Member interview with Kapil Dixit

Kapil is a versatile marketing professional with a rich background spanning market research, quick service restaurant (QSR) and FMCG sectors with international experience across the Middle East, North Africa and India. He is currently the category lead for everyday nutrition at Fonterra, a global dairy nutrition company well-known for brands including Anchor, Anmum and Anlene.

What’s your golden rule?
I have two:

1. People first. Always.
2. One has a choice. Always.

Who has been your biggest influence?
My parents. I am a sum total of  values, beliefs and personalities of each of my parents. Passion, the need to do my best in all that I touch and my strong sense of integrity are qualities I take from my Dad.  Taking a larger worldview, sense of gratitude and eternal hope and optimism are values in-grained from my Mom.

What is your most hated business expression?
I have a few:

‘End of the day’

‘We will get back to you’

‘Do the needful’

How can marketers be braver?
With increasing P&L pressures and a growing sense of uncertainty around traditional marketing models and spends, marketers are  trying to wear too many hats  - sales, operations and finance. This is good in principle but we need to still have courage to stay true to who we really are; ambitious, experimental and bold. Marketers must be willing to accept inconvenient truths about what consumers really think of their brand and be able to resolve issues.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken in your career?
Nothing worth noting springs up here. Though there have been a number of occasions across different roles over the years where I have had the courage to prioritise outcome over process. There have been a few misses on the journey but those have been equally rewarding in the long term in way of helping me build resilience and courage to stand by my beliefs.

Which leader do you admire most and why?
I have to say I have recently become a huge fan of New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Arden. She epitomises all qualities that a leader (of people, businesses or nations) should have. She is humane, sensitive and courageous to place people over anything else. Yet when needed, she is tough, decisive and speaks up what needs to be said. I feel encouraged to see some of these reflect in my own value system. Would strive to become even better following her example.

What’s your favourite word?
Thank You. ( though it’s two words!). it’s a simple gesture, often said as an automatic response but still has the power to communicate humility, appreciation.   

Tell us a secret
Haha ! … once upon a time …

Follow Kapil on Linked In