PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
I am an academic and a media and communications professional with more than a decade of international work experience in the University and Non-profit sector as well as in the space of International Relations. Over the past decade, I have worked in Asia and Europe, with a special focus on India and Germany. Each of these jobs posed a unique challenge and helped me hone a set of diverse skillsets. The brief overview below will give you a rough idea about the job profile, key responsibilities and highlights during each of these engagements.
May 2022 onwards : Senior Project Manager at the Robert Bosch Academy of the Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH.
Main responsibilities in this role include:
- Assisting and sparring with high profile Fellows of the Robert Bosch Academy in Germany
- Editorial and organizational responsibility for the Podcast “Think. Debate. Inspire.” of the Robert Bosch Academy
- Strategic communications
- Strategic partnerships and stakeholder management
- Conceptualizing and moderating events at the Robert Bosch Academy
- Close coordination with other teams within the foundation
- Member of the working group on Diversity at the Robert Bosch Stiftung
- Working closely with the Robert Bosch Stiftung and the Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen on issues of Diversity, Inclusion and Equality
Since June 2023
– Co-Convenor of a quarterly India Round Table together with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and European Council on Foreign Relations
March 2021 – April 2022 : International Communicatins Officer at the Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik/ German Development Institute
Main responsibilities included:
- Creating and implementing communication plans for international research projects
- Assisting with project reporting requirements, monitoring and evaluation activities
- Information management between project leads, the internal communication team and external partners
- Developing and implementing a target‑group specific communication strategy for the Institute’s international press and media relations as well as the science communication activities
- Creating and implementing measures in the field of social media community management
- Managing press relations with international media outlets in Europe as well as in developing countries.
January 2015 – February 2020 : Program Director of “Media Ambassadors India – Germany”
As Program Director of the Indo-German Exchange Program “Media Ambassadors India – Germany”, I had the opportunity of working together with world renowned institutions like the Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH , the International Media Center of the HAW Hamburg and the Center for Media Competence of the University of Tübingen . The aim of this program was to promote international understanding by enabling select mid-career and senior journalists to stay in India/Germany, live there for three months while working on their own story ideas. They also had a chance to attend a customized coursework including sessions on contemporary issues in both the countries.
My key responsibilities during this time included:
- Policy and context analysis as well as expert knowledge of contemporary socio-political and cultural issues in Germany, EU and India
- Mentoring over 78 mid career and senior journalists from India and Germany over five years
- Designing customized coursework for the participating fellows
- Strategic network development and stakeholder management aimed at a variety of political, social and other relevant stakeholders in Germany, EU and India
- Facilitating and moderating conversations with high level stakeholders
- Mentoring 4 members of the university staff and guiding them in developing project management related skills
- Budget administration
- Overseeing the establishment of the Indo-German Media Network e.V.
April 2012 – December 2014: Research Assistant to Prof. Dr. Jürgen Wertheimer, Projekt Wertewelten at the Chair in Comparative Literature, University of Tübingen.
I had a chance to continue my association with Projekt Wertewelten as a research assistant to Prof. Dr. Jürgen Wertheimer. I had initially come to Germany as a fellow of this project.
My key responsibilities during this time included:
- Providing expert support and guidance to incoming international fellows.
- Providing support to the Project Lead in regulating communication with the cooperation partners as well as international partner universities.
- Organisation of conferences.
- Accounting and bookkeeping.
November 2007 – August 2010: Contractual teaching staff for German as Foreign Language.
I worked as a contractual teaching staff for teaching German as a Foreign Language (DaF) for
- the level A1 at the Symbiosis Institute of Foreign Languages in Pune.
- the levels A1 and A2 at the Max Mueller Bhavan (Goethe Institut) in Pune.
September 2006 – May 2007: Tour Guide for German-speaking tourists with Zahara Tours in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
Voluntary work:
- Member of the Board of the Indo-German Media Network e.V.
- Participation in the Community Challenge on Diversity in Think Tanks being organized by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik between October and May 2022
- Member of the selection jury for the category “Short Films” during the 17th Indian Film Festival Stuttgart
- Member of the advisory group which contributed to the Filmkonzeption Baden Württemberg 2020
- Consulted on and coordinated a delegation trip to various educational institutions in India for the Vice Chancellor’s Office of the University of Tübingen in 2013
- Volunteer for Adventure and Kids Camps with Foliage Outdoors in Pune, India
- Taught swimming to toddlers (3-5 yrs.) and young adults at Pegasus Swimming Pool, Choice Health Club, Pune Municipial Swimming Corporation Swimming Pool in Pune