Professional Experience
Founder & CEO
February 2014 - Present (12+ years)- Founded and scaled a 300-person creative, content and technology company
- Built a presence across broadcast, OTT, sports and film marketing
- Expanded services to enterprise clients across India, MENA, the UK and the US
- Pioneered influencer marketing and AI-led experiences at TSBI
- Manages celebrity digital interests and creator ecosystems
Senior Manager, Marketing
September 2011 - January 2014- Marketing head for BIG RTL THRILL channel launch
- Led distribution & monetisation of content on digital platforms
- Responsible for trade and distribution marketing initiatives
- Led digitisation transition for the RBNL network
- In-charge of all digital initiatives for 5-channel television business
Brand Manager
June 2008 - August 2011- Developed launch and sustenance strategies for fiction and reality shows
- Managed multi-channel marketing (Outdoor, Print, Television, Digital, Radio)
- Conceptualised creative communication campaigns
- Facilitated tie-ups with allied organisations
- Studied TAM data to project growth patterns
Areas of Expertise
Core service areas where this leader drives strategy and execution
Content Production
End-to-end production — films, reels, photography and social content
Digital Transformation
Web platforms, dashboards and data systems for smarter operations
Influencer Management
Full-service talent management and influencer marketing
Social Media
Always-on social strategies and community management
Academic Background
Awards & Recognition
Key Achievements
Notable milestones and measurable impact
Full Biography
Harikrishnan Pillai comes with more than 20 years of experience in marketing and advertising. He founded TheSmallBigIdea, a full-service, independent digital agency, in 2014, along with Manish Solanki. Before TSBI, Hari worked with brands like Zee Network and Reliance Broadcast Network. His role at TSBI includes driving organisational growth and creative strategy. Over the last decade, the agency has built a substantial presence across broadcast, OTT, sports and film marketing. In the last 5 years, the agency has landed this understanding to categories beyond entertainment, like banking, FMCG, fashion, and e-commerce, among others. In recent years, the agency has also made a serious foray into ad films and influencer marketing. Ads for brands like DHL, GreatWhite Electricals, Zydus Lifesciences and Ashok Leyland are shaping TSBI's full-service ad agency avatar. Managing the digital interests of celebrities like Ajay Devgn, Aaman Devgn has also shaped the celebrities and creator services at TSBI. Hari wears multiple hats, including that of an early-stage investor and that of a speaker on youth issues, innovation, and leadership. He's served as a jury member for leading industry awards and events and has been invited as a speaker to various events and awards, where he shares insights and knowledge with eager audiences. Hari comes with an MBA and a diploma degree in innovation and design from Sweden. He has been on the academic boards for media studies at leading schools and does occasional lectures and workshops at various B-schools in Mumbai. He has been associated actively with Rotary International for about two decades and has held critical positions in the state, national and international councils of Rotaract.