Oct 2024 – Present · 1 yr 6 mos · Greater Hyderabad Area

• Help bridge the gap between academia and industry, ensuring that students are equipped with real-world skills and industry-relevant learning.
• Supporting collaborative learning, where industry professionals help shape the curriculum to meet evolving expectations.

Aug 2023 – Present · 2 yrs 8 mos · Greater Hyderabad Area

• As a part of the Information & Communication Technology (ICT) Committee for the year 2023-24 for FTCCI, chartered to lead the think tank and SIG on Quantum Computing in India.

Jul 2023 – Present · 2 yrs 9 mos · Greater Hyderabad Area

• Part of the Governing Board at ISOC India, Contributing to the empowerment of civilization with the democratization of Internet and Technology.
• More here - http://www.isocindiahyderabad.org/governing-board.html

Sep 2022 – Present · 3 yrs 7 mos

• 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗜 - Building Digital Labor with agency, autonomy and authority
• I lead product strategy, vision, and execution for Microsoft’s Work Management and Visual Collaboration portfolios — including Planner, To Do, Project, Visio, and Whiteboard — serving hundreds of millions globally and driving multi-billion-dollar impact.
• Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of shaping some of Microsoft’s most transformative product bets:
• 🤖 Reimagining Work Management with a first-of-its-kind Agentic AI platform — evolving Planner into a system that not only syncs across devices, but collaborates with you, orchestrating humans and AI agents across the Microsoft ecosystem.
• 🧩 Modernizing Visio into a cloud-native, collaborative diagramming solution — deeply integrated with Microsoft 365 and Teams to turn complex ideas into clear, intelligent visuals.
• 🧠 Transforming Whiteboard into an AI-powered, canvas-first tool for hybrid teams — combining ink, touch, and structured thinking for seamless co-creation across digital surfaces.
• 🔗 Unifying task and project planning across To Do, Planner, and Project — bridging personal and enterprise productivity through deep Microsoft 365 integration.
• My work spans vision definition, architecture guidance, AI integration, user experience, and go-to-market strategy — driving innovation, scale, and measurable business outcomes while energizing cross-functional teams.
• ⸻
• 📅 Portfolio Timeline:
• 📌 Sept 2022 – Took on To Do, Planner, and Project, laying the foundation for a unified personal + enterprise work management experience.
• 🧩 Sept 2023 – Added Visio, expanding into intelligent professional diagramming within Microsoft 365.
• 🖊️ May 2024 – Welcomed Whiteboard, completing the Visual Collaboration vision for the hybrid, AI-infused future of teamwork.

Jun 2021 – Aug 2022 · 1 yr 2 mos

• 𝗠𝟯𝟲𝟱 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 - 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁
• Driving Microsoft’s vision of bringing the Next Billion Users to the Microsoft 365 ecosystem by catalyzing growth across India and emerging markets.
• As part of the India Product Leadership Team, I led strategic, cross-functional initiatives across Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Research, Support, LinkedIn, GitHub, and Consulting — all aimed at increasing M365 penetration among SMBs and VSBs in high-potential, under-served geographies.
• ⸻
• 🌟 Key Accomplishments
• 🚀 Rolled out and scaled the M365 GTM motion with Reliance Jio, targeting the vast SMB base.
• 📺 Piloted Microsoft Apps & Services on Jio Set Top Box and JioBook for education and SMB segments.
• 🏗️ Incubated strategic GTMs with TATA, Apollo, ICICI Bank, and Tier 1/Tier 2 CSPs.
• 📦 Designed and launched M365 for ONDC, focusing on digital enablement for Indian SMBs.
• 🛍️ Piloted BlendNet with SES, CloudPoint, and NovoPay, testing product-market fit for Kirana stores and VSBs via B2B and B2C models.
• 📊 Led customer insights and telemetry analysis that informed the sunsetting of Kaizala.
• 👥 Incubated Microsoft Alumni Relay, an initiative to build digital connection across alumni cohorts spanning schools, institutions, and organizations.
• ⸻
• 🧠 Key Contributions
• 🧑‍🚀 Built and mentored a high-performing, startup-style PM team skilled in fast-paced incubation and experimentation.
• ⚙️ Designed an innovation framework to enable experimentation in high-risk, low-infrastructure markets — later scaled to other geographies.
• 💡 Drove new business model experiments including assisted transactions, subscription bundling, and ad-supported services.
• 📈 Championed ambient growth strategies for SMBs, complementing traditional field- and partner-led motions with product-led growth.

Oct 2020 – May 2022 · 1 yr 7 mos

• 𝗖𝗢𝗢 - 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿
• Served as the de facto COO of Microsoft India Development Center (IDC), leading Business Excellence and Strategy across Product, People, and Business charters. Drove IDC’s hypergrowth—expanding across Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Noida from 4,000 to 14,000+ employees in just 4 years.
• This role spanned strategy, execution, and operations—positioning IDC as a globally aligned, innovation-driven engineering hub.
• ⸻
• 🌟 Key Accomplishments
• 🧱 Built and scaled a 90+ strong BizOps & Program Management team across IDC and E&D
• 📍 Bootstrapped and launched the NCR (Noida) footprint for Microsoft IDC
• 🏢 Spearheaded the establishment of the Microsoft Noida campus across engineering and infra teams
• 🤝 Partnered across HR, Finance, Legal, Procurement, University Hiring, CSR, and more to enable agile scale
• 📣 Shaped IDC’s internal and external brand via employee-led stories and thought leadership
• 🛡️ Led COVID response in Wave 1 & 2—safeguarding employee wellbeing and continuity
• 🎓 Mentored Microsoft and external GCCs using IDC’s scalable excellence playbook
• 🚀 Co-created “IDC Vision 2025” with executive leadership—positioning IDC as a global innovation hub
• ⸻
• 🧠 Strategic Contributions
• 🧭 Aligned engineering excellence with operational strategy across India’s largest Microsoft R&D sites
• ⚙️ Helped IDC evolve from a cost center to a global innovation engine
• 🤝 Fostered a culture of autonomy, execution agility, and collaborative growth across distributed teams

Aug 2019 – Oct 2020 · 1 yr 2 mos

• 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿
• Led Strategy, Planning and Operation for the Microsoft India Development Center (IDC), enabling its rapid expansion across Noida, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad during a pivotal phase of growth and transformation, before I took on the COO / CoS role.

Oct 2017 – Oct 2020 · 3 yrs

• 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 & 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀
• Led Strategy, Planning and Operation for Microsoft’s Experiences and Devices (E+D) group in India, driving org growth, cultural transformation, and global innovation across product and research. Enabled the group’s rapid scale-up while embedding clarity, coherence, and customer-centricity into its operating model.
• ⸻
• 🌟 Key Accomplishments
• 🧭 Headed strategic planning for E+D India, steering long-term direction and execution.
• 📈 Scaled the org from 350 to 7,000+ employees in 4 years through disciplined growth.
• 🏗️ Designed and launched the ‘Leadership in Action’ initiative — a framework to scale Microsoft’s lived culture while onboarding new talent from both industry and academia.
• 🌍 Supported deep customer and product research across China, Europe, and the UK, leading to the incubation of ‘Union’ — Office on Mobile.
• 💡 Drove the incubation of future-forward initiatives like the Gig Economy platform and Decentralized Identity solutions on Kaizala, focusing on emerging markets and mobile-first users.

Feb 2015 – Sep 2017 · 2 yrs 7 mos

• 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼
• 📈 Reviving and Repositioning Microsoft Visio
• Led the turnaround and resurgence of the Visio business, setting it back on a euphoric growth trajectory, driving license renewals, and positioning it as a future billion-dollar pillar within the Office portfolio.
• ⸻
• 🌟 Key Achievements
• 🔁 Rebuilt customer confidence through direct engagement, product innovation, and clarity of roadmap.
• 📊 Created a new demand funnel by launching Data Visualizer for Process, enabling seamless integration between Visio and Excel for process-driven visualizations.
• 🔗 Formulated and executed a growth strategy by aligning Visio with Power BI and Office, leveraging Operational Intelligence and Data Visualizer as attach drivers.
• 🕶️ Established Visio for Mixed Reality as a strategic bet — pioneering use cases around Digital Twins and Industry 4.0 dashboards.
• 🤝 Forged key partnerships with industry customers and ISVs for joint showcases at global industry events — amplifying Visio’s relevance in data-driven and immersive scenarios.

Dec 2012 – Feb 2015 · 2 yrs 2 mos

• 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 - 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱, 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁
• 📱 Next-Gen Productivity Experiences on Windows & Android
• Led the development of next-generation personal and business productivity experiences across Windows and Android phones and tablets, redefining how users interact with Office on mobile devices.
• ⸻
• 🌟 Key Highlights
• 🖼️ Shipped rich graphics and visual authoring experiences in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on Android, Windows Tablets, and Phones — enabling seamless document creation on-the-go.
• 🎯 Recognized for innovation in data-driven UX design, setting new benchmarks for productivity on mobile platforms.

Mar 2010 – Dec 2012 · 2 yrs 9 mos

• 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁
• Designed and drove the product strategy for SharePoint’s mobile app ecosystem, enabling its evolution into a modern, cloud-connected experience across Office 2013 and Office 365.
• ⸻
• 🌟 Key Contributions
• 📱 Defined the mobile application development roadmap for SharePoint, and led the integration of mobile app tooling with Visual Studio — accelerating third-party developer adoption.
• 📍 Introduced geolocation and mobile notifications as core platform constructs within SharePoint, expanding its relevance for enterprise mobility scenarios.
• 📰 Led mobile strategy for SharePoint Newsfeed apps, laying the conceptual and architectural foundation that would later inform the Yammer acquisition.
• 🏆 Received Microsoft’s Customer Connect Award for organizing Developer Kitchen and SDR programs in India and Redmond to engage and upskill Microsoft developer partners.
• 🎤 Speaker at SharePoint Conference 2012 (Las Vegas) on SharePoint Mobile App Development.

Feb 2008 – Feb 2010 · 2 yrs

• 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 (𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝟯𝟲𝟱)
• Led critical features and platform innovations during the early evolution of Office Live and Office 365, focused on usability, viral growth, and cost efficiency.
• ⸻
• 🌟 Key Achievements
• 👥 Led two feature crews to deliver the first releases of Contact Management, Business Applications, and Website Analytics for Office Live.
• 🔗 Introduced Simple Sharing, simplifying complex permission models in Office 365 Online, dramatically improving user adoption.
• 🌐 Advocated for external sharing with non-Office 365 users, unlocking viral growth loops that contributed to the platform’s path toward billion-dollar scale.
• 💡 Reduced operational costs by driving the implementation of Just-in-Time provisioning, optimizing resource allocation within Office 365.

May 2005 – Jan 2008 · 2 yrs 8 mos

• 𝗢𝗻𝗲𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 (𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿)
• Led the engineering effort behind the launch of Online Backup and CD/DVD Backup services in Windows Live OneCare, delivering scalable, secure data protection capabilities to millions of users.
• ⸻
• 🌟 Key Highlights
• 🧩 Led cross-functional teams to ship OneCare Online Backup, working across engineering, operations, and product groups to design and deploy 600+ TB of scalable storage capacity across Microsoft data centers.
• 🌍 Planned and executed a global rollout of online backup, giving Microsoft a competitive edge over three major rivals in the personal cloud backup space.
• 🔐 Initiated and drove the IP protection strategy for OneCare, resulting in four patents moving into the pipeline.
• 🏆 Recognized as an Exceptional and Outstanding Performer, earning an early out-of-turn promotion for sustained impact and delivery excellence.

Nov 2021 – Aug 2022 · 9 mos · Greater Hyderabad Area

Mar 2021 – Aug 2022 · 1 yr 5 mos · India

• Founding Member of the CII, Chief Strategy Officer forum partnering with other Strategy heads of MNCs across India.

Jan 2018 – Aug 2022 · 4 yrs 7 mos · Greater Hyderabad Area

• Advisor and mentor to the Technology Business Incubator at BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus.

Dec 2003 – Feb 2009 · 5 yrs 2 mos · Mumbai Area, India

• Founded and led a startup specializing in algorithmic trading solutions for hedge funds, mutual funds, and proprietary trading firms in India, combining deep quant research with high-performance technology.
• ⸻
• 🌟 Key Highlights
• 🧠 Developed a suite of automated trading models using advanced time-series forecasting, pattern recognition, optimal control theory, and regression-based techniques.
• ⚙️ Translated complex mathematical models into numerically optimized code, along with front-end tools for real-time trading and back-testing.
• 📈 Scaled distributed trading systems to handle turnover exceeding ₹2 billion/day per site, ensuring robustness and speed under live market conditions.
• ✅ Became the first technology provider empaneled for program trading by the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE).
• 💼 Closed strategic deals with top mutual funds and prop firms, generating over $100,000 in sales and recurring $5,000/month in royalties.
• 👥 Led and honed a 5-member core team, combining R&D excellence with agile product delivery.

Mar 2003 – Nov 2003 · 8 mos · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

• Led the development of AI/ML-powered enterprise software focused on delivering cost efficiencies for Fortune 100 enterprises, with a strong emphasis on customer-centric product design and scalable operations.
• ⸻
• 🌟 Key Highlights
• 💡 Innovated new product categories targeting cost optimization across Spend Management and Product Lifecycle processes, directly impacting enterprise bottom lines.
• 🎯 Established customer-obsessed product management practices, embedding user feedback loops and business alignment into the development lifecycle.
• 🛠️ Built a 25-member Program Management and QA team from the ground up — scaling operational excellence alongside rapid product iteration.
• 🏆 Recognized as Employee of the Month for leading a high-performing team that secured early client wins for a new product line.

Nov 1999 – Feb 2003 · 3 yrs 3 mos · Mumbai Area, India

• Co-founded and led Myzus, one of India’s earliest VC-funded campus startups, pioneering mobile-based telecom solutions deployed across India, Middle East, Africa, and Singapore.
• ⸻
• 🌟 Key Achievements
• 📱 Founded and served as CTO of MIDAS, the company’s flagship product — a $900K telecom-grade platform successfully adopted by major operators across geographies such as BPL, Spice Telecom, Batelco, Grameen, VSNL, SingTel, Kencell, Billdesk, Shazam, TISCO, etc.
• 🏆 Won Eureka!, IIT Bombay’s international business plan competition, securing $1M in seed funding.
• 👨‍💻 Led a 70-member engineering team to design, develop, and deploy cutting-edge telco solutions.
• 📞 Diversified offerings into voice apps, telecom portals, and call center platforms, expanding revenue streams and customer base.
• 💰 Developed a tailored pricing strategy for India and the Middle East, achieving a 6x increase in sales.
• 🧠 Awarded a patent for innovation in mobile content delivery: “Method of accessing customized content from a network server using an intermediate agent.”
• 🌏 Represented Myzus at global platforms like Stanford GC2K and ITU 2002 (Hong Kong) as a model for emerging-market innovation.
• 📺 Championed telecom tech education through TV, print, and academic outreach.
• 🎓 Collaborated with IIM Ahmedabad to help launch CIIE and Vikalp, pioneering programs in entrepreneurship incubation and training.

May 1998 – Nov 1999 · 1 yr 6 mos · Mumbai Area, India

• Shaadi.com / People Interactive
• Bootstrapped and co-created Shaadi.com (originally Sagaai.com), one of India’s first and most successful e-commerce startups, revolutionizing online matchmaking globally.
• ⸻
• 🌟 Key Highlights
• 💍 Played a foundational role in building Shaadi.com, which has since facilitated over 7 million marriages (now over 50 million users worldwide).
• 🏆 Helped establish the platform as a category leader, winning numerous accolades and global recognition.
• 🛒 Also led product design and development for pioneering B2B/B2C platforms including TajGifts.com, PolyesterOnline.com, and EthnicResources.com — expanding India’s early digital commerce footprint across gifting, textiles, and ethnic products.