‘Mistakes make you stronger’: PPC lessons from Inderpaul Rai

In episode 325 of PPC Live The Podcast, I sat down with Inderpaul “Indi” Rai, group account director at WeDiscover, to explore the lessons learned from mistakes, team dynamics, and the evolving role of automation and AI in paid search.

Indi, a veteran with over a decade of experience in AdTech, MarTech, SEO, analytics, and multilingual paid search, shared candid insights on how errors can shape careers and client relationships.

Embracing mistakes to grow

Indi opened up about one of the most significant mistakes in his career: an automated budget feature in Search Ads 360 went unchecked during his holiday, resulting in the U.S. account overspending by a substantial amount.

Despite the magnitude of the error, the client’s response was surprisingly supportive – they recognized it as an honest mistake and collaborated to mitigate the impact.

Key takeaway. Mistakes are inevitable, but transparency, a calm response, and collaborative problem-solving can turn potential disasters into learning opportunities. Indi emphasizes that experiencing and managing errors is essential for personal and professional growth.

The importance of team communication and handover

Indi reflected on how the overspend could have been avoided with better team preparation:

• Ensuring critical information isn’t solely in the manager’s head.
• Documenting handovers thoroughly and leaving room for junior team members to step in effectively.
• Establishing multiple layers of oversight to prevent single points of failure.

He stressed that team members should feel empowered to act and communicate when issues arise, even if the manager is unavailable. In his experience, the junior team caught the overspend themselves and waited for Indi’s return rather than panicking – a testament to clear communication and a supportive team culture.

Lesson for managers: Maintain composure during crises, focus on solutions over blame, and ensure your team knows their role in resolving issues.

Automation and AI: Tools, not crutches

The discussion turned to automation and AI, where Indi shared practical advice:

• Treat AI as an assistant, not a replacement. Blind reliance on AI can lead to errors, especially if users don’t understand the subject matter.
• Always validate outputs and run rigorous testing before implementing AI-driven changes. He cited an example from his past work rewriting product descriptions: AI produced repetitive, generic content that wasn’t an improvement over the original, highlighting the need for careful oversight.
• Automation can enhance efficiency but requires clear rules, regular checks, and accountability to prevent mistakes like unmonitored budget overspend.

Insight. Automation amplifies efficiency but cannot replace thoughtful human oversight and strategic decision-making.

Client relationships matter

A recurring theme in Indi’s story was the importance of cultivating strong client relationships. The supportive response of a previously “difficult” client revealed that mutual respect, trust, and proven value can turn challenging situations into opportunities for stronger partnerships.

Lessons in leadership and mindset

Indi also shared broader reflections applicable beyond PPC:

• Resilience matters: he likened his career journey to Rocky, emphasizing that success isn’t about avoiding hits but about how you respond and keep moving forward.
• Learning through experience: setbacks are essential; they teach you to handle pressure, improve processes, and grow professionally.
• Balanced guidance: leaders should manage crises calmly, focus on facts, and support their teams without panicking.

From mistakes to momentum

The conversation underscores that mistakes are not the end – they are a catalyst for learning, collaboration, and improvement.

From automation missteps to client communication, Indi’s insights provide a roadmap for PPC professionals aiming to thrive in a fast-evolving industry.

Whether refining handovers, managing automation, or responsibly leveraging AI, the core lesson remains the same: anticipate errors, respond calmly, communicate clearly, and use each experience to build stronger teams and smarter processes.