MUMBAI: Meenu Handa VP, Communications Google has called it quits. She had an almost decade long stint.
On Linkedin she wrote, “35 years. 4 incredible companies. A million memories.
“It was on October 1, 1990, that I first stepped into IPAN with nervous excitement and curiosity. Today, exactly 35 years later, as I change the pace of my life, I look back at these years with deep fulfillment and gratitude.
“Gratitude for the opportunities that came my way, the companies I worked with, the brilliant teams I worked alongside, and the trust of the finest leaders and founders around the world. I walk away with a set of experiences that are beyond what I could have ever imagined.
“The question that has been often asked since announcing my retirement is: “But what will you do? What’s the plan?”
“And my answer is: “That is exactly the plan—there is no plan.”
“All I know is that the nervous excitement is back. A whole new, fresh canvas awaits! This canvas, I hope will be just as bright and spectacular as the previous one—but the material and shades will be different.
“There are far too many people to thank for their faith, encouragement, teachings and support. But there are some who were instrumental:
“Rajiv Desai Thank you for taking me under your wing and building my foundations on all things communications. I hope I made you proud. Ann Tsang: Don’t think you know but I learnt all about marketing, celebrity and publicity comms from you.
“Ravi Venkatesan: Thank you for your faith in me and your inspiring leadership. You showed me how authentic storytelling can move mountains.
“Corey duBrowa: For that eye-opening story building session and for believing in me during our stint together at Google.
“Amit Agarwal and Craig Berman for trusting me, giving me a wide arena to play & experiment in and joining in wholeheartedly.
“Rajan Anandan For your energy, friendship, and most importantly, the pulls and pushes to do more and go big.
“Caesar Sengupta: For entrusting me with a global mandate that was critical to our mission and showing what determination, focus and patience can enable.
“Scott Beaumont: For your lateral thinking, thoughtfulness, sense of humour and openness to my wild ideas.
“Sanjay Gupta and Rob Shilkin: Thank you for your patience with my intense and passionate questions and discussions.
“But my deepest gratitude is for my incredible peers and teams at IPAN, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, many of whom have grown to be dear friends. This amazing adventure would not have been possible without you. We learnt together, we grew together and more importantly we had fun together. These relationships for me are the real return on the investment made in these 35 years.
“And the teams across agencies atText100, Six Degrees, WeberShandwick, Carma and Impact you completed the circle.
“Reserving the most special shout out to my team that has been the integral part of my grand finale—the last chapter of this beautiful 35-year story. The coolest comms team in the world, Google APAC Comms team, I will forever carry you with me!
And now on to a New Canvas!”
Prior to this, Meenu worked for several organizations including SRL Diagnostics, Amazon, Microsoft India, and IPAN HILL & KNOWLTON. She started her career as Vice President at IPAN HILL & KNOWLTON since 1990.
