Latest / The Collaborative Canvas Podcast / The Helm 2 0 where conversations are preferred over panels and presentations. | Hemant Arora decodes
Transcript
- speaker-0: you speaker-1: Welcome to the collaborative service. speaker-0: you I your first question. speaker-1: When you from the content, you have any panel, presentation or any case study. How did this idea get inspired? speaker-0: Do you remember our interaction? We were Thailand... Right, right, right, right. The things that I left from those conferences were not the presentations. They not any seminars. speaker-1: wanted to know what idea started and how far it and what the story behind Canvas Podcast. Today's conversation where I'm actually heading to is a little different. I've seen most of those podcasts sitting out of the studios. We're talking to people, we're knowing what is happening but I'm sure you guys have must have helped and this podcast around the inception, the starting point of help, why it all started and we are decoding a lot more with those conversations. This is a little unique and a different as well because we're not again shooting out of a studio but we are shooting out of a location which has... NC. We just got a call from Heymanth. better you Okay, I'm reaching there in 5 minutes. Wonderful! See you in 5 minutes. And that was Hemant. So we are just about to reach the venue in five minutes and then where we will be decoding what exactly is happening in the world of market research, the consumer insight, technology, and this whole conversation that we are going to decode in the real event at the helm. You'll get to see a lot more before that. Let's get to the studios and discuss why helm and why it all started. ⁓ Amazing it was almost a good ride and I'm pretty excited about the place as well as the conversation that we're going to have speaker-0: You me how are you? How much time did it take? Come, let's go! speaker-1: Welcome to the Collaborative Canvas Podcast. Today's conversation is a little different. The story we capturing is also a little different. And the reason very simple. Collaborative Canvas has always been known for its conversations that we do. We don't script the conversation. We don't talk about basic question and answer. We just simply open our hearts. We talk about what our hearts. We expect that they will come up with the answers that they believe in themselves, they believe when they inspire somebody else and when they believe when they start something around. today's conversation is more about changing a tradition that we have in market research industry and that tradition is of very traditional conferences. There is a platform that has this tradition. speaker-0: Help, speaker-1: this tradition, the issue was in and many people attended it. that time, I only a questions But now it's year, so I have more questions for them. I just wanted to know where idea started and how far it will And what's the whole story behind it. So let's decode it. We are joined by Hemant. Hemant is one of the founders from Helm. And we wanted to understand from Hemant as to where this whole thing started. Welcome, Hemant. Wonderful. speaker-0: Mayankesh, how are you? You portrayed Will there any chance for me ⁓ to ⁓ speaker-1: The thing I wanted to is that traditional research and conferences and there many people who questions and they think of they don't get output and they go and come back conference again. Apparently they every time. But when you had conferences last time, you didn't any panel in speaker-0: channel. speaker-1: Neither did any presentation nor you any case study. So how this of a sudden get that we should something different? speaker-0: It was not all of a sudden I would say it was a combination of all the experiences I have gained so far. So I have been to numerous of conferences in India and abroad. Those were not the presentations or not any seminars. At the end of the day what I can recall is the people whom I have met. Not on stages, not on mics. the people I have interacted with over a coffee or maybe on a drink or having a sutta with them during the off hours so those things I more than the presentations so I thought we should do something which is not happening right now so we should give more space to those conversations which actually is needed so there we this thought and I think that's it speaker-1: So to what were the conversations that you decoded on the coffee, on the tea, during the break, what were conversations that inspired you to start the film? But before that, the hub of speaker-0: Excellency and leadership in market research. speaker-1: and market pieces. So again, excellence and leadership. So how you different? speaker-0: So I your first question. So you said tell me about that experience. ⁓ do you remember our interaction? We Thailand. Right, right, right. We on coffee break. guess we attended a presentation, I guess on AI or something. But we met during that coffee break and we had a long chat on ⁓ that AI can and how it will. speaker-1: I'll be right back. speaker-0: And that stayed with us, not the presentation which we attended, but the conversation which we had over coffee that stayed with us and that has helped us in I guess we are a good, good, good friends now. speaker-1: I agree. think most of those conversations people generally have during these conferences because the keep You every paper unless there is an exclusive paper presentation. speaker-0: I would say that presentation is not important. They help us in understanding new methodology. ⁓ speaker-1: you ⁓ speaker-0: Correct, correct. And I remember who gave us conversation. speaker-1: So ⁓ again, we say, many conferences, our traditional conferences, not necessarily market research, even beyond market research, they always claim that this will be session. You have networking throughout. speaker-0: ⁓ That's what the concept is, we should meet people. Networking, ⁓ we actually, I think we have confused networking with meeting people. ⁓ You can meet 20 people, can collect 40 business cards, you can introduce yourself. But that one conversation where you sit with the person and you both understand each other, problems or the solutions of any any defined thing would have been a better storyline rather than just collecting 20 business card on a networking event. So that's what we thought we should have more ⁓ open and honest conversation rather than just introducing each other and what do you do and then a sales pitch. speaker-1: So exactly the intention was clear to speaker-0: I don't think we were clear from but we knew what we wanted to start and it happened gradually as well. We got to know that we can do this as well. And that's how it was not that we had the idea of what want to speaker-1: intentionally. ⁓ Because you are giving a lot of surprises in Health 2.0 Which is what I more curious now What is thing that you not doing? speaker-0: We will be announcing soon over till next couple of days or maybe next couple of weeks. speaker-1: There's this know from the traditional research other than panel presentation which people generally talk about. What is that you intentionally thought that we won't we'll something speaker-0: What I believe is we didn't want people to just meet for selling their business or buying something like I come to you, I sell my service, I do this, blah, blah, blah. And you say like we will get to know, we'll come back to you. We don't want this as a sales or maybe a ⁓ revenue stream for anyone. We want this to be a networking event where people can actually be honest and open about their thoughts. So I think we don't want to be, we didn't want to be a typical presentation kind of panel kind of discussion we wanted. So that's the intention that we don't want to become that. speaker-1: So one thing is clear that in traditional conferences, as light conferences, you it heavy and zeroed speaker-0: Right, zeroed it. But I would say that presentation is equally important but think conversation better for us speaker-1: are people craving right Knowledge, industry, trust, are Belongingness? speaker-0: I think it's combination of everything but ⁓ if you to one thing then I would say trust since since knowledge you can you have access to multiple platforms so you have access to AIs, chatbots you can go and can read about anything over internet but trust is something which you build over the years ⁓ meeting someone or maybe having a detailed conversation, in-depth conversation with someone that I think trust would be something that that's more industry is seeking. speaker-1: But still, ⁓ I think that's a beautiful answer first of all Trust builds itself. Once you it won't happen. speaker-0: You can follow someone on LinkedIn for over the years ⁓ but once you meet them you would have a better connection rather speaker-1: Bye. And in fact, it after only. trust is built. speaker-0: My philosophy is also I can come to you, what do you do and it can become a sales pitch but the end goal should not the end goal of Once we should start the relationship, business will automatically follow I guess. speaker-1: Beautiful. In that case, will go to the question. What do you think some of the best conversations were actually happening ⁓ outside of the conference hall and not inside? speaker-0: Actually during the presentations or seminars, I think people people are performing they want to give their best They want to showcase their product. There's themselves as best So I don't think that's that's bad. But when when you talk to them, they they do have challenges They have have problems. In fact, there's a lot of challenges are in the space facing bots AI frauds speaker-1: He doesn't talk about I don't know where he speaker-0: There many challenges that you can't solve with For that you need to have a dialogue You need to sit with someone You need to brainstorm things You need to come up with a solution With presentation I don't think In that person tries his best, honest You meet him at the coffee They will tell you about the problem they are currently facing If they will tell you, maybe you will have that problem too and you both can come up with a solution. So that's why I thought. speaker-1: What was best conversation when you started going to the conferences? think almost more than 5-7 years you have been doing conferences. speaker-0: Alright guys, it's been 5 years almost. speaker-1: So what was best conversation? The copy was small but it kept and you a client and you are working speaker-0: There were multiple but I have attended a sea level dinner in Europe somewhere. That's again a thought we need to think of. That was prior to the event. So the event was happening on I guess I don't remember the exact date. So for example, it's starting from tomorrow. So there was a dinner before the event and that was attended by sea level executives or leadership team. from different companies and we sat for the dinner and we had multiple conversation over different and number of topics there was no agenda no no panel discussion nothing any no topic were given or that you need to speak on this that nothing it was an open open forum we were all sitting on a dinner table and it was somewhere around I guess 40-45 people were sitting on a dinner table and There were multiple discussions on different things. I think that was one of the best conferences I have. Conference or maybe dinner you can say I have attended. speaker-1: where you actually build the trust as well because you were talking very openly and speaker-0: I had a couple of hours to sit with someone and get into in-length discussion with them over different things and it turned out really well for us. speaker-1: looks like you are very much advocating the physical communities than online communities. Building physical communities rather I would say. speaker-0: I think I'm more inclined toward physical communities since and since I personally believe that human touch and sense is very very much important. Technology can help you with interacting with someone you have different platforms where you can interact with a lot of people but it cannot give you the feeling or maybe maybe the emotions which which needed in our industry. Our industry is very collaborative. You can, I guess you're working with a lot of people on daily basis but you have not met them but once you meet them you will realize that there's a lot more potential to it. So I think physical mobility I would say I'm more inclined towards. speaker-1: So you think that has that become more transactional in nature in building up the communities and being in a human network? Yeah, even online webinars would also do that same thing. speaker-0: That would do. I don't think that would do. ⁓ Let's take an example for a focus group discussion here, if you say so. Client can easily go and watch the or maybe take the transcript or can analyze the data from that. But client also prefer to be there at the moment. They want to understand the thoughts or maybe face expressions or how exactly the respondent is reflecting his behavior openly. So that I think is... speaker-1: It's a big one. speaker-0: It's important. speaker-1: Let's to the help, when the 2025 edition came out, you lot of innovations in I mean think that was first trial towards making the help successful which is why you're doing 2.0. So what was the surprising element? speaker-0: ticket. So I remember I was standing near to the exit of the room and I was just observing people. There were no phones in hand. People were talking to each other. Groups were forming naturally. People were talking with great interest. They stayed over. Even when the event was over, were a lot of people who didn't go, who wanted to stay for a while more. ⁓ because they had good conversations. So that's when we thought that this we didn't think that that would happen. But then we realized we were not just hosting an event. We were building a community for them. speaker-1: So, when you enter, generally this happens you enter, to the registration desk, then you go ahead, then a tea, coffee, networking, a small zone, then an MC comes, makes an announcement, everyone sits I can tell you, when I reached there, after the registration desk, I all people from speaker-0: Right, that then. There was no flow, that's what we said, we didn't keep any agenda. You are free to talk to anybody. speaker-1: It was more of an open forum. It was like I the branch or agency that in place. Even in most people live In that event, there no gathering that only branch is sitting here, agency is data collectors are sitting here and they are secretly to other. They were very openly discussing it. At one point of time, you realize that speaker-0: the day one. speaker-1: My surprising element has Now let's see if it or speaker-0: So like I said, at time you only said that you interacted with a lot of people We didn't actually intentionally, we didn't do it We didn't ask anyone to talk to a lot of people We wanted to though, but we cannot say that Of course, we cannot We cannot control the crowd But when those groups were forming then naturally people were interacting There were no phone checks You can and talk Being a client, agency speaker-1: control the stuff. speaker-0: We didn't exchange business cards there. We have made natural flow people. speaker-1: People know the other person as well. ⁓ speaker-0: Even after the event we got to know that people are still connected with them There were a lot of people who didn't know each other but they know each other now Even they have asked us, is he also coming Because he stayed with him, he stayed connected with that person So that was the most surprising element we thought ended as a success element I would say as well We didn't want that we 1000 attendees We want whatever people we have should bring meaning to the conversation and should have an open and honest conversation at the. speaker-1: So Heman, at what point of time the crew of Helm decided that we to 2.0 You took time and digested events happened in the event and you out and said that let's see how the responses are how feedbacks are and then we will or you just out and said that we to 2.0 speaker-0: I think we didn't even during the event when me and Nitin were just standing and watching the crowd and the entire event going very well we didn't know it was an experiment for us as well it was an experiment it would have been a bad experience as well but it turned out to be a very good one so when standing we saw that now it's a success speaker-1: masking speaker-0: people are interacting, there are people and everyone is enjoying it at their own pace. We thought that there, next we want something more, we want it to be bigger. speaker-1: So the surprise is that this time it is more big ⁓ and bigger rather. So ⁓ how big? speaker-0: That's still subjective you would say if you compare it with the very big one I would say it would be still small but compared to the last one it would be very big I think ⁓ twice the energy, twice the flow, twice the audience and ⁓ twice the experience and fun as well. speaker-1: The second year is here, you are so pumped up that you the expressions on that you 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. So I think your train is Let's figure out what is going to and what are your on Do you think you this community to where you not any presentations, any panels or you something unique about speaker-0: ⁓ I think like the word which word you use community so that's it started. ⁓ we didn't want it to be we just don't want to be hosting an event, an evening. We don't want it to be remembered as an evening where we can have fun. We just don't want to do that. We want to build a community for the insights industry for market research industry. We want to make a global insight. ⁓ I would say a community for our leaders, for market researchers where a young professional who has just entered into the market research can easily go up to a veteran and can ask questions and can get mentored. I want people, ⁓ client side person to be talking to a technology platformer. So we want to build a community where people can talk freely, can be honest. I think I've said it more than a couple of times already. ⁓ So we, during five years or maybe in the next five years, we just ⁓ don't want if anyone would say that your hell night is great. We just don't want that. We want I have gained, I've made five connections. I've made five friends. I've ⁓ joined the industry because of hell. I got to know about the industry because of hell. Someone has mentored me and I'm at this level now because of hell. If that's the feedback we are getting after 5 years, I think we have done our part. That's the success, I would say we will measure it in this way. speaker-1: So I think it's almost for everybody there's something that you are giving away. Basically making it more of an excellence and leadership beyond market research, within market research but beyond leadership and excellence. You're creating the entire hub even for a scholar, even for a leader. speaker-0: want to Even for a student as well I would say. There are surprises for students as well. You will get to know it soon. That's too much of a ask but I think we will grow. speaker-1: AI is also evolving, there many changes in you will see is going on because I am sure you the previous Helm to the other Helm, you are saying it is going twice as fun, twice as learning, twice as excellence, so will that be 10x? speaker-0: I think it should be. think it should be. We have a vision. So we have planned already planned for next few years. But if it would say 10 years, it's still a long time. But we would want to global beyond. We don't want to define it within a particular geography. I think we will expand it to. speaker-1: So ladies and gentlemen, is Helm which is going beyond boundaries, which is just haven't confirmed. lot is yet to so wait for But Helm 2.0 has twice as fun, twice as excellence, twice as leadership growth. And I think a very good thing that Hemant has said is that even a student who is coming to that forum, and think last time you had some students. speaker-0: There were some students, we wanted to give them the exposure of the industry, we wanted to learn more about the industry. So if we have the platform, we are ready to give back. It's our way of giving back to the society. speaker-1: Students can to their mentors. Market research society is growing in way. know that own market research society is making for Helmshad. Because it is that we the whole society to the inside industry. We have seen how inside industry has grown over the period of years. Before we close on to the rapid fire which I do in one very important question which my mind was that if someone to and comes associate with what experience are who doesn't know about the helmet? speaker-0: So if there someone who who for example let's take it as an event or the evening for now. So if he is entering I want him to just not part of his company just not think himself as part of his company or maybe organization. speaker-1: He's not to be associated more like a brand, he should be himself. speaker-0: Yeah, we want him to be associated within the industry, not just define himself within that organization, but he should he should feel the sense of belonging to the industry. He should be ⁓ if even we have been there, we go to some conferences where we don't know anybody. There are conferences in different languages as well, which we have already been to as in a kind of experiment. So we didn't know anyone. But when we came back, we interacted with someone. speaker-1: Of course, mean like there are hundreds of people but when we come back we at least come back with 10 people that we continue the relationship speaker-0: even not 10 maybe if I may 5, 5, 5, 5, the day he comes back to his room and he thinks that now I know five people in the industry who can refer me, who can mentor me, who can advise me, who can give me learnings or maybe I can give them back as well. So I think that that's the thought I want him to take back him. ⁓ speaker-1: So that was Helm 2.0. again, there one portion left which is my exclusive rapid fire. So we'll just come back with the rapid fire round now. So Hemant, 10 rapid fire rounds. Should 10 seconds or you won't speaker-0: I think let's start. I thought I will ask you speaker-1: One thing MR conferences should stop doing. speaker-0: ⁓ fitting in too much, too much fitting in one day. speaker-1: One thing networking events gets completely wrong. speaker-0: So there's someone who gave the feedback that no debt by PPT for our health first edition. speaker-1: I remember that. speaker-0: So yeah, we think that PPT is making great progress, but I think there's a real human connection is missing. speaker-1: And I'm sure, the first helm was a very curated room. You decided who is coming and who is And Radhar, also decided that you kept an open forum. But again, small curated rooms or mega conferences? speaker-0: small curated room any day small curated rooms here you should have meaningful conversation rather call quality always bypassed speaker-1: limited time conferences, your two-day conferences. speaker-0: depends, there is a debatable one but I think both formats works well if you have planned it correctly. speaker-1: Because HEM is more of a limited time conference because that is where you the 10 minutes that you it 4 hours. speaker-0: Like you have asked what's our vision for next 10 years, maybe we can go for 2 days as well. speaker-1: Could be let's go to Hawaii. One industry buzzword you have tried of tired of hearing. yes, seriously. Coffee conversations or panel discussions. One type of person every industry room needs. speaker-0: Yeah, could be. Unable coffee conversation. ⁓ I think someone who can ask questions, I think stupid or not stupid, ⁓ unconventional questions in a room. speaker-1: Is LinkedIn networking authentic or performative? speaker-0: I think for now it is performative but it should be authentic. speaker-1: One thing people underestimate about community building. speaker-0: We often forget trust in building the communities. So that's that's one thing. speaker-1: What makes someone memorable in the room? speaker-0: Asking questions? speaker-1: if he asks the right question. speaker-0: That was the right question, maybe the wrong question as well. ⁓ speaker-1: More like, no, if you're in a room you should speak. speaker-0: You should listen, listen and speak as well. think listening is also, I would like to change my answer. Listening. Often underestimate listening. We say that it's a presentation, it's a presentation. You need to attend this seminar or anything, but we often forget to listen to those conversations or maybe. speaker-1: It's like a 100 % ⁓ Back Bench Conference or Front Bench Conference speaker-0: I somewhat admitted. speaker-1: One thing the industry pretends to value but it doesn't. speaker-0: I I've already answered it. Listening would be, we pretend to listen but we don't. Again, that's the same answer. speaker-1: I think listening becomes pretty evident and you to this podcast, least didn't too much into it. We too much into it. We only get the basic essence behind why this helm was Again, it has a very deep meaning It's a hub, which means they're building a community, which means they're keeping the leadership at a level where everybody can learn from them, which means that they are creating an excellence out of it. So not necessarily you're coming for networking, you're meeting people and people or other folks and then you're going out of the conference and then coming back again. But they're creating an avenue where you can simply go and ask, that I this problem, I don't understand this and you have a full house of goldmine from which you any question whether it's qualitative, or quant, or online panel. There is no such thing that you won't get And at the end of the day, when you step out, like it was that it's a place where it was a place of death. Backed by PPT. So you have so much of a cloud in your head that you can go and simply expose and get as much as you know output from the hell. I would probably again invite you. ⁓ I am there. ⁓ The entire crew is there and we love to welcome you at the conference. speaker-0: No, no, no, no, no, no, speaker-1: I think not contents. I think it's a photo. speaker-0: It's a beautiful evening. speaker-1: It's a beautiful evening as Hemant mentioned and believe me, happening where it happened and this time it's massive. And massive doesn't mean 2X, I think it's to huge. They didn't me but I'm sure there's a lot to come from these guys. But let's keep that as a surprise. Let them show what they have in their kitty and be there on time because I'm sure you to this fun. Thank you so much. speaker-0: Thank you, ⁓ speaker-1: Looking forward to the US. speaker-0: you