Miscellany
Here is a list of some interesting things that happened in 2024 (in random order):
- I was awarded IIT Bombay’s Distinguished Alumnus Award.
- I was part of the team that has launched Project Titanium at IIT Bombay to help commercialise faculty research.
- I made two trips to the US: Feb-Mar and Aug-Sep.
- Other international trips: Yas Island and Baku for Netcore’s Martech Global Summits, and one to Bangkok for Netcore’s internal sales conference.
- I spoke at multiple events this year: SaaSBoomi Annual (Chennai), IIT Bombay’s Valedictory Function, ET Martech (Gurugram), Futr (New York), eTail Connect West (San Diego), Orange City Literature Festival (Nagpur).
- I attended Mont Pelerin Society’s New Delhi General Meeting (and was Chair of the Organising Committee).
- My book sales crossed 5,000 copies.
- I have been regular with my gym training (3 times a week).
- I taught a course for Netcore’s leaders: I.F.E. (leadership, innovation, foresight (strategy), and execution).
- I started a new “Life Notes” series on my blog (45 done, with more to come).
- Abhishek started his second-year undergrad and plans to major in Industrial Engineering.
For Netcore, 2024 has been a year of steady progress, laying the groundwork for the future. As we look ahead, I am optimistic about accelerating this momentum in 2025. This year, we welcomed Siddharth Gopalkrishnan as our COO, whose leadership has already started shaping our path forward. We also earned significant recognition in multiple Forrester and Gartner reports, underscoring the value we bring to the martech landscape.
However, the journey is far from over. The martech industry is increasingly crowded with fierce competition—red oceans abound. To truly stand out, we must focus on identifying and creating blue oceans: untapped opportunities where innovation and differentiation can redefine the game. The road ahead is challenging, but with the right strategies, I believe Netcore can lead this transformation and carve a unique space in the industry.
For me, this year has brought two remarkable new companions: Claude and ChatGPT. Both have been invaluable in helping me think more clearly and write more effectively, shaping and refining my ideas in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I often reflect on a line from Ethan Mollick’s book Co-Intelligence: Think of AI not as a machine, but as a person.’ This perspective has been transformative, turning these tools into collaborative partners in my creative and intellectual journey.
The one routine I cherish most—and which has deepened significantly this year—is my weekend writing ritual. Every Saturday and Sunday, starting at 5 am, I dedicate those tranquil early hours to crafting essays for my blog. On average, it takes me about three hours to complete an essay, but during that time, I enter a state of absolute focus and creativity—what many describe as “the zone” or “flow.” I usually begin with a title and a rough outline, which gradually evolves as the ideas take shape. Words flow into sentences, sentences into paragraphs, and paragraphs into cohesive sections until, finally, the essay emerges. By the time I finish, not only do I have a completed piece, but I often uncover a couple more ideas or topics to explore next. This harmonious cycle of creation and discovery has become the rhythm of my weekends, energising my passion for writing and keeping the well of ideas perpetually replenished.
