Founder & CEO, SimpliFlying
Shashank Nigam is a globally sought-after consultant, speaker and thought leader on airline branding and customer engagement strategy. He is the Founder and CEO of SimpliFlying, one of the world’s largest aviation marketing firms working with over 80 aviation clients in the last ten years. Nigam is also the youngest winner of the Global Brand Leadership Award and has addressed senior executives globally, from Chile to China.
Nigam’s impassioned and honest perspectives on airline marketing have found their way to over 100 leading media outlets, including the BBC, CNBC, Reuters and Bloomberg, and into leading publications such as the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. He writes a dedicated monthly column in Flight’s Airline Business, challenging the typical assumptions about airline marketing.
His new book on airline marketing, SOAR, is an Amazon bestseller that’s shaking up the industry and inspiring other industries to learn from the best airlines. He hosts a popular Live daily show on Facebook and Twitter discussing aviation marketing, entrepreneurship and work culture.
Nigam studied Information Systems Management and Business Management at Singapore Management University and Carnegie Mellon University. Born in India and raised in Singapore, he now lives with his wife and two young daughters in Toronto.
When not travelling around the world exploring caves and wrecks worldwide, Erik spends his time teaching specialized technical courses, and preaching safety principles and the teamwork required to be a successful diver.
“I’ve learnt a great deal from Shashank, and you will too. His book uncovers the secrets of the best airline brands in the world, which will help your airline stay ahead of the competition, for a long time to come.” Nicola Lange, Director – Premium Services, Lufthansa
TOPICS
Why You Should Hire a Chief Storyteller
- Statistics or features aren’t the best way to make an emotional connection
- Stories need a hero
- What makes a great hero?
- It’s valuable to state who you are, but also who you are not
- Storytelling could have softened the 10% stock slide caused by United Breaks Guitars
- Lessons from the best airlines in the world
- How the Singapore Girl is built on stories over the years
- How Finnair conquered China with stories?
- How Air New Zealand and Kulula use humour to connect with passengers
Living in the Age of Enragement
- Why is the connected customer easily enraged?
- Say hi to your new Chief Marketing Officer – the customer with a camera
- Enraged skies – how two airlines dealt with enragement (United vs American)
- Lessons from the best airlines in the world
- How did Singapore Airlines deal with turbulence?
- Why Vueling trains pilots in social media?
- Why Southwest put a pretty face on Facebook video?
- Did Air New Zealand’s furry mascot really offend people?
- Three tips on building an enragement-proof brand
Living in the Age of De-Commoditization
- Today’s customers use their discretion before they spend money
– Results of a RouteHappy and TripAdvisor study - Why traditional brand loyalty is dead
- Companies need to earn the affinity of customer
- The subtle art of creating product differentiation – lessons from top airlines
- Air New Zealand’s cuddle class
- jetBlue’s “five cabins” in a single airplane
- AirAsia’s and Kulula’s little touches that cost nothing
- Singapore Airlines’ attention to detail
- How can you win by doing little things that make a big difference?
