Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Interests
Timeline
Generic
Sonia Kapoor

Sonia Kapoor

MUMBAI

Summary


Experienced Media professional with a demonstrated history of driving businesses to profitability & sustained growth in the media industry.

Currently consulting brands and broadcasters on Content marketing solutions and product strategy.

Previously served in key leadership roles at The Network18 Group, most recently as the Business Head & Executive VP of Network18 ( News ) -The Focus Studio driving the monetization strategy and overall business growth of the special projects Unit,across all its media assets.

Specialties: Business Strategy, Business Management, Team Leadership,Brand Management, Revenue & Business Development, Digital Content and Marketing Strategy.

Overview

26
26
years of professional experience
5
5
Languages

Work History

Co-Founder

Birdsong Media Pvt. Ltd
Versova Beach,Mumbai
09.2019 - Current
  • Conducted target market research to scope out industry competition and identify advantageous trends.
  • Aligned organizational objectives with company mission to increase business growth and integrate work strategies.
  • Established foundational processes for business operations.
  • Developed key operational initiatives to drive and maintain substantial business growth.
  • Increased sales by 30% YoY
  • Recruited, interviewed and hired new staff members and developed training materials for employees.
  • Conducted target market research to discover customer needs and analyze competitor trends.
  • Directed market expansions to propel business forward, meet changing customer needs.
  • Prepared annual budgets with controls to prevent overages.
  • Evaluated suppliers to maintain cost controls and improve operations.
  • Established and administered annual budget with controls to prevent overages, minimize burn rate, and support sustainability objectives.

Head Branded Content -Innovation Studio

Zee Media Corporation Ltd
Mumbai
09.2022 - 10.2023
  • Formed strategic partnerships and connected with potential clients to drive business development.
  • Leveraged professional networks and industry knowledge to strengthen client relationships.
  • Cultivated forward-thinking, inclusive and performance-driven company culture to lead industry innovations.
  • Attracted major client, generating 75lacs in annual revenue under new Videos & Corporate films project.
  • Developed processes and procedures for studio and location productions.
  • Directed work of key team members to create cutting-edge cinematography work.
  • Monitored expenditures to mitigate risk of overages.
  • Negotiated terms of business acquisitions to increase business base and solidify market presence.
  • Cultivated interpersonal skills by building positive relationships with others.
  • Developed strong communication and organizational skills through working on group projects.
  • Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
  • Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
  • Applied effective time management techniques to meet tight deadlines.
  • Gained strong leadership skills by managing projects from start to finish.
  • Developed strong organizational and communication skills through coursework and volunteer activities.
  • Exercised leadership capabilities by successfully motivating and inspiring others.

Business Head & Executive VP @ NW18 Focus Studio

Network 18 Media & Investments India ltd
Mumbai
12.2015 - 07.2019
  • Drive revenue and monetization strategies across CNN News18 – India's number 1 English News Channel, CNBC-TV18 – India's number 1 Business News Channel Forbes – India's Marquee Business Magazine.
  • Grew business over 49% after taking over this portfolio. Managed consist growth YOY.
  • 80 % YoY growth in green field category's (Pharma |IT)
  • Cultivated long-term relationships through focused effort on customer's unique needs and finding best solutions.
  • Set and monitored annual budgets for departments and entire business.
  • Developed and implemented successful strategies for building company sales.
  • Develop, build and manage external stake holder relationships across advertisers and agencies to grow revenue and market share potential of above 3 brands
  • Drive highest revenue targets in a single year and re-established fundamentally strong relationships across advertiser/ agency ecosystem nationally
  • Represent our business at various conferences and forums
  • Increased lead over category no. 2, now effectively thrice as big
  • Increased profitability year on year, overachieved targets on both top line as well as bottom line.
  • Streamlined costs through proactive examination and improvement of operations.
  • Established and managed monthly, quarterly and yearly sales plans.
  • Developed, retained a strong talent pool. Recruit, train nurture 60-member team spanning functions of Business Development, Content Strategy, Marketing, Project Management, Production On Ground Execution.
  • Managed revenue models, process flows, operations support and customer engagement strategies.
  • Developed in-depth knowledge of each client's business through research and regular on-site meetings. Motivate team members to achieve optimal productivity.
  • Refined team structure to consolidate, streamline and delineate necessary functions.
  • Developed program to promote new managers from within, building and maintaining cohesive leadership structure.
  • Achieved under-budget and on-time project management to adhere to project goals.
  • Aligned organizational objectives with company mission, increasing revenue, profit and business growth by collaboratively developing integrated strategies.
  • Shaped solutions and approaches by leveraging trends in customer marketplaces and industries.
  • Developed and implemented new strategies and policies in collaboration with executive partners to establish and achieve long-term business objectives, providing company with strong and sustainable organizational leadership.



Sr. VP–National Revenue Head CNBC-TV18 &CNBC AWAAZ

National Revenue Head CNBC-TV18 & CNBC
Mumbai
05.2012 - 11.2015
  • Led Sales responsibilities for – CNBC-TV 18 & CNBC AWAAZ (English & Hindi Business Channels).
  • Develop strategic properties & Shows of commercial interest in collaboration with editorial
  • Identify key opportunities to grow brand spends strategically developed avenues to exceed sales, pricing and yield goals.
  • Build,train and manage a talented,motivated, sales & Operations team of passionate people.
  • Work seamlessly between sales channels and business functions to continue revenue growth.
  • Develop and implement best practices for client interaction, sales and services for CNBC-TV18 & CNBC AWAAZ.
  • Resolve problems, improve operations and provided exceptional client support.
  • Develop scalable operations solutions to support continued advertiser growth.
  • Interpret / Analyze Research data to make meaningful plans Ensuring our clients receive the highest level of sales and operational service.

Sr. Vice President Forbes India & CNBC Tv18

Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.
Mumbai
05.2010 - 06.2012
    • Launched Forbes India with successful advertiser traction and revenue
    • Five-fold increase in top line within 2 years in an otherwise shrinking business magazine market.
    • Established highest rates in the business magazine space.
    • Built,retained an outstanding sales team of consistent achievers.
    • Identified and monetized new market segments.
    • Developed new products to boost revenues and meet customer needs.
    • Standardized processes to efficiently capture sales activity reporting, client contact databases, key leads in progress, competition monitoring etc, which improved accuracy of sales forecasts and business planning.
    • Monitored social media and online sources for industry trends.

Vice President-(RM West & South CNBC TV 18 |Awaaz)

Network 18
Mumbai
08.2006 - 05.2010
    • Nurtured relationships with the top 10 clients and signed annual deals with an average of over Rs 100 million.
    • Devised a sales strategy for the Union Budget Sales.
    • Developed a talent pool of consistent achievers
    • Optimized the interest of each brand in the network sale.
    • Contributed 63% to the national revenue

Asst. Manager

The TV Today Network, AAJ TAK
Mumbai
04.2000 - 06.2002
  • Serviced leading clients & agencies in the Mumbai market.
  • Entrusted with Top 10 corporate accounts in the WEST.
  • Contributed 33% to the national revenue
  • Inducted into the National rate card team and Distribution synergies team.
  • Managed inventory control processes to restore back stock, control costs and maintain sales floor levels to meet customer needs.

Sr Executive

The INDIAN EXPRESS GROUP
Mumbai
04.1998 - 04.2000
  • In a short span brought out 8 mega successful, profitable features.
  • Created engaging and revenue enriching IP's across the various broadcast assets.

Education

J.D. - Sales process Excellence

INDIAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ( ISB)
Mumbai India
06.1994 - 2006.08

J.D. - Sales process Excellence

INDIAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ( ISB)
Hyderabad, TG
2006.06 - 2006.08

B.A - Psychology & Sociology

Sophia College -Mumbai University
Mumbai India
06.1991 - 1994.05

Skills

    Strategic Planning

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Accomplishments

  • Won the only Award for the “MOST PROMISING LEADER & SALESPERSON FOR THE YEAR 06-07”
  • Awarded “Quarter Cracker” Award for consistent performance Q on Q. (ACHIEVED 150% OF THE REGION'S SALES TARGET -2005
  • Awarded “Best Manager” for 2008-2009 -team of consistent performers & lowest attrition on a 3 years average, nationally.
  • Besides achieving regular targets, was recognized for highest number of First Time Advertisers on the Business Genre
  • Grew the Branded content business across the Network by 49% YoY.
  • Created engaging and revenue enriching IP's across the various broadcast assets

Interests

Reading -Fictional & Non Fictional

Listening to World Music

Timeline

Head Branded Content -Innovation Studio

Zee Media Corporation Ltd
09.2022 - 10.2023

Co-Founder

Birdsong Media Pvt. Ltd
09.2019 - Current

Business Head & Executive VP @ NW18 Focus Studio

Network 18 Media & Investments India ltd
12.2015 - 07.2019

Sr. VP–National Revenue Head CNBC-TV18 &CNBC AWAAZ

National Revenue Head CNBC-TV18 & CNBC
05.2012 - 11.2015

Sr. Vice President Forbes India & CNBC Tv18

Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.
05.2010 - 06.2012

Vice President-(RM West & South CNBC TV 18 |Awaaz)

Network 18
08.2006 - 05.2010

Asst. Manager

The TV Today Network, AAJ TAK
04.2000 - 06.2002

Sr Executive

The INDIAN EXPRESS GROUP
04.1998 - 04.2000

J.D. - Sales process Excellence

INDIAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ( ISB)
06.1994 - 2006.08

B.A - Psychology & Sociology

Sophia College -Mumbai University
06.1991 - 1994.05

J.D. - Sales process Excellence

INDIAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ( ISB)
2006.06 - 2006.08
Sonia Kapoor