In an industry powered by speed, pressure, and relentless deadlines, kindness often goes unnoticed. Yet, it’s these quiet, human moments — not the big campaigns or pitch wins — that shape careers in ways awards never could. On World Kindness Day, advertising professionals reflect on the acts of empathy that changed everything.
I still remember my first day at Social Samosa like it just happened. The nerves. The unfamiliar faces. The fear of not belonging. Everything felt overwhelming — the work, the jargon, the pace.
They seated me next to Sneha, who seemed effortlessly composed. She noticed my unease almost instantly. Within minutes, she began guiding me through my tasks, patiently explaining how things worked, never making me feel lost or out of place. Somewhere between her loud laughter and calm efficiency, she made the unfamiliar feel manageable.
Lunches turned into tea breaks, conversations turned into comfort, and what started as one person easing another’s first-day anxiety became one of the easiest friendships of my life.
Because sometimes kindness isn’t dramatic — it’s simply the person beside you saying, “You’ve got this.”
That moment stayed with me. In advertising, we talk endlessly about ideas that shift brands, but rarely about the ones that shift people. Yes, the pitch wins, the late nights, the hustle shape our craft. But every now and then, something gentler does the heavy lifting — a manager reminding you of your worth, a teammate stepping in quietly and meaning it when they say, “Take your time, I’ve got your back.”
So this World Kindness Day, we asked voices across the industry to reflect not on the work, but on the moments of humanity that made all the difference — the ones where empathy eclipsed ego, someone’s belief became a lifeline, and kindness changed the trajectory.
When belief replaced burnout
In advertising, where urgency drives everything, kindness can simply mean slowing down for someone.
For Jyoti Chugh Bhatia, Group Director at Gozoop Creative, that kindness came as a simple gesture.
“Early in my career, I was juggling too much, trying too hard, and constantly feeling like I was falling short,” she recalled. “A senior quietly took a brief off my plate and said, ‘You don’t have to do it all to be good at what you do.’”
It shifted her understanding of capability. “It was the first time I realised that being capable didn’t mean being exhausted — it meant knowing when to breathe.”
The trust stayed with her. “There was no pep talk, just belief,” she said. “The kind that says, ‘I know you’ve got this.’”
Tanvi Bosmia, Account Director – Brand Experience at SoCheers, found that belief in her peers.
“There was a phase when I felt completely out of my depth,” she shared. “A few friends reminded me that growth isn’t about perfection; it’s about embracing the journey.”
Sometimes, belief isn’t loud. It looks like someone taking a little off your plate — not because you can’t handle it, but because they know you’ve been handling too much for too long.
When someone took a chance on you
Kindness isn’t always gentle — sometimes it’s a bold leap of faith.
Uddhav Parab, Senior Creative Director at Interactive Avenues, remembers that leap well.
“I came from a Tier-III college and had zero industry contacts. I sent my CV everywhere, and not even rejection mails came through.”
Everything changed when Mark Mathai, Former Creative Director at Ogilvy, looked past the résumé.
“He saw my student portfolio — badly Photoshopped ads and punny headlines — but still reviewed every piece, gave feedback, and offered me a copy test,” Uddhav said. “Looking back, my work was average at best, but he saw the hunger.”
That chance shaped his leadership today. “I know how hard it is to break into this industry. Now, I respond to every message I get. If someone has taken the effort to reach out, the least you can do is help them understand what works and what doesn’t.”
Not all kindness feels soft. Sometimes, it shows up as someone betting on you when they have every reason not to.
When empathy defined leadership
Some lessons in advertising aren’t learned through briefs — they’re learned through leaders who lead with heart.
For Sambit Mohanty, Creative Head and EVP, McCann Worldgroup, kindness became a guide for leadership.
“More than a decade ago, I took charge of DDB Mudra, Delhi as ECD,” he said. “While I believed in myself, it was the unwavering support of Vandana Das and Sonal Dabral that helped me truly flourish.”
Their kindness came through trust and guidance.
“Sonal is one of the funniest and most cheerful people I know — a brilliant creative mind who listens without ever putting you down,” he shared. “Vandy is a giver with a big heart, someone who rallies people during tough times and takes care of everyone.”
That environment shaped him deeply. “My stint at Mudra made me a more empathetic leader,” he said. “I try to be caring and considerate — though one must always ensure kindness isn’t taken for granted.”
For him, kindness begins within. “Be true to yourself, be kind to yourself, and stay away from those who pull you down. When you treat yourself kindly and respect the uniqueness of others, you give the world an incredible gift… you.”
Because sometimes kindness doesn’t just lift you — it teaches you how to lift others.
When kindness sparked courage
For many, kindness isn’t comfort — it’s courage. It shows up as belief when yours is fading, or as the reminder that progress matters more than perfection.
For Tanvi, that moment reshaped her approach to leadership.
“It made me stop chasing perfection and start valuing progress,” she said. “Now I try to create the same space of trust for my team.”
For Jyoti, that insight guides her every day.
“People rarely remember the targets you hit,” she said. “They remember how you made them feel. Kindness doesn’t need to be loud — it just needs to be consistent.”
Both believe kindness doesn’t slow creativity down — it strengthens it.
“In an industry that glorifies hustle, kindness sustains people,” Jyoti added.
For Uddhav, empathy is what fuels great work.
“With GPT making people more insular, kindness will be the glue that keeps us connected,” he said. “It’s what helps colleagues share the load, helps clients trust agencies, and helps brave ideas find their way into the world.”
Because in a business built on big ideas, it’s often the smallest gestures that leave the longest echo — a senior quietly taking a brief off your plate, a friend reminding you to breathe, or a stranger opening a door when no one else would.
Sometimes it isn’t the campaigns that define our careers.
It’s the kindness that carries us through them.
