Table of content:

Nestlé Leaders League Genesis 2025 Winner Nishchal Menon's Story

Out of over 8,000 MBA candidates from India’s top seven B-schools, I had the privilege of emerging as one of the five National Winners at Nestlé Leaders League – Genesis 2025. It was not just another marketing case competition—it was an immersive journey that tested my research, creativity, strategic thinking, and nerves under pressure.

My Strategy: Structure Meets Creativity

My approach began with a simple but crucial first step: understanding the core objective of the case inside out. After that, I aligned myself with the brief and took a structured approach—starting with deep research into consumer behavior trends, campus culture, and successful brand activations that have resonated in similar contexts.

From there, I focused on crafting marketing elements that were fresh, eye-catching, and stood out while being true to Nescafé’s brand identity and relevant to the student ecosystem.
A significant part of my focus was on innovating within the brief—whether that meant designing fresh engagement ideas, experimenting with unconventional beverage flavors, or weaving it all into a compelling narrative to hold the jury’s attention during the presentation.
Working within tight timelines meant every hour had to count. I consistently spent time iterating over every element and finetuning them—from the core idea to the visual design and the final delivery.

The biggest challenges for me were figuring out a clear starting point, picking the right design cues to convey my story visually, and managing everything within the tight submission timelines. It was also demanding to strike the perfect balance between creativity and clarity, all while ensuring the presentation stayed light, engaging, and impactful.

As demanding as the whole process was, it was also incredibly rewarding.

Competitors Make the Competition

Out of over 8000 applicants (from across the country) who applied, 48 individuals made it to the semi-finals. From there, just 15 advanced to the grand finale at Nestlé HQ, and finally, five winners were crowned.

Since it was an individual competition, everyone was competing on their own merit—which made each finalist a formidable competitor.

They came from India’s top 7 business schools, and each brought a unique mix of creativity, insight, and strategic thinking to the table. Facing such a strong peer group was both challenging and incredibly motivating—it pushed me to constantly refine my approach and perform at my absolute best.

Exceptional Organisation & Judgement

One of the standout aspects of Nestlé Leaders League - Genesis 2025 for me was the quality of the jury–outstanding.

Each panel consisted of highly experienced and seasoned professionals—including brand managers and brand teams of different Nestlé brands—who evaluated every pitch with sharp industry insights, razor-sharp evaluation skills, and keen questions.

Their feedback was precise, thought-provoking, constructive, and insightful, which turned every round into a truly enriching experience in itself.

The entire competition was flawlessly organized and well-executed—each round felt like a live business challenge rather than a theoretical exercise. It tested everything (not just creativity or marketing acumen): how well you can research, craft a strategy, think on your feet to solve problems and lead your own project under pressure.

It was a true taste of how real brand-building and problem-solving work in the FMCG world—which was both intense and incredibly rewarding.

Personal and Professional Growth: What I Learned

My Nestlé Leaders League - Genesis 2025 journey wasn’t just about winning a title—it sharpened so many crucial skills. It was a tremendous learning journey on both professional and personal fronts—one of the best rewards I could ask for.

On the professional front, I gained deep insights into Nestléʼs various initiatives and got a closer look at how a leading FMCG company operates—from its brand architecture to its marketing and consumer engagement strategies.

On a personal level, I developed several skills, like learning how to conduct focused research, craft sharp and visually appealing presentations, and design solutions that are both creative and strategic.

Most importantly, I learned how to perform under pressure—managing tight deadlines, thinking on my feet, and presenting confidently in front of experienced industry leaders and talented peers.

It was a complete leadership learning experience that truly challenged and shaped me.

A Moment to Remember (Now & Beyond)

One of the most special moments was finding out I had made it to the final 15—that alone felt like a huge validation. Then came the finale challenge: presenting a fresh plan to boost Maggi’s engagement, both digitally and on-ground. The experience of brainstorming for ideas was an incredible experience.

But the true high point was presenting my final pitch before the Maggi brand team. Their attention to detail, their thoughtful questions, and the overall energy in the room—were completely unforgettable.

What made it even more surreal was seeing and hearing from the heads of Maggi and other Nestlé brands live in the room—it felt like I was learning directly from the people shaping some of the most loved brands in the country. And to top it all, ending the journey as one of the winners made it even more special.

Interested in knowing all about such amazing competitions? Check out Unstop Compete now!

Suggested reads:

Nishchal Menon

2025-2027

Nishchal belongs to Kochi, Kerala, but he pursued Mechanical Engineering in Punjab. He has worked in Mumbai, Pune, and Delhi and knows how to adapt to diverse cultures and connect with people from all walks of life. He started his career in IT as a Software Development Consultant and later interned as a Business Development Lead at a Defence consultancy firm. He is currently pursuing an MBA from SPJMIR, Mumbai. Beyond work, he is deeply passionate about singing, short filmmaking, screenwriting, and cinema.