Unexpected Intros: Kanishka Khandelwal and Nussarat Ibrahim
At DDB, we have a simple belief. That Unexpected Works. It means that the best idea is the one you never saw coming. The thing that catches you so off guard that you can‘t look away. And the only path to genuinely unexpected works is through creativity.
And in order to create awesome works, you need awesome people. Because you can’t make the unexpected if you only work with the usual suspects. In this Unexpected Intros series, we take a peek behind the curtain at some of the diverse thinkers that make up our network, and validate Bill Bernbach’s notion that an idea can turn to dust or magic, depending on the talent that rubs against it.
1. Name, Title, Office
Kanishka Khandelwal, Client Solutions Partner, 22feet Tribal Worldwide
Nussarat Ibrahim, Client Solutions Director, 22feet Tribal Worldwide
2. Introduce yourself in three emojis.
Kanishka>💃🍷🏊🏻
Nussarat> 🥐 🗺 😌
3. What was your very first job?
Kanishka> It was at a digital marketing agency as social media manager right after a week of graduating.
Nussarat> My first job was as a host for school contact programs and corporate events. I used to compère events in college and was asked if I'd be interested in hosting events professionally. Did it for a few years, got to travel across the county whilst in college, made new friends (some now family) and enjoyed the best of both worlds.
4. How did you wind up in advertising?
Kanishka> After three failed CA attempts (take a wild guess at the reason behind this) and having advertising as an optional subject in the second year of college, I gave it a shot and here I am.
Nussarat> Did my Master's in English Literature (only to continue reading for a little while longer) and was hosting events simultaneously. The event life was quite interesting and thrilling, so decided to give it a shot and started off in production and realised I was also great at account management. Moved a year and half later to the business team and I haven’t turned back since.
5. Piece of creative that inspires you?
Kanishka> Work done by label - Abhinav Mishra. Dreams – Celebratory Couture 2022. The page is unusual as opposed to other bridal houses.
Nussarat> Nike. They inspire at every go, and wants us to challenge ourselves, achieve our goals and be the best we can be. It encourages us to follow our dreams, be it with Find Your Greatness, Better For It or Just Do It.
6. What are you currently reading, watching, and listening to?
Kanishka> Reading: Atomic Habits by James Clear
Watching: Twenty five, Twenty One (K-drama)
Listening to: Kesariya – Telugu version (I honestly don’t have a problem with Lovestoriyan)
Nussarat> Reading: Dear Data by Giorgia Lupi and Stefanie Posavec (also trying this with a friend)
Watching: Reruns of The Big Bang Theory
Listening: To a Ted Talk (every other day if not daily)
7. What’s a goal/hope/dream of yours?
Kanishka> To always keep my inner child alive; Travel the world and get better at dancing
Nussarat> Someday, I hope to stand on stage in front of 10000+ people, use my voice and passion to be a TED Talks speaker, inspire others and create an impact. Also, hope to visit all 195 counties across the globe in this lifetime and a large number of them in my yacht (a girl can dream 🤓)
