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