Guest Lecture By Mr. Partho Chakrabarti, Managing Director, Faber Castell India

His explanation of magic price points was the highlight of the session. The ultimate aim of any FMCG business is to reach out to every retail outlet of the market and make sure people buy the products, and pricing plays a very crucial role in achieving that target. Instead of offering ridiculously lower quantities of goods at a lower price, selling goods of improved quality at a higher price will be much more profitable. Mr Chakrabarti stressed the fact that adopting change is the key to be successful, citing the practice of portfolio transformation in the FMCG context. Moreover, it is not wise to sell the core products at a lower price than products that promise a healthier option for consumers. Mr Chakrabarti concluded this part of his session by explaining what Brand Stretch and Revenue Management mean and what their implications are.

Mr Chakrabarti’s session ended with a note on leadership qualities, where he emphasized diversity, empathy, resilience, and authenticity. His advice on “Talk like a Gandhi, act like a Hitler” left a strong impact on us. Moreover, he stated that disciplined growth provides the push in India, with factors such as digitization, health and wellness, nationalism and inspirational leadership playing significant roles. The audience was elated to be part of such an insightful session, as it gave an eye-opening perspective of being successful in the FMCG scene along with priceless tips on being effective leaders.