Shubham has been an integral part of the Dentsu performance team for three years. He’s responsible for managing the paid media performance for prominent brands like Microsoft, Philips, PUMA, and Accor Hotels. At work, he’s highly regarded for his ability to simplify complex tasks and make life easier for his colleagues. His expertise in paid search has earned him the renowned MENA Search Award for Young Search Professional of the Year in 2018.

He completed his master’s in marketing in India and currently resides in the UAE, which he considers his home away from home. Outside of work, Shubham is a thrill-seeker engaging in activities such as skydiving, scuba diving, karting, and more.

Why did you choose this career path?

At the start of my internship, my role involved cold-calling but I quickly realized that this wasn’t the best fit for me. Fortunately, I was able to transition to managing social media pages where my primary responsibility was creating and posting organic content. I found this work to be much more enjoyable and it helped me recognize my passion for a career in social media management.

How did you land this job?

A colleague referred me. Even though he did not end up taking the position, he saw potential in me and believed I was a great fit. I went through an intense interview process and was able to secure the opportunity. This taught me that making connections at work is valuable, and can open doors and create opportunities for growth in one’s career.

How do you compare your work life vs what you imagined it would be?

I had certain expectations of what my work life would look like, including dressing up daily, following a fixed schedule, back-to-back meetings, and traveling to new places for business. However, my current job is much more dynamic. Some days are hectic and require working after hours, while other days offer more flexibility and allow me to indulge in binge-watching my favorite series. Despite the unexpected nature of my role, I’m content, and happy, and look forward to what the future holds.

What do you wish you had been told before you started working?

Don’t go after a job description – your role may change as a company evolves; multi-tasking will make you average. [Also], whatever you learn in school does not necessarily apply in corporate life. Grades are not of utmost importance and it’s okay not to know everything! And most importantly, learn EXCEL!

What is the best thing someone could tell you about your work?

That I make things look easy, always have a plan in place for any task, am easily approachable, am a problem-solver, and tend to build a positive work environment – a team player you can always rely on!

What is the worst thing someone could tell you about your work?

That I do not save files on a shared drive, pay a lot of attention to detail leading to increased ETAs for tasks, and ask too many questions.

What’s the most valuable lesson you have learned at work so far?

Many, but the top 2 would be:

1. Learning never stops. It is important to continue to learn and develop new skills. The digital industry is constantly evolving, and staying up-to-date with new technologies and trends is essential to remain competitive.
2. Take it easy. Not everything needs to be done on the same day. If it is always urgent, it really isn’t. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is more of a personal responsibility.

Who’s your role model?

Steve Harvey! I love this guy and can watch his videos on a loop. The way he has diversified his life with successful talk shows, international best-sellers, and entrepreneurial conferences while being an exceptionally good entertainer, inspires me a lot. I also admire my mentors and teachers who have guided me at different stages of life.

If not this, what would you be doing?

I like working with numbers, so it would probably be around banking, finance, and stock markets.

What do you see yourself doing in 10 years?

The same thing that I do now but in a completely modernized manner. This could include hyper-targeted ads backed with AI-generated content; launching products in the Metaverse; setting up virtual stores; drone advertising; humanoid robot influencers, etc., all while being able to work remotely from the comfort of my home, using my personal mobile device.

The 30 Under 30 ranking was first published in Communicate's Q1 2023 print issue.