Bangalore/Mumbai, March 2024 – The recently concluded ITCH Summit 2024 brought together a vibrant community of students, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and social activists at Miles School of Branding & Advertising (SoBA). Organized by Mr. Prateesh R Nair, Founder & CEO of Agency M and Miles SoBA, the summit aimed to inspire and equip students and media aspirants with the knowledge and motivation to excel and make meaningful contributions to society.
The summit was honored by the presence of Mr. Chandrakant Salunkhe, founder and president of SME Chamber of India, as the chief guest. A key highlight was the announcement of a collaboration between Agency M and SME Chamber of India to develop branding solutions for SMEs’ “Made in India” products. This partnership will involve student interns from Agency M tackling real business challenges, thereby contributing to nation-building and economic progress.
Mr. Prateesh R Nair emphasized the summit’s broader vision, stating, “The ITCH Summit 2024 is more than just an event; it’s a testament to the power of aspirations and dreams and the collective drive to transcend boundaries. Through inspiring narratives and shared experiences, the summit amplifies the spirit of possibility and fosters a community dedicated to realizing dreams.”
The event kicked off with a welcome address by Mr. Vinod Madhavan, Vice President-Academic Affairs, Miles SoBA, followed by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Mr. Chandrakant Salunkhe and Mr. Prateesh R Nair. Attendees were treated to thought-provoking talks from prominent figures such as Mr. Shekhar Naik, former captain of the Indian National Blind Cricket Team; Ms. Kalpana Saroj, Padmashri awardee and businesswoman; Mr. Ankur Chawla, entrepreneur and 26/11 survivor; Ms. Sunitha Krishnan, Padmashri awardee and founder of Prajwala; Nanjiyamma, National Award-winning tribal folk singer; and the popular YouTube duo JordIndian.
Nanjiyamma, sharing her inspiring journey, encouraged students to pursue greatness in their respective fields. Vineeth “Beep” Kumar from JordIndian advised participants to discover their own paths and emphasized the importance of nurturing hobbies to become the best versions of themselves.
A significant moment of the summit was the launch of “Guthli: Seeds of Today, Trees of Tomorrow,” an Indian Ad Film Festival envisioned by Mr. Prateesh R Nair. This festival aims to nurture creativity and originality in advertising, serving as a launchpad for aspiring students. Esteemed advertising professionals Mr. K V Sridhar and Mr. Piyush Pandey highlighted the festival’s mission to cultivate future advertising visionaries and announced scholarships for deserving students.
Reflecting on the initiative, Mr. Piyush Pandey remarked, “This is the need of the hour. We need more Guthlis – the seeds of today. Only when we plant them now, they’ll flourish into beautiful trees tomorrow, bearing great fruits in the future.”
Mr. K V Sridhar added, “Building successful personal relationships enables one to connect well with customers, which is essential for a great career in advertising and marketing.”
Guthli – Ad Film Festival aims to empower young creators through workshops, masterclasses, and networking opportunities, redefining the landscape of advertising and showcasing the power of creativity and unconventional thinking.
The ITCH Summit 2024, driven by the dedication and talent of the student committee at Miles SoBA, particularly interns Preethi Rajaram and Rohit Sharma, was a resounding success, leaving a lasting impact on all attendees.
