May 2021 – Apr 2023 · 1 yr 11 mos

• As a Board of Studies member, I contribute my expertise in startups, soft skills, and career coaching to shape industry-oriented, practical credit courses in communication and soft skills.
• Being part of one of India’s top institutes allows me to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world career success, ensuring students gain skills that make them employable and future-ready.

Dec 2019 – Jan 2021 · 1 yr 1 mo

• WordsMaya became the first startup to be onboarded as a member of CII Pune, India’s largest industry association, typically reserved for large corporations. As a speaker and presenter, I had the opportunity to showcase our work on stage in front of industry stalwarts at the Industry-Academia Conclave for two consecutive years.

Jan 2019 – Mar 2022 · 3 yrs 2 mos

• As the Founder of WordsMaya, I had the privilege of being incubated and seed-funded by IIM Calcutta Innovation Park under its INVENT program, backed by Villgro Innovations Foundation.
• This association provided seed funding and mentorship from industry stalwarts, helping us refine our product, scale our impact, and navigate the challenges of running a social startup.

Jul 2016 – Present · 9 yrs 10 mos

• I have been invited as a guest speaker, keynote speaker, and panelist at various industry summits, startup events, and academic forums, including NDTV Smart50 Challenge, Startup Investor Summit, and the Industry-Academia Conclave.
• These platforms have allowed me to share insights on career leadership, entrepreneurship, and the future of work, while also mentoring and judging emerging talent in innovation and career strategy.

Jan 2016 – Jan 2018 · 2 yrs

• As a TiE Nurture mentee, I had the opportunity to be mentored by seasoned entrepreneurs who had built, scaled, and successfully exited businesses. This wasn’t just about learning tactics—it was about understanding the mindset, strategy, and resilience required to sustain and grow a venture.
• Today, I carry that forward by mentoring professionals and entrepreneurs, helping them accelerate their own success—just as my mentors once did for me.

May 2015 – Apr 2016 · 11 mos · Pune Area, India

• After completing the program as a fellow, I joined the Program Leadership Team as VP-Learning, where I was responsible for shaping the curriculum and mentoring the next batch of entrepreneurs—ensuring they had the right frameworks, strategies, and mindset to navigate the startup journey.

Sep 2014 – Mar 2015 · 6 mos · Pune Area, India

• I was selected as one of 25 entrepreneurs from 150 applicants for the Startup Leadership Program (SLP)—an elite, 6-month, 80-hour training program that runs in 20 cities around the world designed for high-potential founders . This experience gave me a lifetime network of outstanding entrepreneurs and innovators, along with deep insights into scaling businesses, fundraising, and leadership.

Feb 2015 – Mar 2022 · 7 yrs 1 mo · Pune, Maharashtra, India

• Leaving behind my career as a scientist, I stepped into the unpredictable world of entrepreneurship—not just to start a company, but to solve a problem.
• When I founded WordsMaya, online learning in the era of 2G internet was still a niche concept.
• But I saw a gap—students and professionals had knowledge but lacked the communication skills to succeed. So, with a team of interns in a one-room office, we launched a bold experiment: teaching English on WhatsApp.
• What started as an idea took off faster than we imagined. We built a chat-based learning app, designed video-driven courses, and created a trainer-led blended model—long before edtech giants made it standard.
• The impact was real: 14,000 learners completed our full courses, 50,000 engaged through various initiatives, and we partnered with AICTE, Pune University, and corporates across India.
• But scaling a startup is never just about growth—it’s about resilience. Raising funding from IIM Calcutta Innovation Park and angel investors and getting national media recognition were big wins. Yet, the real test came when we had to fight for market acceptance in an era when online learning was still a hard sell.
• Despite strong traction, WordsMaya struggled to scale revenue predictably in a market that wasn’t ready for digital learning. By the time adoption picked up after the pandemic, we had exhausted our runway, leading to the tough decision to close after six impactful years.
• Through every challenge, WordsMaya taught me:
• How to build something from scratch—and make people believe in it.
• How to pivot, adapt, and keep moving when things don’t go as planned.
• How visibility, branding, and positioning are as important as the product itself.
• The company shut down, but the mission didn’t. I took everything I learned about market positioning, visibility, and resilience and built my next big mission: helping professionals take control of their careers through Career Champions Club.

Oct 2007 – Mar 2014 · 6 yrs 5 mos · Pune Area, India

• My first job wasn’t just a job—it was a playground for ideas, experiments, and big problems waiting to be solved.
• I joined Tata Research Development & Design Centre (TRDDC) as the first person in my department hired with just a bachelor’s degree, surrounded by IITians and PhDs.
• It was overwhelming at first, but I knew one thing—success isn’t about credentials; it’s about how well you think, solve, and create.
• At TRDDC, I worked on energy optimization for industrial processes, but more than that, I learned how to take ideas from concept to commercialization.
• I wasn’t just doing research—I was bringing it to life. I filed multiple patents, co-authored international research papers, and even had the opportunity to pilot a patented energy model for a UK telecom giant.
• The real turning point? Presenting my work at a conference in Silicon Valley, in front of some of the world’s top scientists and industry leaders.
• That’s when I realized—having great ideas isn’t enough. What matters is how you position them, communicate them, and make them real.
• This experience shaped my scientist’s ability to go deep and strategist’s mindset to execute in step-by-step manner—a combination I’ve carried ever since.
• Whether building a startup, coaching professionals, or helping people position themselves for top roles, I’ve applied the same principles: visibility, execution, and ownership.
• Innovation isn’t just about discovery; it’s about making things work in the real world.