Notes

WHAT WE DO
Here's the full lowdown on what we do:

- True Blue Talks operates out of Mumbai. We got off the ground in April 2016 and have chosen the media industry as the first stop on our mission to provide real-world perspectives on careers.

- We conduct events in co-working spaces, community centres and colleges and limit the audience to around 50 people.

- A typical session last two hours, with two professionals taking the stage for about an hour each.

- It's a conversation, not a lecture. We set the tone with an icebreaker which also involves the speakers.

- An interactive session comes next, with the speakers using anecdotes and activities to share their journey and describe a typical day in their lives, before students get their turn to quiz the speakers.

- The last 15 minutes is for chai, coffee and networking.

Here's what we're trying to achieve:

Informed decisions
Class 10 to completing a degree is all about decision-making on careers. We think those decisions would be best informed by people from the industry who will talk about what it's like to be in their shoes.

Relatable speakers
We choose young, dynamic professionals whom students can look at and think: "She was just like me 10 years ago. How do I get to where she is today?" Similarly, our speakers can identify with students' dilemmas.

Cut to the specifics
Journalism, for instance, is a broad category with so many job profiles apart from reporting. We bring in copy editors, photojournalists and producers, among others so that students figure out what's best suited to them.

Networking habit
The more you meet people, the more you grow. We set aside time specifically for students to personally interact with professionals and build their contact base. A conversation today could turn into a friendly face across the interview table tomorrow.

Ground realities
People often leave professions quickly because it wasn't what they expected. From erratic hours to working weekends to compromises on family time, our speakers separate myth from reality so that students know the pitfalls in advance.

College to career
One day you're a student, the next you're out in the real world. We cover innovative ways to approach companies, write resumes and tackle interviews as well as intangible ingredients for success such as attitude, work ethic and humility.

WHAT WE DO

True Blue Talks is a platform for providing real-world perspectives on careers.

It's a concept inspired from our time as college students, completing degrees in not knowing what to do next. When someone asked about our careers, we got mini-panic attacks. We had vague ideas but no clear answers. We went out into the real world not knowing where we fit in, mumbling and fumbling before eventually making something of ourselves. True Blue Talks is our attempt to spare students the same trouble.

It's pretty simple. We leave it to the pros. Over a casual conversation, they share their journey, talk about what they do, how they do it and why they love doing it. They tell it like it is, so as they come and go you will get a full picture your area of interest, where exactly you belong, what you need to do to get there and what it takes to succeed. This is where confusion meets clarity.


BEHIND THE SCENES

Nilesh Pinto
Nilesh saw newspapers in his future at the age of 12, but wasn't sure whether it meant journalism or packing pavs at a Bandra bakery. He eventually put his penchant for correcting other people's mistakes to good use in the newsroom of Hindustan Times in Delhi, serving as editor for two of its publications before returning to Mumbai for a stint with news website Scroll.in.

Siddesh Shetty
Siddesh was born with a creative streak, so he knew early on that he would not conform to the Shetty stereotype of opening a shady bar. After studying mass media, he dabbled in post-production for ad films and media sales. With business in his blood, he then decided to pursue an MBA, earning experience in France, Italy and China and is now exploring his artistic side at home in his beloved Andheri.


Next event synopsis

Copywriting, public relations, visual effects, media sales and transitioning from college to a media career have all been checked off our list. This time, we've decided to take a look at what goes on in the TV studio. Headlining this event are Sidharth Lodha, a producer at Star Sports, and Ritu Singh, principal correspondent at CNBC-TV18.

First-hand information about how TV shows are made, editing scripts, the breaking news life and field reporting are all on the agenda, so if you're looking to get into the industry then reserve your front row seat at the earliest.