As we step into our future, we realize that the fundamental manner in which marketing is thought of has changed, and continues to change every day. To help us better understand and adapt to these changes, the event Inspired@Google was formed. Born from the remarkable efforts of Fabricio Dolan (Googler and an Ivey Alumni) in collaboration with the Canadian Marketing Association, Inspired@Google aimed at explaining the dynamic nature of relatively new phenomena such as digital marketing and creating a better understanding of the CPG market in Canada.
I was thrilled to learn that more than twenty of our very own Ivey MBA students were selected though an application process conducted by Google! On July 31st 2013, an eager group of us made our way to Google Office in Toronto for a chance to hear from industry leaders such as the president of Twist Image, marketing heads of CPGs such as Johnson & Johnson, Mondelēz and executives from the Canadian Marketing Association.
The talks transported the audience to a future full of possibilities and technological advances such as social networks and online market portals that would have a profound effect on marketing. The panel discussion comprising of the top CPG leaders was highly perceptive as they provided new insights into the nature of work as a marketing professional and career progressions in the field.
There was no dearth of fun however, as the talks was interspersed with games including large scale paper scissor rock plays and coin tosses with winners bagging the Nexus 7 tablet (You heard it right!) among other cool swags. Following the incredible talks, students had the unique opportunity to network with not just numerous leading thinkers from the industry but also students from other top business schools.
Arguably the most memorable part of the evening had to be the lovely tours of the brand new, incredible Google office building for groups of students led by Googlers. I am still ogling at the idea of a hidden meeting room behind a bookshelf! The tour concluded the incredible event on a high note for all.
I believe I speak for all when I say the evening was enriching- not only for those considering a career in marketing- but also inspiring others to join the industry by making it easier to grasp changes taking place in the world of marketing in Canada. Thanks to the event, we are now better equipped to envision our future and be innovators in our field of choice.
About Vaishnavi
Having completed a yearlong exchange program in California where she graduated with honors, Vaishnavi returned to India to pursue her Bachelors in Business Management with a focus in Marketing. She completed her internship in Goldman Sachs and worked in Google for three years prior to joining the Ivey MBA Program where she donned various roles, the last of which involved providing digital solutions with Adwords for clients such as Starbucks and Monster in the US and UK. At Ivey, Vaishnavi is the President of the Marketing and Sales Club. She plans to pursue a career in strategic consulting after her year at Ivey.