Chella kumar

Director of Engineering

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India21 yrs 7 mos experience

Key Highlights

  • Led a $125M cost-saving initiative at Airbnb.
  • Spearheaded local payment methods, expanding to 8+ markets.
  • Managed UX programs for $100 million products at Symantec.
Stackforce AI infers this person is a Technical Program Manager with expertise in Fintech and SaaS industries.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Program ManagementCustomer EngagementData ScienceUser Experience

Other Skills

PaymentsCross-functional Team LeadershipRegulatory ComplianceProgram StrategyData SecurityMarket ExpansionData AnalyticsMachine LearningCloud MigrationProject ManagementCloud ComputingAgile MethodologiesProgram GovernanceUser Interface DesignDocumentation Management

About

Technical Program Manager | Cross-Functional Leadership | Scalable Execution As a Technical Program Management leader with a strong international background, I excel in leading cross-functional teams to deliver complex projects on time and within budget. I drive execution by aligning product solutions with customer needs while managing leadership responsibilities, large partnerships, and escalations. I specialize in: ✔ Clarifying and communicating goals ✔ Solving challenges and mitigating delivery risks ✔ Driving results at the intersection of business, technology, and user experience ✔ Cultivating high-performing teams and bringing ideas to life A strategic and results-driven leader, I advocate for the right balance of process and agility to ensure smooth, predictable execution. 📩 Connect with me: chellakumar.v@gmail.com Specialties: Program & Project Management, Governance, Negotiation, Customer Engagement, People Management, and User Experience.

Experience

21 yrs 7 mos
Total Experience
3 yrs 2 mos
Average Tenure
2 yrs 7 mos
Current Experience

Salesforce

Director, Technical Program Management

Nov 2023Present · 2 yrs 7 mos · Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Airbnb

Technical Program Manager, Payments

Jun 2021Sep 2023 · 2 yrs 3 mos · Bengaluru, Karnataka, India · Hybrid

  • As India TPM Site Leader, developed and executed key payment initiatives and strategies, collaborating with senior executives to influence and engage at all levels within Airbnb. Demonstrated a self-starter mindset with a passion for addressing 0 to 1 problem spaces, thriving on quickly bringing organization and direction to new and challenging endeavors.
  • ✔ Orchestrated a $125M cost-saving initiative, collaborating with cross-functional teams and third-party payment processors to streamline operations and improve efficiency.
  • ✔ Led global Payments compliance initiatives, covering AML, Financial crimes, and SCA, to ensure regulatory adherence and reduce risk.
  • ✔ Partnered with senior leadership to formulate program strategies, objectives, and KPIs, ensuring alignment with overarching business goals.
  • ✔ Founded and led a high-performing TPM team, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement to deliver consistent, sustainable, and transparent results.
  • Key Programs:
  • 👉 Implemented India data localization, aligning with RBI guidelines, ensuring data security, and enhancing regulatory compliance
  • 👉Spearheaded local payment methods for India and SEA, resulting in 8+ market expansions, 10% GBV increase
  • 👉Founding member of India Tech Center, and aligned Airbnb Bangalore with company values, fostering a strong organizational identity
PaymentsCross-functional Team LeadershipRegulatory ComplianceProgram StrategyCustomer EngagementProgram Management

Walmart labs

Staff Technical Program Manager

Aug 2018Jun 2021 · 2 yrs 10 mos · Bengaluru, India

  • Working with the world’s largest retailer – helping Walmart’s mission to help people save money and live better. Managed the Data Platform team at Walmart to deliver secure, robust, dependable, and effective platform products for customers and partners.
  • ✔Experience working in a global team, with different cultures and navigating multiple time zones – Bay Area, Bentonville, Reston, Bangalore.
  • ✔Focus teams on business objectives and track progress to ensure project milestones are on time, on budget and with the desired results.
  • ✔Whack-a-mole player, always on the outlook for simpler solutions for complex business challenges.
  • ✔Run programs at Walmart-scale across verticals for data analytics, machine learning, data science products – including roadmap definition, execution, customer adoption.
  • ✔Executed cloud migration to Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure from on-premise within budget and schedule.
  • Key Programs:
  • 👉Launch program manager – organized, communicated, and executed a go-to-market strategy to launch products across 4000+ Walmart US stores.
  • 👉Cloud program manager for Data Visualization and Machine Learning teams – worked with cloud migration leadership to define strategy.
  • 👉Managed strategic pilot projects with start-ups on Machine learning space. It acted as an opportunity for potential investment and incubation.
  • 👉Launched Computer Vision for internal and external markets
Data AnalyticsMachine LearningCloud MigrationProject ManagementProgram ManagementData Science

Symantec

Program Manager | Principal Information Developer

Jan 2013Aug 2018 · 5 yrs 7 mos · Bengaluru Area, India

  • Managed the program and documentation for user identity management and two-factor authentication.
  • ✔Managed the UX program for $100 million products, transitioned team to agile, and charted executive readouts on program highlights and milestones.
  • ✔Redesigned mobile app, that got featured in App/Play Store – involved in technical assessment and drove concept explorations for next-gen authentication, using biometrics, QR Code.
  • ✔Overall project governance, including ensuring compliance to security and federal government standards.
  • ✔Worked with A/B testing, Research, and Analytics teams to optimize user experience designs and strategy.
  • ✔Authored and published product manuals and security articles for enterprise and mobile apps. It serves 200K+ customers worldwide.
  • Key Programs:
  • 👉Spearheaded new business development opportunities, generated 15+ new partnerships and constructed alliances with leading security players.
  • 👉Achieved Symantec rebranding project completion within 3 months — 2 months ahead of schedule — saving 60% on budget.
  • 👉Launched mobile app on 11+ different languages for customers worldwide.
  • 👉Improved App/Play Store rating to 4-star
User ExperienceAgile MethodologiesProgram GovernanceProgram Management

Jda software

Delivery Lead

Jun 2010Jan 2013 · 2 yrs 7 mos · Bengaluru Area, India

  • Managed documentation team and spearheaded new initiatives for a retail solution. Identified and implemented standards and process improvements. Built staff capability and increased awareness and accountability via job rotation program.
  • ✔Delivery Manager for migrating a large set of documents to a new environment with seven people.
  • ✔Led 2 scrum teams, worked with cross-functional teams. Expertise in conducting all Agile/Scrum Master responsibilities.
  • ✔Established complete technical documentation portfolio for a retail solution.
  • ✔Partnered with senior leadership to set strategic direction, budgeting, and resourcing to set up and develop the Bangalore documentation team.
  • ✔Leveraged all available insights including market analysis, customer feedback, and usability findings to improve quality of product documentation.
Documentation ManagementAgile/ScrumProcess ImprovementProgram Management

Hewlett-packard

Senior Information Engineer

Jan 2007Jun 2010 · 3 yrs 5 mos · Bengaluru Area, India

  • Acted as a lead writer for HP Software products, carried out key tasks in maintaining new applications in UNIX, and promoted to senior role. Identified and implemented standards and process improvements.
  • ✔ Authored and maintained a variety of end-use documentation.
  • ✔ Eliminated close to 80% of rework by automating complex production workflows.
  • ✔ Scripted multi-media training video for developer community.
  • ✔ Collaborated with development community to enhance usability of product.
DocumentationStandards Implementation

Htc global services

Technical Communicator

Aug 2004Dec 2006 · 2 yrs 4 mos · Chennai Area, India

  • Managed multiple documentation projects for various clients and got good exposure to documentation process.
  • ✔Initialized and developed product documentation through different formats - web, pdf, images.
  • ✔Produced UI labels and online help for various customer facing portals.
  • ✔Created process and streamlined reports towards obtaining CMM Level 5 certification.
Documentation ProjectsProcess Streamlining

Education

Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode

Senior Management Programme

Dec 2023Feb 2025

Symbiosis

PGDBA — Operational Management

Jan 2006Jan 2008

Noorul Islam College of Engineering

Bachelor of Engineering — Electronics and Communication

Jan 2000Jan 2004

Spic Nagar Higher Secondary School

XII — Computer Science

Jan 1986Jan 2000

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