HUL Big Brand Theory National Finalist KJ SIMSR's Jay Bhargav's Story

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The grandness of HUL Big Brand Theory was something that we were coming to terms with when another 'Big Moment’ happened. We became the National Finalists. A number of teams, across India, had participated in this case study competition. Standing among the top 10 teams was a proud moment for our team. Extremely excited, we immediately geared up to score the top position.

The Big Brand Theory was all about the revival of a major FMCG brand in the naturals segment. These are products that we come across daily. Therefore, even if there was a slight possibility that our ideas could impact growth for an FMCG major like HUL, it was something to strive for.

For us, the solution for every case starts with the case itself. The team that I was a part of was one of the best on KJ SIMSR campus. We followed a practice of reading the case over 100 times throughout the problem-solving process. To nail the problem, we drilled through primary and secondary data and worked for weeks over the case.

The reason I love working in teams is that different individuals tag along with their different perspectives over the same issue. With more options to tackle a problem, it becomes evident that a practical solution can be achieved. Besides, my team was one that believed the best solutions come out of conflicts. Hence, we looked at every aspect optimistically, pessimistically and realistically.

Our team ‘Margdarshak’ comprised of Hiral, Saharsh and me. All primary decisions made by the team are due to Hiral's ability to analyze all data and perform exhaustive research. Saharsh is an extremely good presenter and is great with idea generation. I have a creative bent of mind and like to come up with options that are creative forward. Together, we possessed complementary skills which empowered us towards the best possible solution.

We had to deliver the entire presentation in under 10 minutes. For the same, we actually wrote down all the lines, and memorized and timed it. In fact, we did it as a team and even as an individual, I used to practice my lines in front of a mirror.

There were 10 teams competing in the finale of HUL Big Brand Theory. We weren't allowed to spectate ideas and presentations from other teams, yet I believe the team that won the competition displayed confidence to be able to rank themselves as 1st.

The Brand Manager who runs the show at HUL was the very man who judged us. So, our ideas were heard by somebody that knows the ground realities and practicalities of our ideas. Also, the framework allowed proper filtration and led the best ideas to reach the finale.

I gained insights into the sector through a brand manager's perspective. This gave me major talking points when I sat for my final placements at KJ SIMSR. We were briefed about HUL Big Brand Theory properly, the communication from the organizing team was lucid, the timelines were set for the effectiveness of the competitors. So, I would rate my experience as a clear 5/5.

Do you have your eyes set on winning HUL Big Brand Theory? Read more about HUL Big Brand Theory and the organizers Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) to cover all your basis. Other competitions organized by Hindustan Unilever Limited are HUL L.I.M.E. Season 10, HUL – IT Reboot, HUL FinAce Season 2, HUL- The Premier League, HUL Carpe Diem Season 5.