He taught us creativity wasn’t just about cleverness; it was about empathy: Priya Mistry

The news of Piyush Pandey’s passing has left a quiet emptiness in my heart. It’s hard to describe what it feels like to lose someone who, to so many of us, wasn’t just a creative leader, but a guiding presence.

I was lucky to have known Piyush personally over the years. We had many conversations — some short, some that stretched over long evenings — and what I remember most about him was how natural those chats always felt. You never had to prepare yourself to speak with him. You could walk up, ask for his view, or share something small, and he would give you his full attention.

He had a way of making you feel like your thoughts mattered. He listened carefully, never rushed a reply, and always managed to turn a simple chat into something you’d keep thinking about long after. There was no performance, no sense of hierarchy. He spoke to everyone with the same ease, the same warmth.

The dinner that stayed with me

One evening in Mumbai, I was out at dinner with a few friends when Piyush walked into the same restaurant. We waved hello, expecting only a brief greeting, but in his typical way, he came over and joined us. Within minutes, he was part of the conversation — laughing, asking questions, sharing stories from his time at Ogilvy.

For hours, we sat there listening to him talk about some of his favourite pieces of work. What I loved was how he never spoke about ideas as if they were grand achievements. He spoke of them as moments of curiosity and discovery, of collaboration and shared joy.

He told us stories of unexpected breakthroughs, of how some of the best ideas came from listening to people around him. There was no ego, just genuine passion for the craft and for the people who made the work happen. That night, time disappeared. We were a small group at a dinner table, and yet it felt like we were sitting in a masterclass on creativity, storytelling, and life.

The small gestures that said so much

Piyush had a rare ability to make the simplest gesture feel deeply personal. When I got engaged and was preparing to move to the UK, he reached out on his own to congratulate me. It wasn’t just a polite note. He told me how happy he was, and then added that it was a loss for Ogilvy Mumbai and for the Vodafone team I worked on. He said it in that familiar, warm way that made you smile but also made you feel seen.

That message meant more to me than I think he realised. It showed how much he cared about people, not just their work. He noticed milestones, remembered details, and always took a moment to acknowledge them.

When I eventually left, he said something I’ll never forget:

“You will always carry Ogilvy with you, Priya — wherever you go. Be proud.”

That line has stayed with me ever since. It was his way of reminding me that the values we learn, the spirit we grow in, and the people we work with, all travel with us. I think that’s how he lived his own life too — carrying the essence of Ogilvy and of India’s creative soul wherever he went.

What he leaves behind

When I think of Piyush now, I think of those conversations — unhurried, thoughtful, generous. I think of the spark in his eyes when he spoke about an idea that made him laugh. I think of how easily he connected with people, and how his presence could light up a room without ever trying to.

He taught us that creativity wasn’t just about cleverness; it was about empathy, listening, and finding meaning in ordinary moments. That’s what made him truly special.

As I write this, I realise that what I’ll miss most is not just his wisdom, but his warmth. The way he made you believe that what you did mattered. The way he encouraged you to stay curious, to stay proud, and to never stop telling stories.

Thank you, Piyush, for every conversation, every bit of encouragement, and for leaving behind not just great work, but great lessons in how to live and lead with grace. You’ll be missed more than words can say.