In an era where the digital landscape relentlessly reshapes business paradigms, the limitations of traditional marketing have become glaringly apparent, compelling organizations to embrace the digital realm. Yet, for startups, SMEs, and micro-enterprises, the investment in specialized digital marketing expertise often remains an insurmountable hurdle. Manjula Subhash Nair, a visionary leader whose emergence has ignited a revolution in the marketing industry. More than a Corporate and Business Coach, she is a Go-to-Market & corporate Comm Strategy Consultant, a motivational industry speaker, and a university syllabus creator on the principles of entrepreneurship. Her multifaceted expertise, honed through years of experience and reinforced by her role as a Stanford Seed Mentor and former news reporter, positions her as a transformative force.
Manjula’s core strengths span the gamut of modern marketing, from recruitment marketing communications and strategic planning to corporate communications and sales enablement. Her digital marketing prowess, coupled with her adapt leadership skills, empowers her to navigate complex team structures and drive impactful results. Her ability to craft compelling narratives, visualize engaging content, and remain at the forefront of technological trends makes her an invaluable asset.
Driven by a career objective to propel organizational growth through strategic marketing communications, Manjula is not just adapting to the evolving marketing landscape; she is actively reshaping it.
Bringing an Unparalleled Blend of Expertise and Innovation
At Global CMO Partners, “Our approach to marketing is deeply rooted in creating long-term impact rather than just short-term wins. We believe that true transformation happens when marketing goes beyond visibility and actively contributes to business growth. One of the best examples of this is a project we undertook for a mid-sized IT services company that was struggling to carve out a unique identity in an increasingly competitive market,” shares Manjula, who established the parent company in 2015.
When the client approached Global CMO Partners, they were facing challenges in brand positioning, lead generation, and overall market differentiations. Manjula adds, “Instead of providing them with a standard marketing plan, we redesigned their entire go-to-market strategy to align with their business objectives. We helped them define a strong brand narrative, establish thought leadership, and implement public relations and digital marketing initiatives that were not just about driving traffic but about bringing in high-value leads and enabling sales. We also facilitated strategic partnerships and media exposure to enhance their credibility in the industry.”
Over 18 months, the client company witnessed a remarkable shift—they tripled their revenue, built a strong pipeline of enterprise clients, and solidified their market position. More than the numbers, what stood out was the way marketing became an engine for sustainable growth rather than just a promotional function.
This project, like many others, reflects Manjula and her company’s unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation. “Our clients stay with us for the long term because they see us as more than a service provider—we become growth enablers who deeply invest in their success. That’s what truly defines our work and sets us apart.”
From Pharmacy to Podium: An Unconventional Beginning
Manjula’s trajectory, a tapestry woven with diverse threads, reveals a trailblazer whose journey defied conventional paths. Born in Punjab and raised amidst the disciplined environment of an army background in Bengaluru, she navigated her formative years through Army School and Seshadripuram College. Her initial foray into higher education was in Pharmacy. This path soon diverged as her innate affinity for the vibrant world of media and advertising surfaced during early project involvement. This spark ignited a fervent exploration of the industry’s multifaceted landscape, leading her to train as a fashion choreographer, a testament to her versatility.
Her professional narrative took a pivotal turn when she became an international concert organizing companies first female field executive, managing artists and record label relations, a role that broke new ground. An unexpected opportunity to work as a production manager on a Hollywood film further broadened her horizons. This experience served as a bridge to client servicing roles at global advertising giants like Ogilvy & Mather and Lowe Lintas, where she honed her understanding of branding, storytelling, and strategic communication through close collaboration with corporate MarCom (Marketing and Communication) professionals.
Forging Corporate Pathways: Ascending the MarCom Ladder
The corporate sector beckoned, and Manjula transitioned seamlessly, assuming MarCom roles at Hewlett-Packard, followed by leadership roles at Sapient Corporation (Now known as Publicis Sapient), Satyam Computers (acquired by Tech Mahindra), and Amdocs. Her ascent through the ranks culminated in senior leadership positions as GM – MarCom and eventually as a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), solidifying her reputation as a strategic powerhouse.
After two decades of shaping corporate narratives, Manjula embarked on an entrepreneurial venture in 2015, launching an outsourced CMO organization. Recognizing the burgeoning startup ecosystem in India and the acute need for high-level marketing expertise among companies unable to afford full-time strategists, her venture quickly gained momentum. Being an early mover in this space was highly beneficial.
Entrepreneurial Ignition: Bridging the Strategic Marketing Gap
Today, her parent company, Creative Bharat Group, encompasses four distinct initiatives, each reflecting her multifaceted expertise and entrepreneurial spirit. Global CMO Partners, the marketing outsourcing arm, addresses the strategic marketing needs of diverse clients. Global NEWS Terminal, a public relations arm, amplifies brand narratives and fosters media relations. Creative Bharat, a business news reporting platform, provides insightful coverage through podcasts, broadcasts, and publications. StartUp to StandOut, a startup mentorship platform, empowers aspiring entrepreneurs with guidance and resources.
Manjula’s multifaceted ventures reflect her commitment to empowering businesses and shaping the future of marketing communications; her journey is a testament to her unwavering drive and strategic vision.
In 2015, Manjula’s venture coincided with the nascent stages of digital marketing’s ascent. Recognizing the industry’s rapid saturation, she differentiated her approach by addressing a critical strategic void. While digital agencies focused on execution, her model provided comprehensive 360° Marketing & Communications strategies, a service startups, MSME’s and mid-sized firms desperately needed.
The Mentorship Model: Cultivating Trust and Expertise
Pioneering an outsourced CMO model, she offered access to seasoned strategists, filling the gap for companies lacking senior marketing leadership. Her focus extended beyond digital tactics, emphasizing robust go-to-market strategies and mentorship. The success stemmed from experience, adaptability, and a commitment to tangible business outcomes, prioritizing sustainable growth over mere marketing metrics. This philosophy cemented her unique position in the industry.
To ensure her company’s adaptability, Manjula prioritized pro-bono mentorship for founders and CEOs, fostering trust and establishing her expertise. This strategy cultivated client relationships organically, with mentees becoming clients. Collaborations with incubation centres like COEP’s Bhau Institute, Google powered Startup Grind and various Incubation Centers including AICs solidified her industry presence.
Responding to the government’s focus on entrepreneurship, she developed syllabus for colleges, impacting millions of students. Mentoring over 1,000 companies and guiding 10,000+ founders marked significant milestones. This approach, centred on continuous adaptation and impactful mentorship, positioned her company as a leader in innovative marketing solutions.
An All-Inclusive Leadership
Recognized as an empowering force behind all her organizations’ success, Manjula’s leadership approach is distinctive. She says, “Passion brought me into this industry, and my leadership approach reflects that same ethos—I believe in freedom, trust, and empowerment.”
She fosters an open-door policy, where anyone—regardless of hierarchy—can approach her without prior appointments to discuss professional or personal challenges. This culture of transparency and accessibility ensures that her team feels heard and valued.
Early in her career, Manjula was fortunate to have exceptional leaders who trusted her with responsibilities and encouraged her to experiment and grow. “I apply the same principle in my leadership—giving young professionals the space to explore, innovate, and take ownership of their work.”
Additionally, she ensures constant engagement with her team through:
✔ Regular morale check-ins.
✔ Knowledge-sharing sessions on industry trends.
✔ Inviting client speakers for insights.
✔ Open discussions on new client acquisitions and business challenges.
A company’s success is not defined by an individual—it’s built by the collective strength of a committed and motivated team, says Manjula. “My role is to nurture, guide, and create an environment where innovation thrives.”
Manjula’s approach to marketing centred on impactful innovation, not just trend adherence. Her company’s evolution involved adapting to technologies and customer expectations while prioritizing user experience. They balanced AI-driven analytics and automation with human-centric marketing, ensuring personalized content and genuine engagement.
Her strategies avoided mechanical impersonality, placing people first. The aim was to deliver effective, scalable, and resonant marketing solutions. This blend of operational efficiency and user-focused storytelling differentiated her services, enabling clients to achieve sustainable growth through meaningful connections.
Sustainability’s Advocate: Shaping Responsible Business Practices
Manjula’s company integrates sustainability beyond mere rhetoric, embedding it within their operational ethos and client empowerment strategies. Recognizing their influence in shaping industry narratives, they champion eco-friendly practices, from minimizing office waste to promoting digital-first marketing, reducing their carbon footprint.
Their impact extends to clients, helping them amplify sustainability efforts through strategic PR, thought leadership, and storytelling. They craft compelling campaigns, aligning clients with green influencers and forums, increasing visibility and setting industry benchmarks.
Beyond communications, they mentor businesses in integrating sustainability into core strategies through pro-bono programs and collaborations with incubation centres and academic institutions. Their focus on educating future entrepreneurs ensured the next generation prioritized environmental responsibility. By driving sustainability conversations and inspiring best practices, they actively shape a greener future.
Technology as the Tenet: Innovation and User-Centric Strategies
Manjula’s company recognizes technology as the bedrock of modern marketing, not just an auxiliary tool. They streamline operations, enhance engagement, and optimize sales through strategic tech integration. Social media strategies, driven by data and real-time insights, helped clients establish impactful digital footprints.
AI is leveraged to simplify complex processes, from customer segmentation to automated content creation, increasing efficiency and conversion rates. Marketing automation tools enhance customer journeys, ensuring seamless touchpoints. CRM systems and AI-driven insights enable hyper-personalized campaigns.
They embrace emerging technologies like AR, voice search optimization, and blockchain, ensuring clients remain ahead of industry trends—their approach centres on adapting to digital advancements to drive sales and foster sustainable growth. By staying technologically agile, they empower businesses to scale effectively in a digital-first world.
Democratizing Marketing: Expanding Reach and Empowering Communities
She acknowledges the 20th century’s technological progress, but also its environmental cost. Modern entrepreneurs, she believes, must prioritize sustainable and responsible businesses, focusing on green technologies and conscious capitalism.
Furthermore, she champions intrapreneurship, advocating for an ownership mindset within organizations. For women entrepreneurs, she encourages fearlessness and ownership, stressing the importance of learning, mentorship, and vision. She believes the future belongs to those who innovate purposefully and lead with integrity.
A 360-Degree Digital Approach
Manjula’s company transcends traditional marketing, focusing on continuous engagement and immersive brand experiences. They craft 360° strategies, merging digital engagement, storytelling, and technology to maintain client visibility.
They emphasize immersive experiences, leveraging AI and AR/VR to create memorable customer journeys. Experiential campaigns and personalized digital touchpoints foster emotional connections and perceived value.
Recognizing customer loyalty’s foundation in trust and value, they prioritize community building and long-term relationships over short-term sales. Data-driven insights and AI-powered automation enable personalized engagement and anticipate customer needs.
Their customer-centric, tech-driven approach shifts marketing from mere reach to meaningful engagement, empowering businesses to create lasting impact.
Cultivating Empowering Workforce Culture
Manjula cultivates a workplace where continuous growth and empowerment thrive, mirroring her own career’s mentorship-driven trajectory. Recognizing marketing’s dynamic nature, she embeds real-time skill development through hands-on experience and industry exposure.
Her company encourages experimentation with new strategies and AI solutions, fostering a culture of learning through knowledge-sharing and advanced courses. She empowers her team with project ownership and strategic decision-making, mirroring the trust she received early in her career.
An open-door culture promotes collaboration and values individual contributions. She believes in building success through collective growth and nurturing talent into industry-leading professionals.
Resiliently Removing Challenges
Initially, startups viewed Manjula’s corporate background as premium and out of reach. To bridge this gap, she launched Creative Bharat, a YouTube platform dedicated to amplifying startup voices, and actively sponsored industry events, creating direct engagement opportunities and fostering trust within the ecosystem.
She also learned to adapt her corporate-structured company to a bootstrapped environment. Realizing agility was key, she shifted to cross-functional collaboration, encouraging employees to take on broader responsibilities. This fostered ownership and growth.
Through resilience and innovation, she transformed initial challenges into opportunities, shaping her company’s continued success.
Building a Legacy: Impact Beyond Revenue
Manjula recognizes that modern entrepreneurship while embracing innovation, must retain the core values of traditional business: relationships, trust, and long-term value. She emphasizes the importance of human connection and authentic customer service amidst digital advancements.
Manjula’s vision extends beyond revenue growth, aiming to democratize marketing expertise across India, reaching Tier 2, Tier 3, and rural areas. She seeks to empower smaller enterprises with high-quality strategies, bridging the gap between them and large corporations.
She prioritizes education, advocating for entrepreneurship programs in local languages to broaden accessibility. Mentoring senior school students is crucial, fostering entrepreneurial thinking and nurturing future business leaders.
Her company remains at the forefront of marketing evolution, leveraging AI and digital transformation. She envisions a legacy where impactful marketing drives business success, empowers individuals, transforms communities, and fuels India’s entrepreneurial growth. Her focus is on creating a sustainable and inclusive ecosystem, ensuring that the benefits of strategic marketing reach all corners of the nation.
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