so that people or market will follow you. Uday advices to budding entrepreneurs, “Once you have identified an opportunity or solution to a problem, just get going and just do it. At the end, it is all about Possibilities. You may hear from many that it will not work or it’s a bad idea. But, you just continue with your conviction and passion and keep working on it”
Future Filled with Success
Mantra Media will continue to work with Start-ups, Early Stage Companies, and Brands and Companies who are looking to grow their Revenue or Value-Pie by using Digital Business Strategy. “We see ourselves continue to ‘Co-Create Value’ for our clients and contribute to their growth and make a positive difference”, says Uday.
Mantra Media aspires to work with its clients and create another Billion Dollar Brand or company that can make a huge impact in its relevant market segment. Mantra Media has done this before and will continue to work towards it.
Source :-The 30 Influential Business Leaders to Watch in 2019
