6 young ad professionals from India make it to AFAA’s training programme, Fasttrack 2018 at Malaysia

Each year the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA) & Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) select working ad professionals from across Asian nations for a professional excellence training programme called Fasttrack.

In India, Fasttrack 2018, presented a brief to all agencies calling young professionals under 30 years of age. The brief had a set of questions falling under the topic: Content, amplification, innovation, creativity in a competitive technology-driven world.

Bharat Avalani, Chief Knowledge Officer of AFAA, shares the story of how Fasttrack came to life.

“The AFAA in 2013 commissioned a programme to give young talent a boost personally and professionally to lead them to make a quantum leap in their careers. To date 164 participants from 10 countries have benefited from the program. 33 bright and rising stars from Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Macau, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka participated in the 6th Edition of the AFAA Fasttrack in Kuala Lumpur from 6th to 8th August 2018. It feels good to see saplings grow into trees. This is one great initiative by AFAA that has helped many young talents to rise dramatically in their organizations and take on roles disproportionate to their level of seniority. I am personally proud of what the Fasttrackers have become and are becoming.”

Bharat Avalani

(Chief Knowledge Officer, AFAA)

We caught up with the six young ad professionals and asked them to pen down their experience. Here’s what they said:

“I thoroughly enjoyed brainstorming with participants from other nationalities, preparing a presentation overnight, being mentored by senior professionals from Malaysia and participating in all the training sessions. The lessons I learned at Fasttrack 2018 will stay with me forever. Thanks to AFAA for this fantastic platform and an unforgettable experience.”

Sheldon D'souza

(Copywriter at Ogilvy)

“Fasttrack was a surreal, once-in-a-lifetime experience. We learned a lot in the 3 days we spent there, not just about communication, but also ourselves. The people we met there made a huge impact on us. A heartfelt thank you to STACA for this opportunity, and to AFAA and 95% for the incredible programme.”

Atreyi Nag

(Senior Account Executive at Soho Square)

“I don’t like to use superlatives like “life changing” and “transformative”, but even as a copywriter, I lack for better words. A beautifully organised programme that brings together personal and professional in a way that can be only be defined as pure brilliance.”

Adyasha Roy Tomar

(Copy Supervisor at Ogilvy)

“Fasttrack has been an experience like no other. It has given me a new perspective on life, and made me sit back and think a little more vs constantly doing more. As a professional, it has allowed me to liberate my thoughts. Compassion vs. passion, may the former win.”

Ria Agnihotri

(Associate Vice President at Geometry Encompass)

“Call it magical, transformational or a revelation; I call it Fasttrack 2018. It is not often that you learn and work with 35 people from 10 different countries in a span of three days. Different mindsets, different values, different beliefs but one single industry that unites us all, the communications business. An experience and learning that gave me real perspective on life.”

Hesham Choudhary

(Account Manager at WATConsult - Dentsu Aegis Network)

“Fasttrack helped me untie many knots and form a better relationship with myself. Learning from the trainers and interacting with fellow professionals from different countries was a truly remarkable experience, one that I will always cherish.”

Sanketa Kapse

(Strategist at DDB Mudra)