The Start Up Buzz- 31st October, 2009. Hotel Capitol, Bangalore.

-By Ronita Mukerjee

So, waking up on a Saturday morning and worse, dressing up in formals (something that I never do during the week!) is certainly not my idea of an ideal weekend. Add to that, you spent the previous night doing crazy shots and challenging your friends on who can finish that can of beer faster!
Moving on….I reached the destination a little ahead of time just to get a sense of the place and the people attending the event.  I was immediately recognized by the event coordinator and allowed to skip the long meandering queue and I was directly shown to my seat. There was this neatly made placard-“Idea Spice Design Pvt Ltd. Ronita Mukerjee.Brand Consultant”. Hmm….. I started to think, “Not bad!”
The conference hall started to fill up as people entered in twos and threes. I tried to make conversation with people who were seated at the same table as me. Quickly, I learnt that the gentleman on my right was a venture capitalist who had a double MBA- IIM + Cornell! I sunk into my seat! So, I was going to spout “gyaan” about branding to this guy!
It didn’t take me long to realize that I was the youngest in the room and most certainly the shortest! If only time could just stop then!
But, as scheduled, the event started with great gusto. The lamp was lit, people are introduced and the first speaker stepped on stage. Mr. Gagan Kumar, a partner with Accel, a VC firm gave all the budding entrepreneurs a low down on what a VC expected from an entrepreneur. The presentation was followed by a volley of questions! And here, I thought that these people would just listen!
Next in line was me! So, along with my best foot forward, I put on my most charming smile! Walked on to the stage…..looked at the people who were all waiting for me spout the gospel of truth that would turn around their business! One wave of the Magical Brand wand, and swoosh, it’s all hunky dory!
So, I started with some self deprecatory jokes. It always works when you take a jab at yourself! Assured that I had everyone’s attention, I moved on to introducing Idea Spice to the gathering. I walked them through our work.  And now I started to enjoy the attention! People hung to every word I said. And I spoke like I didn’t know anything but branding! It was interesting to answer questions. Some really “smart” guys asked me questions in an effort to “test” me! There was laughing in my head! I thought to myself “I may not know who is running for president, but yes brand management is a passion!” So, the mantra was “Bring it on! “
Finally after over an hour on stage, I was gently reminded that it was lunch time.
Call me vain….but I felt no less than a star! People gathered around me just to exchange visiting cards and have a quick word with me. My visiting card soon was christened as “The Coffee Card!”
Every spoon of rice I ate was interspersed with “Thank you! Wonderful! Pleasure meeting with you! Would love to hear your thoughts! Yes, most certainly! “Lunch was for an hour! After all the talking, I did not have to worry about burning off the sinful rich biryani I had!
Content and satisfied with my talk, with having been able to reach out to people and having spent a fruitful Saturday, I left the venue in the evening.
An afterthought: Thanks to all at Idea Spice for having thought I was good enough to deliver this talk! If it were me, I wouldn’t have chosen myself!