IAA presents Brand Mantra 2017

In line with its commitment to build capability and talent in Sri Lanka across marketing and advertising tale, IAA unveils the much awaited Brand Mantra 2017.
Brand Mantra is one of the mantra series that has been conducted in Sri Lanka by the IAA over many years. First begun in 2006, the Brand Mantra series has provided a much needed platform for organisations to build talent and groom leaders of tomorrow. 
Commenting on the sustained commitment to build talent IAA’s President Laila Gunasekera-Martenstyne said, “Looking back, we are proud to have played a role in moulding of some of the leaders in the sphere of marketing and communications today through the capability work that IAA has pioneered in Sri Lanka”.  

 
So what is Brand Mantra 2017 about?
The background insight to developing the exciting programme for 2017 was that today many companies are looking for an edge to do better, grow faster and win more consumers in their business. Today many corporates have invested in professionally qualified young people, but is that enough to win out there? Whilst it is essential to inculcate, challenge and train individuals in their core skills, there is a need for organisations to be more creative. Why more creative?? 
Whilst many chase after technology and the next new space in Digital, we believe that technology will only enable possibilities for brands and businesses. If businesses are to grow disproportionately, irrespective of the sphere of business, firstly we have to be relevant and we have to connect with those we seek to serve and delight. 
In other words, we have to connect with them via a strong idea. At the end it’s about how breakthrough and how creative your idea is. This idea has to be relevant to masses and to individuals, must be relevant across socio economic groups and likes. How can we all create such ideas? Ideas that win not only in the board rooms but also in the market place and in the hearts of those who choose our brands.
Thus was born the theme of Brand Mantra 2017.

Technology enables possibilities; creativity creates value 
Commenting on the 2-day workshop the project chairperson Ramani Samarasundera stated that the programme is designed to expose participants to the latest thinking in marketing. The progamme design, a two-day/one night residential programme, will help participants think creatively and anew, in their day to day job and bring in a new dimension to the marketing function of the company. It will offer a great networking opportunity and a chance to have some fun.
This year we will see both regional and local experts inspire and challenge the teams on the importance of creating value through creativity. We will also see a change in format from the traditional case-study based approached to many more resource input and on-the-go immersion sessions from groups in order to maximise resources and also to give the teams as much as they can soak up in the 2 days.
We will also be having 2 breakout sessions, one on each day in which participants can choose to take part in sessions that pique their curiosity and excite them most. From equipping them with tools for creativity the programme also promises to inspire them with stories of well known brands that have made waves in Colombo. 
Are you a young professional in the pursuit of the consumer - be it in brand management, account management or the media industry? Do you want to learn from some of the best marketers in the country and the region? Do you want to learn the latest thinking on brands, media, communication and leadership? Above all do you want be excited about the possibilities of being creative and cracking that awesome idea?
Then Brand Mantra is for you.
To the organisations - what are we offering different this year with Brand Mantra? The promise is clear. We will send back to you young people with a renewed passion and vigour to understand their brands/consumers better. Young people who will be inspired and motivated to give it all, who will be raring to go, to charge to drive and to win. The programme content is targeted at young managers with 1-2 years’ experience, but would be relevant even for those with more years of experience given the content/structure and speakers lined up for the programme.