Vandana Sharma

Major Vandana Sharma is a distinguished diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) advocate, currently serving as Head of People at SuperGaming and an Adjunct Professor at the Indian Institute of Management Kashipur. With a decade-long tenure as a Major in the Indian Army, including commendable service during the Kargil War, her lived experiences have profoundly shaped her commitment to racial equality and social justice. Her transition from military to corporate leadership underscores her resilience and adaptability. As a speaker, she addresses themes such as leadership, female empowerment, breaking stereotypes, women in leadership, organisational culture and employee development, entrepreneurship, following one’s passion, pursuit of excellence, career building, taking risks, and gender parity.​

Beginning her career in 1996, Vandana served in the Indian Army for ten years, where she developed a strong foundation in leadership and strategic thinking. Post-military, she transitioned into the corporate sector, holding significant roles such as Manager of Strategic Resourcing and later Regional Resourcing Manager at Wipro Infotech, Associate General Manager at GMR Group, and Senior Manager of Management Development & Talent Acquisition at TNT Express. Her trajectory continued upward with positions like Head of Partner Operations at Teamlease, Head of HR and subsequently AVP of Organisation Culture & Employee Engagement at Myntra, and Chief People Officer at HolidayIQ.com. In 2017, she founded StartupPeopleConsulting, focusing on HR strategy and leadership development.​

Vandana’s contributions have been widely recognised. In 2017, she was honoured as an International Woman Icon Asia Pacific by BERG Singapore and as a Woman of Substance by SRL Diagnostics. Her influence in thought leadership was further acknowledged when she was named a LinkedIn Top Voice in 2019. Additionally, she has delivered impactful TEDx talks, including “Follow Your Calling”, “Risk to Rise”, and “Work on an Epitaph, Not on a Resume”, where she shares insights drawn from her diverse experiences.​

Vandana’s speaking engagements delve deep into the intersections of leadership, diversity, and inclusion. She emphasises the importance of breaking societal and organisational stereotypes, advocating for gender parity, and fostering inclusive workplace cultures. Her talks on entrepreneurship and career building inspire individuals to pursue their passions and embrace risks in the pursuit of excellence. Organisations seeking a speaker who combines military discipline, corporate acumen, and a profound commitment to racial equality will find Vandana’s insights both transformative and actionable.