Mission Love

Four

Recap: I got a big project!

Before I could slip out of the meeting room unnoticed, Naveen approached me. He had a calm, confident air about him that only made me more nervous.

"So," he said, pulling out his phone and typing something in,
"I'll send you the details of the original presentation, and we can start reworking it. Meet me in the conference room in an hour?"

"Sure, I'll be there."

As Naveen walked away, I took a deep breath of relief. I hurried back to my desk and texted Dina about the situation.

This was my chance to prove myself—I wouldn't give Ryan a chance to ridicule me.

_____

"The project is for a major client who's interested in launching a new digital marketing campaign. It's supposed to be a big pitch showcasing the brand's unique selling points-creativity, engagement, and data-driven results."

I nodded, trying to absorb everything as fast as I could. The Nexus Media House had built its reputation by offering innovative media solutions that were both effective and impactful. It wasn't just about selling ads; it was about creating an experience that resonated with the audience.

"The current presentation,"
Naveen continued, "is too scattered. It doesn't capture the essence of our brand, and it's failing to make a strong emotional connection. Ryan's right about that much."

"So, we need to make it more cohesive? Focus on telling a story?"

"Exactly." He pulled up the slides on the screen, flipping through them. "We need to weave a narrative that not only highlights our strategies but also the journey behind them-how each campaign is crafted with precision, how it reflects our commitment to innovation, and how it can become part of the client's own brand story."

I leaned in closer, scanning the slides. They were packed with information, but they lacked heart. Facts and figures were important, but this presentation needed more than that. It needed a soul.

"Maybe we can start with a personal story?" I suggested, hesitating a little as I voiced my idea.
"Something that connects the client to our agency's values right from the beginning."

Naveen looked at me thoughtfully, then nodded.
"That could work. We could use a case study of one of our past campaigns-a brand that successfully transformed their image through our media strategies."

"Yes, and we could follow that up with a behind-the-scenes look at how the campaigns are developed,"
I added, carried away in the moment. "We could showcase the team, the creative process, the analytics... make it feel personal and tangible."

Naveen smiled, a genuine one this time.

"I like the idea. Let's build on that.

I nodded with a huge grin plastered on my face.

Shit! He agreed.. he agreed with my idea!

As we worked on the presentation, the office gradually became quieter, with only the sound of our fingers tapping on keyboards and the occasional rustle of paper breaking the silence. My focus was on the screen, but every now and then, I'd catch a glimpse of Naveen out of the corner of my eye and sighed out loud.

If only... the stupid cupids were real!

We spent the next few hours reworking the entire presentation. Naveen was patient, guiding me through the process without ever making me feel like I was out of my depth.

But soon, my mind hit a reboot; staring at the screen had left me drained.
Why was this so hard?

I bit into the tip of the pencil and frowned, tilting my head to the side, trying to see something different. But everything started to look dull and lifeless.