Senjam Raj Sekhar: The strategic storyteller turning communications into business impact

In this edition of the e4m PR & Corp Comm Comms Pioneer series, we shine the spotlight on Senjam Raj Sekhar, Head of Global Communications at M-League & Mobile Premier League.  Senjam is a versatile, award-winning professional, recognized for his sharp intellect and focus on driving results.

With more than two decades and four continents, Senjam is a comms veteran and strategic leader who’s turned storytelling into business currency. Known for his no-fluff approach and razor-sharp thinking, he believes in metrics that matter, not the ones that just look good on slides. His rare ability to view the world through the dual lenses of business impact and social good sets him apart from the rest. And if you think that’s impressive, here’s a fun twist—Senjam starts his mornings with a 10–12 km run, winds down with evening strength training, and has a passport filled with stamps from 58 countries.

In this refreshingly honest feature, we dive into the candid, fun, and sometimes gritty moments that shaped his journey from stumbling into PR to becoming one of the most respected voices in the industry.

In this feature, we capture:

• What inspired him to enter the communications field
• How he landed his first job and progressed in his career
• His experiences working with top companies and start-ups
• Key lessons learned along the way
• Fascinating tales from his travel sabbaticals
• His impactful contributions to social causes, and much more.

His inspiration to enter the communications industry

Senjam’s foray into communications was anything but planned. Born and raised across the culturally vibrant states of Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam, his early life gave him a kaleidoscopic view of India’s diversity. Later, college took him to Delhi, and along the way, he picked up quizzing, a skill that become a secret weapon in his career. 

But communications wasn’t even his Plan A. He was waiting for his law results when he decided to pass time with a job in media. A friend nudged him toward PR, and he walked into Perfect Relations, took a test heavy on current affairs because of his exceptional quizzing skills, and nailed it.

They say Plan B rarely works, but in his case, it turned out to be the masterstroke. From his temporary job, communications became his full-blown career. “I thought, why not give PR a real shot? That ‘why not’ became a lifelong passion,” he recalls. One of his most remarkable achievement was securing the top spot and winning a grand prize of a trip to Paris. There has been only one quiz show on national television where PR agencies went head to head. This show aired on Star TV and was produced by quiz legend Siddhartha Basu.  

His working experience with top organizations

From old-school giants to high-octane start-ups, Senjam has navigated and helped shape the communications strategy of some of the most iconic companies out there.

At Bharti Airtel, he helped take the brand global, spearheading launches across 18 nations in Africa and Asia. “It was a steep learning curve,” he says. “Each market had unique challenges, but that’s what made it exciting.”

At Vedanta, it was about navigating reputational minefields—handling pushback from shareholders, NGOs, and media, all while crafting a compelling corporate story.

His time at Flipkart was equally transformative. There, he pioneered "Flipkart Stories”, an owned-media experiment that went on to be called “a public relations coup” by Mint.

Today, he’s helping MPL redefine gaming communications, working to build India’s first truly global gaming brand and doing it with the same clarity, creativity, and conviction.

Fascinating tales from his travel sabbatical 

When most people think of sabbaticals, they imagine a peaceful escape like lazy mornings, good books, and maybe a beachside sunset or two. However, Senjam went all in. Not once, but twice. But this decision didn’t come easy. Walking away from a stable career, with no certainty of what lay ahead, was daunting. “It was a leap of faith—leaving behind security for the unknown. But looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing,” he asserts. 

During his travels, he truly lived in all the places. Instead of rushing through tourist hotspots, he spent about a month in each country, immersing himself in the culture, the people, and the essence of every destination. This immersive style of travel took him far off the beaten path—to the heart of the Amazon rainforest, iconic landmarks like Machu Picchu and the Alhambra, and awe-inspiring natural wonders such as Wadi Rum and the thunderous Iguazu Falls. 

Sharing the new skills and the lessons he learned, “Traveling with no deadlines, no emails, no office calls, it was truly freeing. And if there’s one big lesson I’ve learned, it’s this: life isn’t about the stuff you own, it’s about the experiences you collect.” 

His Most Loved Campaigns 

“There are many, but this one stands out because it happened very early in my PR career,” he says. It started with a routine stop at a Delhi fuel station. Nothing out of the ordinary, until Senjam rolled down his window and spotted something quietly revolutionary. 

“There she was a young woman in a crisp BPCL uniform, confidently dispensing fuel,” he shares. Not a common sight back then. Apart from one more woman, the rest of the staff were men. His curiosity piqued, he parked the car and struck up a conversation. 

“They’d been working there a few months—breaking stereotypes, one tank at a time.”

That moment sparked an idea. A day later, Senjam pitched a bold concept to BPCL: turn that station into India’s first all-women petrol pump. 

BPCL didn’t blink. The green light came instantly—and the clock started ticking. The goal? Launch it on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2002. 

But this wasn’t just about swapping uniforms. “It was a Company-Owned, Company-Operated (COCO) pump, so we had a real opportunity to reimagine the entire setup,” he explains. It was not about hiring. BPCL upgraded infrastructure, installed eco-friendly fuel dispensers, ensuring the pump was not just progressive, but sustainable too.

Week by week, the station transformed—more women joined, a female station manager was appointed, and eventually, even a female territory manager took charge. And when launch day arrived, the media came in droves. “It eclipsed every other Women’s Day event that year even the ones with ministers,” Senjam says, smiling. The real spotlight, however, belonged to the women themselves. Reporters couldn’t get enough of their stories the pride, the grit, the quiet defiance. Then came the photograph. “One of our team members, riding a Royal Enfield, getting fuel from a female attendant. The image went everywhere. It captured the shift visually, powerfully.” It wasn’t just a PR win. It was a movement in uniform, proving that sometimes, all it takes to drive change is to look out your window and act. 

His Contributions to Social Good 

At Mobile Premier League (MPL), Senjam leverages the platform to champion causes that matter.  “My passion project is to showcase gaming as a force for good,” he says.  Senjam spoke about two powerful initiatives that reflect his belief in gaming as a tool for social good. 

“The first was the introduction of a game ‘Missing’ designed to raise awareness about human trafficking. Its purpose was to educate potential victims on warning signs and preventive measures. Available in 10 languages, the game reached some of the most vulnerable communities where trafficking is rampant. By blending education with gameplay, missing became more than just a game—it became a life-saving tool,” Sekhar emphasised. 

He then shared the story behind Gamers for Dementia, an initiative aimed at building awareness around a growing health crisis in India. “With the country having the second-largest number of dementia cases worldwide, research indicates that gaming can help slow cognitive decline, particularly for those who are homebound. Through this campaign, we mobilized half a million gamers to raise awareness, encourage spending more time with older family members, and introduce them to games that enhance mental alertness,” he elaborated. 

Key Lessons He Learned 

Senjam guides professionals to stop chasing vanity metrics—share of voice, AVE, reach, impressions and focus majorly on driving business impact. 

The second lesson he shares is pace yourself and pick your battles. “Early in my career, I treated everything as mission-critical. I’d spend endless hours perfecting every press release, obsessing over every initiative. But the truth is, real impact doesn’t happen every day,” he confessed. 

He points to the 80-20 rule as a north star. Most of what you do will be routine. But it’s that critical 20%—a crisis, a regulatory firestorm, or a strategic challenge—where communicators can truly shine. That’s when the pros are separated from the pack. 

From a law-school detour to crafting some of India’s most compelling brand stories, Senjam Raj Sekhar’s journey shows how curiosity, purpose, and a bit of serendipity can lead to unexpected impact.