In Japanese, Rakuten stands for “OPTIMISM” - this philosophy lies at the core of our brand, serving ~1.8 billion users worldwide across 30+ countries through our 70+ businesses, spanning e-commerce, fintech, telecom, digital content, and more.Over 25 years ago, Rakuten was founded with the mission to contribute to society by creating value through innovation and entrepreneurship. Today, we continue to pursue that mission through "AI-nization for ALL" - leading the way in building useful, trustworthy AI products and solutions that augment human creativity.Feel free to reach out to ram.sharma@rakuten.com to explore the role Rakuten can play as your trusted co-pilot and agent of change. We can help define / review your business strategy, and solve your most pressing business challenges / priorities, using the power of AI / Gen-AI based products and solutions.Let's collaborate and unleash the magic of "AI-nization for ALL" - for your customers, channel partners, suppliers, employees et al.

KeMaNeXA is a "Startup / Brand Accelerator" to help BUILD from 0 or SCALE from X to 10X.Specific focus on early stage (pre-seed / seed) startups + Family offices across India + MENA region.Sectors of interest:- Consumer / Affordable Luxury Brands (Fashion / Apparel / Beauty & Personal Care)- Health & Wellness (Nutrition / Healthcare)- SaaS SolutionsService focus only on:- Market Assessment- Growth / Business Strategy- B-Plan / Investment proposals- Fund Raise- GTM roll-out- Talent Spotting + Grooming

udaan is about making business easy in India.udaan is about making B2B commerce convenient and efficient. We believe B2B is the new B2C in India.India has 50m+ SMBs, who form core of Indian economy and society. They are the entrepreneurial pulse of India.We believe internet is a great equalizing platform. We want to bring our energies together in bringing power of Internet to these millions of entrepreneurs. This is the mission of udaan!As a member of the core team for the Lifestyle business (apparel, footwear, accessories) @ udaan, I am leading the charter for building a durable Footwear B2B e-commerce business.#udaanForBharat #hardukaanudaan #KholoMunaafeKaShutter

As a member of the core team for the Lifestyle business (apparel, footwear, accessories) @ udaan, led multiple charters covering demand (NSM), buyer experience (loyalty / retention programs), category marketing and merchandising.

SHUKRAN is GCC's largest Retail loyalty programme (15M+ total members, 9M+ active, 65% of Landmark group revenue tagged to Shukran members). Led a team of 20+ to pivot Shukran as a next-gen profit accretive loyalty coalition, with focus on delivering “convenient, rewarding, and engaging” customer experience in an omni-channel context, driving higher share of wallet, and improving customer retention.Key interventions made / outcomes achieved:1. Pivoted the program to a "Card-less" future to drive friction-less customer experience in-store2. Launch of the new Shukran Digital assets (iOS, Android, Mobile Web)3. Expansion of Coalition ecosystem with addition of ~10+ new partners (and growing)4. Launch of Landmark Group Gift Card to tap the B2B, B2B2C, and B2C gifting market5. Program level member engagement push (Shukran 8th Anniv. campaign across markets, Monthly emailers)6. Launched “ISIC-Shukran Student & Youth Card” - structured tieup to engage ~7M GCC students7. Launched first of its kind “Shukran Ramadan” campaign in partnership with leading charity organizations across 7 markets, allowing members to donate “Shukrans” towards social causes – engaged ~900K members, raised USD 640K+ in donations8. Revamped Digital Marketing to drive superior member engagement across Push, Email, Facebook, Instagram et al9. Data integrity across CRM (SIEBEL), Marketing comms. (Responsys), and Digital platforms....and there was lot more underway!

As a core member of Corporate Strategy team, I led strategy development and large scale business transformation programs with direct P&L impact, across businesses and geographies for Landmark Group. I also supported the future growth agenda for the group (new markets / categories / businesses / channels).I also helped drive the recruitment and training agenda, with the goal of building a robust team of strategy professionals - serving as talent pipeline of next-gen business leaders for the group.Managed the following key strategic projects/priorities:1. E-commerce / Omni-channel strategy to drive ~4X increase in online revenue by 2020 for LMG’s core brands (Centrepoint, Babyshop, Homecentre, Max)2. Translated the E-commerce 8Q plans into product feature requirements prioritized basis supporting business case into 18-19 digital roadmap; led to launch of key enterprise-wide transformation projects 3. Listing of growth brands on E-commerce Marketplaces in GCC (Souq, Noon, Namshi, Sivvi, NissNass, MarkaVIP et al) - goal to drive 2-5% revenue from online by 20204. Loyalty program revamp (incl. double hatting as Head of Shukran - regions largest Retail loyalty program)

Key strategic projects managed:1. Program management of a enterprise wide cost reduction program for KSA the largest territory operation, achieving operating cost savings of ~USD 95M+; direct measurable accrual to net profit2. Org. restructuring for the largest territory operations with special focus on building an effective service delivery organization, targeting potential annual staff cost savings of ~13%3. Governance framework design for overall business management and Brand-Territory alignment4. Business development - evaluation of ideas for new business / markets

Key strategic projects delivered:1. Strategy workshops for the groups broad portfolio of Hospitality Business ranging across Hotel properties, F&B outlets, Gaming & Entertainment, Fitness chain, and Healthcare2. Led comprehensive business diagnostic, turnaround plan design and execution for Emax (USD 500M Electronics retail business) – presented to Board a business case for turnaround, outlining initiatives with total benefits impact of USD 27M+, and store closure plan to arrest profit leakage– Designed and launched “EW MAX” to drive 30%+ uplift in contribution of margin driver (Warranty) through sales gamification– Appointed by Emax Board to own the KSA territory (USD 140M revenue) P&L for ~5 mths (Mar-Jul’16) with a core team of 5– Buy Right Sell Fast”: disciplined merchandizing decisions with automated dashboards led to improved teaming (Buyers, Planners, Retailers), ~33% Inventory reduction (USD 13M+), arresting YoY sales decline to -0.9% (vs. -13% for Jul’15-Feb’16), at better GM%– Increased Emax KSA sales per day run-rate by ~15-20% by rejuvenating key Vendor relationships and Retail workforce, and launch of high impact customer engagement initiatives e.g. “Perfect Price Promise”, real-time automated cross category coupons

As part of Corp. Strategy team incubated in the Chairwoman's office, I served as a strategy consultant for the organization, leading the design and delivery of key strategy & transformation programs across businesses and geographies for Landmark Group.Key strategic projects delivered:1. Organization restructuring and transformation program management for the Group's largest territory i.e. KSA - a ~USD 2.5B+ business with ~850+ stores across ~40+ cities, and impacting ~15K+ staff; led to support functions cost savings of USD 20M+2. Facilities management transformation - vendor consolidation, resource optimization, and ticketing system automation to deliver ~USD 10M+ annual savings3. Strategy roadmap for Shukran - the largest Retail Loyalty program in the MENA region4. 5 year strategy roadmap for the groups Electronic business

Member of the Strategy consulting practice at KPMG, based in Riyadh KSA. Led the delivery of 2 engagements and assisted the Practice head in business development – managed scoping discussions, pitch presentations and proposals to close 3 new project opportunities worth USD 1M+ billing.Pure-play strategy engagements• Led strategy formulation and policy drafting for KSA Economic Offset Program; presented to H.E. The Minister of Economy & Planning• Feasibility study for Vaccines and Medical devices manufacturing in KSA, for investment by PIF and Ministry of Health

Excelled on 10+ strategy and transformation engagements for marquee companies across sectors (automotive, farm equipment, industrial, consumer goods, TMT), and 3 markets (India, UK, Hong Kong); managed teams of 2-3 consultants.Customer experience strategy design• Led an extensive “voice of customer” program to map the opportunity in pre-owned/refurbished bikes segment, and design a customer engagement strategy for Royal Enfield (USD 800M revenue, oldest global motorcycle brand in continuous production)• Led a pan-India “voice of customers and channel partners” program to design a customer engagement strategy for improving “bottom of the pyramid” farmers access to pre-owned/refurbished TAFE tractors (USD 1B revenue, world’s 3rd largest OEM)Business turnaround and P&L ownership• Comprehensive Manufacturing and Sales transformation program design and roll-out to turnaround the loss-making Foods business vertical of the largest Retail chain (Saravana Stores Ltd) in South India – achieved cash profitability in 6 monthsPure-play strategy engagements• Portfolio strategy (products-markets-customers) to drive 3X revenue growth in 5 yrs for a USD 300M Indian Auto-component player• Created a blueprint to diversify into defense component manufacturing for Sundaram Clayton (part of USD 7B+ TVS group)• 5-year b-plan to drive 3X revenue growth for a leading corrosion inhibition products manufacturer and service provider (TVS group)Large-scale transformation programs• Managed the PMO in UK on behalf of Tech Mahindra (leading Indian ITeS company) for the managed services transformation of Three UK (leading UK telco) involving multiple vendors (Tech Mahindra, Huawei, Wipro)Business development and thought leadership• Generated leads, played a key role in assisting the Partner to close new project opportunities worth USD 200K+• Co-authored a report on “Ice-cream Market in India – The Inside Scoop” published in widely circulated EY’s RETAILER magazine

Led key work-streams on 4+ consulting engagements, across 3 sectors (Ecommerce, financial services, consumer goods).Pure-play strategy engagements• Market entry strategy for Cleartrip (leading Indian OTA) for a B2B offering (eventually led to USD 50M+ investment by Concur)Large-scale transformation programs• Business diagnostic & operating model design for India’s 3rd largest home finance co., to drive 3X growth in loan portfolio• Sales & Planning Transformation for Eureka Forbes (USD 500M water purifiers leader) to drive 2X growth in direct sales & modern trade channel sales while maintaining optimal inventory of raw materials to finished goods across the supply chain

Assisted the National Manager (Supply Chain) in devising an auto-replenishment model for Renal supplies to improve stock availability by 10% across key supply chain nodes.

Designed a web-based platform for monitoring movement of Renault-Nissan cars/parts shipped from Factories to end Markets.

Fastest to grow from a fresh graduate engineer to Team Lead in the Hitachi account (stints in India and Japan) with top ratings, fast track promotions, multiple individual & team awards.• Led a team of ~5-10 engineers across multiple green-field product developments with 100% on-time, ‘0’ defect delivery record• Managed the entire product development lifecycle (customer journey design, user stories, UI/UX prototyping, engineering design, coding – JAVA/JavaScript, QA, release) for key modules (address book, mail) of Hitachi’s web-based collaboration product suite• Awarded the prestigious “HITACHI Award” by Hitachi Ltd, Japan for excellence as engineer and team lead across multiple projects• Received multiple awards from Patni management – “Valuable Contribution Award” (twice), “Best Project Team” (twice), “Letter of Appreciation”, “Special Appreciation Award for contribution to SEI-CMMI Level 5 assessment”