“What would be your 2-day viral marketing idea?”
That’s how MAD4MARKET began. A simple question, but one that quickly made students realise that marketing is much more than coming up with a creative idea.
At MAD4MARKET, hosted by the Marketing Club at NEXIS School of Business, students were not given case studies or topics to present. Instead, they were asked to build something from scratch. Each team had to create a brand, define its positioning, understand its audience, and design a campaign that could actually work in the real world.
When Marketing Became Real
At first, most teams approached it like any other activity. The focus was on coming up with a catchy name, a creative concept, and something that looked impressive.
But very quickly, the thinking changed.
Students started asking better questions. Would people actually care about this? Why would someone choose this brand over others? Is this idea practical outside this room?
This is where the shift happened. The exercise moved from being creative to being realistic. Students began to understand that marketing is not just about ideas, but about ideas that make sense, solve a problem, and connect with people.
A Student-Led Event That Felt Different
A big part of what made MAD4MARKET work was how it was designed. Led by Tanay Agarwal and the Marketing Club team, the event was structured to feel fast-paced and real.
There were timelines to follow, decisions to make quickly, and no detailed instructions to rely on. Students had to work in teams, manage their time, and think independently. This made the experience closer to how actual marketing teams operate, where there is rarely a perfect answer and almost always a deadline.
Learning From Industry, Not Just Inside the Room
The presence of Mr. Sharad Agarwal added another layer to the experience. His feedback focused less on how the ideas were presented and more on how they were thought through.
He asked questions that made students pause and rethink their approach. Why will this idea work? Who is it really meant for? What makes it different?
These were not theoretical questions. They were practical ones. And answering them required clarity, not just creativity.
Street Food Day
After all the pitching and thinking, everyone needed a break.
That’s when Street Food Day started and the energy changed.
People went to the stalls, picked what they liked, and sat together. Some were still talking about their ideas, some were just laughing about how things went, and some had completely moved on from the competition.
It was simple.
Good food, normal conversations, and a chance to relax after a long day.
That’s what made it work.
Why Experiences Like MAD4MARKET Matter
MAD4MARKET was the first major marketing event at NEXIS, and it set a strong benchmark for what learning can look like.
It showed that students don’t just need concepts, they need exposure. Instead of only studying marketing, they experienced how it actually works, under pressure, with limited time, and with real feedback.
Today, students searching for career options after 12th, best professional courses, business management courses in Siliguri, or the best business school in East India are not just looking for subjects. They are looking for environments where learning goes beyond classrooms and connects with the real world.
With Round 1 Admissions now open, the next cohort steps into the same kind of experience, where learning is not just understood, but applied.
Because at the end of the day, marketing is not something you memorise.
It’s something you learn by doing.
