Ad land’s young guns: Akshita Agrawal, DGM – Corp Comm, Magicbricks

With over a decade of experience in strategic communications, Akshita Agrawal is currently DGM - Corporate Communications at MagicBricks. She has played a pivotal role in shaping brand narratives, managing crisis communication, and driving thought leadership. Before joining MagicBricks, she led PR and communications at Adfactors PR, Gutenberg LLC, and The PRactice, working with leading brands across technology, real estate, and consulting. Agrawal specializes in media relations, stakeholder engagement, and data-driven storytelling to enhance brand reputation and business impact.

In conversation with Adgully, Akshita Agrawal, DGM - Corporate Communications at Magicbricks, shares insights on her journey across tech, social impact, and real estate. She discusses the motivations behind these transitions, the unique challenges of real estate PR, and strategies for effective crisis communication in a dynamic market. She also highlights the role of PR in driving business growth and offers advice to next-gen aspirants.

You’ve worked across industries like tech, social impact and now real estate. What motivated these shifts, and how have they shaped your approach to communications?

Through the formative years of my career, I kept an open mind and each industry shift was about expanding my toolkit as a communicator. In Tech, I mastered the art of translating complexity – breaking down jargon-heavy innovations into stories that resonate. Social impact was all about sharpening strategic thinking, managing high-stakes reputation challenges, and crafting thought leadership. And now, in Real Estate, it’s about Credibility – where trust and emotion drive decision-making, and storytelling needs to feel both data-backed and deeply personal.

These experiences have made me a versatile communicator, skilled in adapting strategies to suit different industries and audience expectations.

Real estate PR comes with its own set of challenges, from market fluctuations to policy changes. How do you navigate crisis communications in such a dynamic space?

Real estate is as much about emotions as it is about economics, making PR in this space both challenging and dynamic. For me, the key is to stay ahead of potential risks through continuous media monitoring and scenario planning. Most importantly, I believe in leading with data – facts cut through speculation and data-driven PR is a key pillar of my overall approach to communications.

From agency roles to in-house leadership, you’ve had a diverse career journey. What key differences have you experienced, and which role has been the most fulfilling?

Both agency and in-house roles shape a communicator in distinct ways. Agencies are like boot camps – fast-paced, dynamic, and creativity-driven, where you juggle multiple clients and learn agility. In-house, it’s about playing the long game – building brand credibility, aligning with business goals, and driving sustained impact.

Having experienced both, I believe starting your career in an agency sharpens your problem-solving skills, while transitioning in-house later allows you to apply those insights at scale.

As a part of the marketing team, how do you ensure that PR continues to show relevance and contribution to business growth?

In an era where trust is currency, strategic PR builds credibility, nurtures brand affinity, and influences decision-making. As the custodian of “earned reputation” my focus is to integrate with marketing goals, leveraging data to craft narratives that drive engagement, and constantly innovate so PR is not just seen as a visibility tool, but a core engine of business growth.

Could you highlight some of the key milestones or achievements in your career so far? How have these moments defined your professional growth and aspirations?

Some of my most defining milestones have come from navigating high-stakes brand narratives, launching impactful PR campaigns, and shaping industry conversations. Whether it was advocating for cleft care, driving awareness on genetically modified seeds, or repositioning real estate as a consumer-first category. These experiences have fueled my passion for building brands that don’t just sell, but influence industries, policies, and behaviours.

For my body of work, I’ve been honored with industry recognitions, including IRPRA 40U40 (2024), PRMoment and Godrej 30U30 (2018), Global Client Servicing Star (2016), and the ICCO Summit Young Pride Challenge (2018). I was also felicitated by UN Women as “Photographer of the Year” in 2013 for my photography portfolio around “Freedom from violence”.

What would be your advice to the next gen aspirants?

My advice would be to Master the 3A Rule – Adapt, Analyze, and Amplify.

In today’s fast-evolving communication landscape, adaptability is non-negotiable. Stay ahead by analyzing trends, leveraging newsjacking, and making data-driven storytelling your superpower. PR is no longer just about visibility – it’s about measurable impact. Amplification is key. Think beyond press releases; embrace bite-sized storytelling through videos, podcasts, and influencer collaborations to engage diverse audiences.

Ultimately, credibility wins over noise. We shouldn’t just chase headlines – we should shape narratives that matter.

Also Read: Ad land’s young guns: Aanya Jain, Co-founder, Run Frenzy