70 PLUS YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE. ONE SHARED MISSION.
A close-knit team of problem-solvers with a unique blend of creativity, strategy, and technical know-how.
▲ THE FOUNDING TEAM
FOUNDING TEAM.
SHAFI SAMAD
Founder
Shafi founded PLabs in 2018 after spending nearly two decades in the ad sales industry, managing multi-million-dollar revenue books, P and L, and partnerships across the digital ecosystem.
Shafi leads media strategy, solutions, and partnerships, helping clients discover the right innovations for their digital marketing journey.
When not solving complex business problems, Shafi can be found skiing the slopes of Gulmarg, hiking toward Mt. Everest, or playing Capoeira in the streets of Mumbai, Delhi, or Moscow.
MELANIE FERNANDES
Co-Founder
Melanie joined PLabs in 2020, bringing 20 plus years of brand and marketing expertise across retail, DTC, and digital. Earlier in her career, she played a key role in launching brands like Gap, The Children's Place, and Nautica in India.
With experience working both client-side and consultancy-side, she deeply understands the challenges businesses face navigating today's digital landscape.
Known as an encyclopedia for all things marketing, Melanie is as comfortable with business strategy as she is with a good book on psychology.
▲ THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE WORK
THE WIDER TEAM.
PLabs is a team of 20 plus digital marketing specialists working across India and growing. Every person on the team owns real work and sees the impact of it directly. No one is a cog. Everyone is accountable.
VIEW OPEN ROLES →▲ THE PEOPLE WHO SHARPEN US
OUR ADVISORY BOARD.
PLabs benefits from a panel of senior advisors who bring deep expertise across marketing strategy, technology, hiring, culture, and consumer research. They challenge our thinking, open doors, and help us stay sharp as we grow.
SACHIN UPPAL
FRACTIONAL CMO AND ADVISORSachin brings deep expertise at the intersection of marketing strategy and technology, helping PLabs think about how martech decisions connect to business outcomes. His counsel shapes how we approach complex, multi-channel briefs for clients navigating rapid digital change.
N KUMAR
HIRING AND CULTUREKumar advises PLabs on building and retaining high-performance teams. His perspective on hiring for culture, developing talent, and creating the conditions where people do their best work has been instrumental in shaping how PLabs grows its people alongside its business.
ZUBIN KUTAR
MARKETING STRATEGYZubin brings a strategic marketing lens that challenges PLabs to think beyond channel execution and toward the bigger picture of brand building and market positioning. His experience across categories adds depth to how we approach strategy for our clients.
RACHITA DUTTA
MARKET RESEARCH AND CONSUMER INSIGHTSRachita's expertise in market research and consumer behaviour sits at the heart of PLabs' methodology. Understanding what consumers actually think, feel, and do before they buy is the foundation of everything we build. Rachita keeps that foundation strong.
▲ WHO WE HIRE
WHO WE LOOK FOR.
We hire motivated individuals who bring fresh ideas, deep expertise, and a genuine focus on client success. Everyone at PLabs thinks about the problem and helps build the solution.
VIEW OPEN ROLES →