Reena Jagtap, Lead Digital Marketing - Henkel has been recognized as Under 40 Industry Experts by Business Mint

Reena Jagtap – A digital diva that can turn every click into an opportunity! Every child aspires to be an iconic personality. As a young girl, I had many dreams. I wanted to be a Doctor, an Engineer, an Astronaut, a Scientist, a Navy officer, while some days I just wanted to fly around the world like my Dad and dreamt of becoming a Pilot. Little did I know that I would lead a profession that never existed at that point in time.

Being surrounded by inspiring family members and friends made me believe that life is a continuous learning curve and one can achieve everything they desire if there is dedication and effort put in the right direction. I started my career as a Production Engineer and worked with the R&D team that manufactured Switch Gears and EOM’s for L&T. Working on a shop floor as a young Graduate Engineering Trainee was not that easy. However, this molded me into a tough and emotionally strong woman. With a creative spirit and an ambition to get into a managerial role, Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication was my next destination. I pursued my MBA and specialized in Brand Communications. The two years on campus were filled with immense opportunities for me to learn all my domain related skills. The institute gave me the wings to be industry ready.

Today, I have almost 9 years of experience with Marketing as an expertise in both the B2C and B2B industries. I worked in an agency as well as the brand side of the Marketing communications and Media industry. I have been responsible for managing the Digital Marketing, Social Media, Public Relations, Digitalization, Online Reputation Management and Marketing communication strategies for leading brands like Henkel Adhesive Technologies, Audi India, Tata Trusts and Indian Hotels Company Ltd. While the consumer for each of these industries is different, my experience has made me realize that today, it’s all about “people to people” marketing. With a data driven approach, one can use the best digital technologies to target and engage audiences online and curate customized thumb-stopping dynamic content for different cohorts. With over 837 million internet users in India, 5G network penetration and increased digital transactions, digital will unleash infinite possibilities for brands. As Brand custodians, we Marketeers need to constantly evolve with the dynamic consumer behavior. I believe in giving back to the society through the knowledge that I have gained over the years.

I have consulted students at the Hochschule Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, Germany as a guest lecturer covering diverse topics on Marketing for Luxury brands and International Business Management. I frequently mentor young talent from Symbiosis International University and I am also a mentor at the 30 Minute University of Planning community on LinkedIn. To sum it all up in a single line, “From creating precision in machine drawings to launching out of the box campaigns for the best of the brands, life continues to be a magical journey for me.”