POOJA CHADHA
Newton
Summary
Strategic Data Management & Analytics technology leader with 18+ years of expertise in Technology Consulting, Technical Consultative Selling, Client delivery and Large-Scale Tech-Transformations, with 10+ years of experience overseeing and managing high-performing architect and engineering teams. Currently, I lead Data and AI customer success for Enterprise Retail and CPG team that merges technical prowess with sales acumen to drive business growth. I have a track record of success overseeing development and delivery of high-quality scalable and innovative Data, AI, Applications and Business intelligence solutions. Strong experience in setting strategic vision and roadmap, and leading high-performance teams. Sought after SME for emerging key data management and related technologies, AI best practices and industry trends at conferences (Harvard Business School, Microsoft Technology Center Conferences, Industry Conferences, Live Webinars, Technical Workshops etc.). A diversity and inclusion champion and an effective mentor who prioritizes people and their development while creatively solving business problems and creating value. Adept at leveraging open and candid coaching conversations to develop future leaders. Inspired teams through a culture of collaboration to deliver breakthrough work in fast-paced environments. Fostered a culture of delivery excellence and built processes that enable businesses to innovate and thrive.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Principal Technical Specialist / Director - Data & AI delivery
Microsoft
01.2018 - Current
- In charge of the technical strategy, planning and execution for Microsoft’s Retail & CPG - Data and AI business for 200+ customers in the Sales Organization
- Results-driven strategist who prioritizes business success by examining business goals and technology trends to build analytics solutions that fuel growth and profitability
- Expert in account planning, business review and AI based forecasts
- Established rituals to align with cross functional teams and build partner relationships
- Drove revenue growth by providing technical expertise and ensuring successful pre-sales engagements
- Employed a deliberate and strategic hiring process to expand team expertise while optimizing costs
- Proven technology strategist who helps clients re-imagine their business outcomes with a leading portfolio of products and deliver innovative solutions using analytics and AI
- Led a team of 35+ technology architects and cross-managed large-scale global matrixed product and engineering teams
- Grew the Retail & Consumer Goods Data & AI business 3X over a period of 3 years
- Grew Data & AI business revenue from ~$250 million to ~$700 million in 3 years
- Transformed data into actionable, customer-centric insights
- Led and Influenced product roadmaps and improvements in partnership with product teams
- Helped RCG customers with a variety of analytic solutions that drive business growth
- Enabled retail businesses to transform, scale, and innovate in any circumstances, during micro and macro-economic challenges
- Developed a blueprint for customers' long-term ML strategies, including building AI recommenders, demand forecasting, price optimization, and promotions
- Leveraged GenAI algorithms, LLMs, and OpenAI to empower customers in creating personalized experiences (e.g., chatbots, targeted advertisements, personalized marketing based on customer behavior), enhancing efficiency (e.g., summarizing customer reviews), and generating new content
Senior Manager
Boston Consulting Group
01.2015 - 01.2018
- Built and managed a cross functional global team of 60+ technology architects, analysts, data engineers and data scientists
- Managed vendor relationships
- Collaborated with and influenced internal and external stakeholders
- Implemented technical evaluations and proof of concepts for innovative solutions with cloud services
- Led technology strategy for consulting businesses to enable businesses to solve their problems using Data and AI
- Designed short term and long-term technical roadmaps
- Started out with a small core team in the US and successfully built out a replicable framework to scale businesses and technology delivery globally including Europe and India
- Managed and scaled a global team of technology architects by 5x, growing it to a team of 20, distributed across US, Europe, and India
- Influenced and led a team of 200+ data engineers and data scientists to enable innovation, grow and create long term value for top BCG customers
- Created blueprints outlining recommended tools, technologies, and skills for large-scale global businesses
- Built repeatable frameworks to scale Analytics business by 20X
- Built an inside community network from scratch, championing global knowledge sharing, cross pollinating ideas and fostering collaboration with 230+ active members
- Reduced costs and optimized expenditure on software licensing by 15%
- Managed vendor relationships for BCG globally, with market leaders such as Tableau, Alteryx, AIIMS, SAP, Microsoft, AWS, and Google
Technology Consultant
01.2006 - 01.2015
- Lead and managed software engineering teams deliver on time and within budget
- Held various consulting roles and helped customers optimize their business using evolving and emerging technologies (Cloud Computing, Big Data, Machine Learning, AI, and Business Analytics)
- Lead, and built ideal technology and engineering products and solutions for businesses
- Incubated ideas to address unmet needs and tested these ideas with real users
- Consistently exceeded expectations while leveraging business expertise in the Retail, Finance, Healthcare and Manufacturing domains to help build strategic platforms for large companies across industries
Education
Master’s - liberal arts - General Management
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
01.2016
Master of Science - Computer Engineering
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
01.2012
Bachelor of Technology - Computer Science and Engineering
MANIPAL UNIVERSITY
01.2006
Skills
- Leadership
- Innovation
- Technology strategy
- Business operations
- Technology operations
- Responsible ai
Certification
- Women on Boards – Building Exceptional Leaders, The Wharton School, 2023
- Executive Presence & Influence: Persuasive Leadership Development, The Wharton School, 2023
- Business Analytics, Harvard Business School, 2018
- Machine Learning for Big Data and Text Processing, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2017
Accomplishments
- Leadership & Vision, Track record of leading career development of a team of data architects and engineers and driving a common vision and purpose.
- Business Driven Strategic Problem Solver, Strategic mindset with ability to drive aggressive business success by lowering time and costs and by aligning strategic technology solutions against business priorities.
Awards
- Microsoft – Award for Acceleration of Time to Value
- Consultant for Tech-Women helping support and empower women leaders in #STEM
- Global Operations and Outreach Lead (Mentorship/Alumni) at BCG
- Collaboration Champion and Top Player Award - Analytics Tool Leaderboard at BCG
- AWS Certified Architect
- Microsoft Azure Certified Architect (10+ certifications)
Timeline
Principal Technical Specialist / Director - Data & AI delivery
Microsoft
01.2018 - Current
Senior Manager
Boston Consulting Group
01.2015 - 01.2018
Technology Consultant
01.2006 - 01.2015
Master of Science - Computer Engineering
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Technology - Computer Science and Engineering
MANIPAL UNIVERSITY
Master’s - liberal arts - General Management
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
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