If adland had a reset button, what would disappear first?
At GoaFest 2026, IMPACT spoke to industry leaders on what the advertising world should reset for growth
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Published: May 20, 2026 6:35 PM | 2 min read
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- Industry leaders discussed potential changes for the advertising sector at GoaFest 2026, themed 'Reset for Growth', focusing on what they would eliminate from both the industry and the event itself.
- Ajay Kakar emphasized the need to remove the siloed approach to brands and clients, and also expressed a desire to eliminate the fear of rain during the awards.
- Mohit Joshi advocated for moving away from outdated measurement practices and encouraged a culture of bold ideas at GoaFest, promoting creativity and confidence.
- Dheeraj Sinha and Lara Balsara Vajifdar echoed the call for eliminating silos and irrelevant categories, with Vajifdar suggesting a wish for business wins without pitches, while praising GoaFest's successful history.
If advertising had a RESET button, what would the industry choose to change first? More buzzwords than ideas? New trends everyday? Or simply too many slides and not enough substance? With GoaFest 2026 centred around the theme ‘Reset for Growth’, IMPACT posed this thought-provoking question to industry leaders, asking them what they would choose to reset, both in the advertising industry at large and within GoaFest and ABBY Awards.
Scroll down for candid takes on industry habits and award culture that leaders would love to leave behind.
Ajay Kakar
Chairperson, ABBY Awards 2026
1. What’s the first thing that would disappear in the advertising industry as a whole?
The siloed approach to brands and clients would disappear.
2.What’s the first thing that would disappear at Goafest/ABBY Awards?
I would say–the fear of rain on the days of the awards.
Mohit Joshi
Co-Chair of the Goafest 2026 Organising Committee and CEO, Havas Media Network India
- What’s the first thing that would disappear in the advertising industry as a whole?
The habit of measuring everything by yesterday's playbook (should disappear). The industry has incredible talent; we just need to stop optimising for the past and start building for what's next. Hit reset on legacy thinking, and watch what this industry is truly capable of.
- What’s the first thing that would disappear at Goafest/ABBY Awards?
The fear of bold ideas! Goafest has always been a celebration of creativity and courage. I'd reset any hesitation in the room and replace it with the confidence to dream bigger. That energy is what makes Goafest the most exciting gathering in our industry's calendar.
Dheeraj Sinha
President, The Advertising Club, and CEO, McCann India
- What’s the first thing that would disappear in the advertising industry as a whole?
Silos should disappear.
- What’s the first thing that would disappear at Goafest/ABBY Awards?
I would say categories that have lost relevance, such as mobile, because everything is mobile. So, we removed it.
Lara Balsara Vajifdar
Executive Director, Madison World
- What’s the first thing that would disappear in the advertising industry as a whole?
I could only wish for no pitches, or winning businesses without pitches.
- What’s the first thing that would disappear at Goafest/ABBY Awards?
Goafest is doing a fabulous job anyway. It is an event that has been going on for 20 years now. So, there is nothing to reset from there.
Compiled by Antora Chakraborty
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