AAKANKSHA PAWAR
Product Manager
Nerul
Summary
Results-driven paints and coatings professional with 5 years of hands-on R&D experience, complemented by customer-facing product and sales support. Strong expertise in new product development and colorant systems, enabling effective technical solutions, customer trials, and product approvals, while supporting sales growth through technical value selling and strong customer engagement.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
2
2
Certifications
3
3
Languages
Work History
Product Manager
Minolta Chem
10.2025 - Current
- Managed the decorative and industrial coating raw material portfolio within a trading and distribution environment.
- Leveraged five years of prior R&D experience to provide strong technical support, formulation guidance, and problem-solving to customers.
- Acted as a technical-commercial interface between customers, sales teams, and principals (manufacturers).
- Supported customer product trials, evaluations, and approvals using application and formulation knowledge.
- Assisted customers in optimizing formulations for performance, cost, and application requirements.
- Worked closely with principals to understand product chemistry, specifications, and differentiation.
- Drove product sales through technical value selling, rather than price-only discussions.
- Handled pricing strategy, negotiations, quotations, and follow-ups to close business.
- Conducted market and competitor analysis, identifying suitable substitutes, and new opportunities.
- Coordinated new product introductions, including samples, TDS, MSDS, and technical presentations.
- Trained internal sales teams and distributors using application-based product knowledge.
- Supported supply chain teams for forecasting, inventory planning, and timely order fulfillment.
- Resolved customer technical complaints and quality issues in coordination with principals.
Biocide for water-based Coatings
Freelance Business Development
02.2025 - 06.2025
- Assisted in promoting biocides for use in coatings
- Engaged with clients for basic product discussions
- Gained short-term exposure to sales & market development activities.
R & D Officer
Kansai Nerolac Paint Company
12.2022 - 12.2024
- New product development (NPD) and support to marketing for new product launch in interior/exterior wall paints category
- Cost reduction in existing products using alternate raw materials for exterior wall application
- Existing product upgradation for interior/exterior wall application
- Benchmarking of exterior decorative products against competition products
- Generated reports detailing findings and recommendations.
- Troubleshooting of Productions Queries
- Having Knowledge about development of shades database in water-based systems
- Handling testing Equipment like spectrophotometer, Gloss meter, Centrifuge, pH & Viscometer etc
- Lead Product Trainer: Decorative paints products category and application
- Conducting training sessions for capability building like, Overview and training for R & D trainee
- Business support & Product training to Sales Team
- P&A (Product & Application) training for painters
- Mentored junior staff members, helping them develop their skills and advance in their careers.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams to address complex issues, leading to more efficient problem-solving processes.
- Maintained safe, tidy and organized laboratory environment for accurate test results.
Lab Technician
Behr Process Paint Pvt Ltd
09.2019 - 12.2022
- Streamlining of Water Based Paints Batches
- Streamlining of Wood coatings such as Stains & Varnishes
- Qualification of different Raw Material
- Handling Different Stewardship Project
- Post-Add data generation for Production
- Maintained documentation on tests performed in lab.
- Deep Understanding of Test methods of Water based decorative paints & Wood coatings
- Managing all the Project data by using power point presentation, Excel sheet, Share point, Smart sheet
- Handling testing Equipment like spectrophotometer, Gloss meter, Centrifuge, pH & Viscometer etc.
- Understanding of X-rite Software & Product vision
- Maintained a safe and organized laboratory environment, adhering to strict safety protocols.
- Recorded and analysed data to produce reports of results.
Qc Chemist
Robonik India Pvt Ltd
06.2018 - 09.2019
- RM Testing & Analysis: Performed chemical and physical analyses of raw materials, in-process samples, and finished products to ensure quality control standards are met
- Calibrated laboratory equipment and documented readings and adjustments to improve equipment accuracy.
Education
Paint Diploma From Color Society - Paint & Coating
ICT
Mumbai, India 04.2001 -
Post Graduation - Analytical Chemistry
B.N. Bandodkar College of Science
Thane07.2019
BSC - Chemistry
B.N. Bandodkar College of Science
Mumbai, Maharashtra07.2018
Skills
Excellent communication
Certification
Participated & Won in DLLE conducted by Mumbai university.
DISCLAIMER
I, Aakanksha Pawar, hereby declare that the information contained herein is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
WEBSITES, PORTFOLIOS
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aakanksha-pawar-73333b18b
Timeline
Product Manager
Minolta Chem
10.2025 - Current
Biocide for water-based Coatings
Freelance Business Development
02.2025 - 06.2025
R & D Officer
Kansai Nerolac Paint Company
12.2022 - 12.2024
Lab Technician
Behr Process Paint Pvt Ltd
09.2019 - 12.2022
Qc Chemist
Robonik India Pvt Ltd
06.2018 - 09.2019
Paint Diploma From Color Society - Paint & Coating
ICT
04.2001 -
Post Graduation - Analytical Chemistry
B.N. Bandodkar College of Science
BSC - Chemistry
B.N. Bandodkar College of Science