Gaurav Bhagat, the Managing Director of Consortium Gifts, is not just reimagining corporate gifting—he’s redefining how businesses build relationships. With over two decades of entrepreneurial experience and landmark partnerships like Apollo Tyres, Gaurav has championed the idea that gifts are more than transactions—they’re moments of genuine connection. His philosophy blends personalization, emotional intelligence, and sustainability to create brand experiences that resonate far beyond the unboxing. Whether he’s helping a global brand turn product launches into immersive storytelling or inspiring leaders through the Gaurav Bhagat Academy, his mission remains clear: to infuse gratitude, meaning, and strategic purpose into every gesture. Under his leadership, Consortium Gifts has not only earned international recognition but also made India a force in the global promotional products industry. In this exclusive conversation with Best for Him, Gaurav shares the secrets behind meaningful gifting, long-lasting partnerships, and why real leadership begins with empathy and intention.
You’ve built a business around thoughtful giving, what inspired you to see gifting not just as a gesture, but as a powerful tool for connection and growth?
Honestly, it dates back to the initial days of Consortium Gifts. I quickly understood very early on that a gift is never only a product, it’s a moment of relationship. We’ve always had a vision to transform corporate gifting from an exchange to a genuine connection. Early on, I noticed the way a well-thought-out gift could make an individual feel remarkably appreciated, creating a connection that endures long after the instant of giving. That encouraged me to turn the entire business into “thoughtful giving”. In my view, a well-designed gift can express thanks, solidify a partnership, or give an employee a morale boost that no spreadsheet can measure. At Consortium Gifts, the gifting philosophy has been our daily inspiration.
Your partnership with Apollo Tyres has lasted over 15 years. What does it take to build relationships that endure in today’s fast-paced business world?
Building long-term relationships these days is all about trust, reliability, and evolving together. Apollo Tyres has been a phenomenal partner for more than 15 years because we were focused on their objectives and values from day one, not merely on completing orders. We began as a merchandising partner, but never lost sight of building deeper relationships. This required constant performance, constant innovation, and mutual growth. Open communication enables us to be agile, and shared values like innovation and a people-first mentality keep us in line. More significantly, genuinely caring about your partner’s success just as much as your own is the foundation of enduring relationships.
In a results-driven industry, how do you convince brands that emotional intelligence and thoughtful gestures can be just as valuable as performance metrics?
I love this question, because it’s something I’m very passionate about. There are people behind every metric—sales, retention, ROI—and people react well to being appreciated. For example, we’ve observed that a thoughtfully designed gifting programme can increase client loyalty or employee engagement, which ultimately shows up as improved performance metrics.
I often share data or case studies with skeptical brands. We have metrics of our own, say, how a personalised gift campaign increased brand recall by X% or how employee turnover dropped after introducing a culture of appreciation. When brands see those outcomes, it clicks that emotional intelligence isn’t at odds with results; it enhances them. In fact, thoughtful gestures can be a fundamental driver of success and loyalty. And I speak about this in my training at the Gaurav Bhagat Academy as well. I tell leaders that EQ (Emotional Quotient) and IQ in business are both essential. The bottom line is, showing genuine care, whether through a gift, a thank-you note, or personal outreach, creates goodwill that money can’t immediately measure but definitely magnifies over time. When a brand understands that, they start viewing these gestures not as expenses but as investments in relationships, which inevitably yield returns.
What’s the most powerful transformation you’ve witnessed when a brand starts investing in meaningful, strategic gifting?
There have been so many, but one that stands out is the cultural transformation at Apollo Tyres after they fully embraced strategic gifting. We collaborated on targeted, well-thought-out programmes over the years, which fundamentally altered the atmosphere in their ecosystem. Today, rather than selling generic goods, they create campaigns that treat dealers, consumers, and staff like members of the same family. We introduced ideas like personalised anniversary gifts for employees, personalised incentives for top dealers, and interactive giveaways at product launches, and these “small but consistent gestures” generated a great deal of pride and loyalty.
Another transformation we’ve seen is in how brands conduct their events. One of my favorite examples: during their Apterra AT2 tyre launch, we helped Apollo turn a standard product launch into a true brand experience. We gave out eco-friendly, custom-branded backpacks, not just as freebies, but as storytellers. Each backpack had a QR code that linked to Apollo’s brand story, turning a simple gift into an interactive experience for the recipients. The feedback was phenomenal; people were talking about the gift as much as the product! Moments like that show a brand what strategic gifting can do – it can transform an ordinary touchpoint into something unforgettable that strengthens how people feel about the company.
As an entrepreneur, what was the moment you knew you weren’t just building a company—but shaping a new way of thinking about brand experiences?
This is a reflective one. I would say it came to me gradually, with a few significant “aha” moments in between. One significant event was when Consortium Gifts, the only Indian company at the time, was listed as one of the Top 100 promotional product companies worldwide (PPAI 100). This acknowledgement demonstrated that our efforts were not only benefiting us but also influencing international norms for client satisfaction and innovation. I recall saying, “Wow, we’ve made India a global gifting destination.” At that moment, I realised that our strategy—which prioritised innovation, sustainability, and emotional connection—was influencing how corporate gifting is perceived globally.
Another example was when we partnered with international networks and IGC Global Promotions became chairman. All of a sudden, I was seated at tables with leaders of the world’s industries, and we weren’t merely talking about trends—we were setting them. We were able to actively shape the future of corporate gifting through those collaborations. On a personal level, a turning point was when I started the Gaurav Bhagat Academy. That was when I consciously shifted from just building my own company to sharing a philosophy. At the academy, I work with entrepreneurs and professionals to instill the idea that business relationships and experiences matter just as much as products and numbers. When I saw the first cohort of academy students go out and apply these principles, treating clients with more care, adding thoughtful touches to their business approach, I felt proud.
You’ve helped turn every gift into a story, a memory, a connection. What’s your secret to making things unforgettable?
The “secret” is pretty simple: make it personal and make it meaningful. Every gift we give has a purpose or a backstory; we never give it just for the sake of giving. First, we prioritise personalisation , when a gift is tailored to the individual or the context, it immediately strikes a chord. (In fact, data shows personalized gifts can boost brand recall significantly by as much as 70%.) That could mean engraving someone’s name, or customizing the gift to align with a shared experience. Second, we tie the gift into a larger story or message. I often ask, what do we want the recipient to feel or remember
What role does gratitude play in leadership, and how can men in high-pressure roles learn to lead with both strength and heart?
I believe gratitude is a game-changer in leadership. It’s something I try to practise every day, whether at Consortium Gifts or at the Gaurav Bhagat Academy with my teams. When you, as a leader, show appreciation for your people’s efforts, it creates an atmosphere of trust and respect. I’ve seen tough business turnarounds happen simply because leaders started recognising and thanking their employees more. It’s incredible when people feel valued, they naturally become more motivated and loyal. Gratitude doesn’t make you any less of a strong leader; in fact, it reinforces your leadership because your team knows you have their back.
Now, regarding men in high-pressure roles, there’s often this societal pressure to always be the stoic, unflinching tough guy. But I think real strength includes the courage to be compassionate. Leading with heart doesn’t mean you’re not making hard decisions or driving results; it means you’re doing all that and showing empathy and thankfulness along the way. In my experience, the best leaders lead with both strength and heart, set high standards, hold people accountable (that’s the strength), but also uplift them and show gratitude (that’s the heart).
With a growing focus on sustainability, how do you inspire clients to choose purpose-driven gifting that doesn’t compromise impact?
This is a topic I’m excited about because it’s so close to our vision for the future of gifting. The great thing is, these days it’s becoming easier to convince clients that sustainable, purpose-driven gifts can have a huge impact, often even more than conventional gifts. I usually start by sharing some trends and facts: for instance, about 60% of companies have already shifted to eco-friendly gifting solutions in recent years, and a large majority of consumers (over 75%) prefer brands that prioritise sustainability. The key to inspiring clients is to show them that sustainable gifting doesn’t compromise impact, it enhances it.
What keeps you motivated to innovate and push boundaries in a space many see as traditional or overlooked?
The short answer: I thrive on challenges and possibilities. Corporate gifting might sound traditional to some, but to me it’s a playground for innovation. What keeps me going is the idea that there’s always a new way to delight someone or make an impact. Every time I hear someone say, “Oh, gifting is just mugs and calendars, right?”, it fuels me to surprise them with something they’ve never seen. I’ve never been one to settle, and that comes from my personal philosophy of continuous growth. I set audacious goals for myself and my team, whether it’s expanding to a new country or integrating a new tech in our process, and chasing those goals is energising.
If you could pass on one core belief to the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders, what would it be?
It’s difficult to choose just one, but I’ll choose the three guiding principles of attitude, action, and acceleration because they’ve been essential to my life. To put it another way, success results from having the correct mindset, carrying out plans consistently, and growing continuously. You can accomplish extraordinary things, in my opinion, if you maintain a resilient, upbeat attitude, support it with unrelenting action, and then accelerate—by which I mean to continue learning, iterating, and pushing your boundaries. I actively share this 3 A’s philosophy with all of my mentees and academy students, as it has influenced my journey from beginning Consortium Gifts with almost nothing to growing it into a well-known worldwide brand.
I would also advise the next generation to never undervalue the significance of relationships and thankfulness. People are the most important aspect of business, not just numbers. Your long-term success will be determined by the relationships you create and the way you interact with those around you, including your team, clients, and partners. We’ve all heard the saying “your network is your net worth,” and I find it to be so true. My core belief is that if you focus on delivering value, helping others grow, and approaching everything with integrity (and yes, a bit of gratitude and humility), success will follow as a byproduct.
