Ad land’s young guns: Jayanshi Sharma, Founder & CEO, VaahanShunya

Jayanshi Sharma is the Founder and CEO of VaahanShunya Media & Communications. Under her visionary leadership, the company has become a leading force in the media industry, known for its innovative strategies and impactful contributions. Sharma’s dedication and expertise have driven VaahanShunya to achieve significant milestones and set new standards in media and communications.

In conversation with Adgully, Jayanshi Sharma, Founder & CEO, VaahanShunya Media & Communications, speaks about the importance of innovation and adaptability in the recruitment industry. She highlights how leveraging cutting-edge technology and understanding market trends are crucial for attracting and retaining top talent.

Could you share the key milestones that led you to where you are today in the industry?

I believe my education and the companies that I worked with have nudged me to do better and better and be where I am today. I studied at New LJ Commerce College in Ahmedabad and I was also doing a radio programming course alongside, this enhanced my writing skills and also made me a better orator. My first job was at an advertising agency as a copywriter and that was my first introduction to the world of advertising. Eventually, while working with the next agency, I learnt every aspect of branding agencies – from sales, client servicing and designing to brand strategy and business expansion.

In your experience, what are some common challenges that young professionals face when starting their careers and how can they overcome them?

• Staying relevant with the latest innovations in their field: This can be overcome by reading news articles and see what the bigger companies in the market are doing.
• Staying disciplined: Branding is an industry that involves a lot of creativity and also use of social media. The extensive use of Social Media can often take up productive hours and this challenge can be overcome by having a proper schedule, aiming to never miss due dates and by taking every role of their job seriously.
• Feeling competitive: Young blood often feels competitive with their peers. This can be both a challenge and strength. As long as this competition stays healthy, it works in their favour. If it becomes pressurising, it can affect performances in career-building years. As far as branding & advertising is concerned, competition can be an inspiration and one can take examples from the industry to amp up their game of creativity.

How do you stay updated on the latest trends and developments, and what resources or strategies would you recommend to young professionals seeking to for the same?

Listening to podcasts and reading interviews of industry veterans helps me remain updated on the latest trends and developments. Another way is to meet experts, understand their insights on the latest trends and also learn from them as to what they think the future of the industry is.

What led you to pursue a leadership role at a young age, and what are your long-term leadership goals?

Seeing the people in my family, especially my brother, be very ambitious for his age and background is what motivated me the most. For him, sky was not the limit and the way he paved his way through challenges and shortcomings inspired me to take up leadership roles and not late “age” status be the defining factor for roles I aimed to take up.

I aspire to be a leader who knows when to lead and is also not afraid to follow when needed. I want to always remain a learner and keep setting new goals as soon as I achieve the current ones. I also want to be a leader who pauses to celebrate once in a while and appreciates her team, always.

What strategies do you use to motivate and inspire your team members or peers?

• Making sure they get what they deserve
• Making sure they are never looked down on
• Making sure they take competition in a healthy manner
• Allowing them to speak up and always put their ideas on the table
• Communicating to them that there is no such thing as ‘too late’ or ‘too early’. Everyone who is focussed and ambitious is at the right place at the right time. It is important to remember - You are right where you should be.

What initiatives have you taken to develop your leadership skills and knowledge?

• Reading
• Taking leadership courses
• Learning from the habits of my mentors and leaders who I look up to

What advice would you offer to aspiring young professionals aspiring to leadership positions?

Don’t let anything stop you. Don’t let your fears, insecurities or shortcomings define you. Look for your strengths, sharpen them. Look for qualities that make you stand out, polish them. Always be a learner, always think that tomorrow is a new opportunity to learn. Make mistakes, a lot of them. And then understand what each mistake is trying to teach you. Most of all, Believe in Yourself.

And my Mantra is – Never try to impress anybody and never be impressed by anybody.