Professional Experience:
Senior workforce development and public sector professional with over 25 years of progressive leadership experience in designing, managing, and scaling large-scale skills development, employability, apprenticeship, livelihoods, and workforce mobility initiatives across India. Extensive expertise in collaborating with national and state governments, development partners, industry, academia, and civil society to strengthen workforce ecosystems and promote inclusive economic growth.
Currently serving as Regional Head – South at the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), providing strategic leadership across seven States and Union Territories for flagship initiatives of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), including PMKVY, PM Vishwakarma, National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), Skill India International, CSR partnerships, and IndiaSkills. Successfully led multi-state stakeholder engagement, institutional partnerships, and ecosystem development, contributing to improved governance, industry participation, and sustainable employment outcomes.
Previously served as Senior Consultant – Public Sector with Grant Thornton Bharat LLP, where I advised central and state governments on policy implementation, institutional strengthening, governance reforms, and workforce development strategies under the World Bank-supported SANKALP programme. Led Project Management Units (PMUs), facilitated public-private partnerships, strengthened district skill ecosystems, and supported the design and implementation of demand-driven skilling initiatives.
Earlier leadership roles with Quess Corp Ltd. and IL&FS Skills Development Corporation involved managing large-scale government-funded skill development programmes, building strategic partnerships with employers, industry associations, CSR foundations, and government agencies, while ensuring operational excellence, compliance, quality assurance, and sustainable programme outcomes.
Throughout my career, I have successfully conceptualized and supported high-impact initiatives, including Skill India International Centres, workforce mobility programmes, WorldSkills ecosystem development, Industry Linkage Cells, migration support centres, apprenticeship expansion, and CSR-led workforce initiatives. I have worked extensively with multilateral agencies, development organizations, industry bodies, academic institutions, and corporate partners to strengthen workforce systems and improve employability for youth.
My core strengths include strategic leadership, programme management, public policy implementation, institutional capacity building, stakeholder engagement, government relations, public-private partnerships, monitoring and evaluation, ecosystem development, donor-funded programme implementation, workforce mobility, and business development. I am passionate about leveraging partnerships, innovation, and evidence-based approaches to deliver scalable, inclusive, and sustainable development outcomes that enhance livelihoods, employment, and economic opportunities.