#MCM: Ankit Desai

1. What's your story? What makes you unique?

I was born and grew up about 20 mins away from ‘Bollywood’, in Mumbai, India. When I was 17, I left home to go to Florida to study rocket science. (Aerospace Engineering) One semester in, I had a mini-crisis realizing I could never do this for 40 years of my life, and thought “How can I get as far away from here as possible, without going back home?” This led to a stint in the south of France, soaking up the sun and studying advertising, before I eventually moved to The University of Georgia and got my advertising degree from Grady. After I graduated, I was offered a very generous full-ride scholarship to do my Masters degree at The Stockholm School of Economics here in Sweden, so here I am now.

I also work full time with music. I look after digital strategy at Universal Music. This basically means that once they’re signed, it’s my job to help artists become famous; and if they’re already famous, then for them to become even more famous. I work mostly with Swedish artists, so the likes of Tove Lo, Alesso, AVICII, Swedish House Mafia etc., but also some international acts like Sam Smith, Ariana Grande, Rihanna and such.

2. What motivates you?

Sex, drugs, and rock’n roll! Just kidding, although 2 of those things are great. But it’s quite simple – it would be to be a force of good in the world, rather than a force of evil.

3. Who is a hero of yours?

My hero growing up has always been David Beckham. He is always classy, always humble despite being one of the most successful people in the world, and whenever he has had a low point in his career, he has always come back stronger and better than before.

4. What's your future plan? Your goals?

I have this outlandish dream of being on the cover of a magazine like Forbes, but that’s a long way away.

5. If you could give one piece of advice, what would it be?

Some of the best things to happen to me have come from striking up a conversation with a stranger. Now that I think about it, the way Meredith and I got to know each other was also when I saw her at a dining hall and invited her to sit with us.

6. What is something you feel strongly about (a cause, belief, etc.)?

I have been very lucky to have the chance to attend one of the best schools in all of Europe thanks to a very generous stipend from the Swedish Institute here. I think one thing I really want to do in the future is help talented kids go to school and dream big, through some sort of scholarship or mentorship, so I can hopefully pay forward the good fortune I’ve had so far.

7. What's one of the coolest things you've ever done?

Between the ages of 8 to about 11 I think, I was on several national TV commercials. Advertised everything from TVs, to rice, to mango juice, to KitKats. There used to be a billboard near our house with my face on it for a few months, and I remember whenever we’d go anywhere with my friends, I would make my mom drive out of our way just so we could pass by that 30-foot picture of me, and I would sit back smugly. I was too shy to talk to any girls then, but all my guy friends were totally impressed.

8. Anything we haven't asked that you'd like to talk about.

If you want to talk about the music business, living in Europe, scholarship stuff, or why I think Bourbon is still the best bar in Athens, you can reach me at anky.m.desai@gmail.com