Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Akhila Deshpande

Marketing Communications I Tech PR I Startups
Bangalore

Summary

An accomplished, results-driven communications professional with over 18 years of experience across established corporates, startups, VC fund, and agencies. Skilled at managing public relations and corporate communication initiatives to drive business goals. Strong ability to conceptualize impactful PR campaigns to attract talent, drive growth, and gain visibility. Significant international exposure and understanding of working with cross-cultural teams across the UK, Europe, and India. Outstanding verbal and written communication skills with the ability to craft messages, positioning, and programs that resonate with targeted audiences. Strong collaborator and relationship builder with senior executives and all levels of business partners. Respected, motivational team leader, and mentor. Recognized by clients, colleagues, and business partners for demonstrated work ethic, authentic communications, collaboration, dedication to excellence, and leadership.

Overview

18
18
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education

Work History

Global Marcomms Lead for India

NXP Semiconductors
1 2024 - 06.2024
  • Crafting compelling brand narratives and driving impactful marcomms strategies
  • Fostered collaborative relationships with key stakeholders to drive mutual success both internally and externally.

Freelance Consultant, PR & Marketing Comms

Yaary
10.2023 - 12.2023
  • Planned and executed launch of Yaary in India
  • Crafted positioning, branding and messaging strategies

Head - PR & Marketing

Prime Venture Partners
09.2014 - 07.2023
  • Managed communications strategy for Prime, successfully increasing brand visibility across 4 funds
  • Planned and executed brand-building and PR strategies for 30+ startups across sectors resulting in growth, lower customer acquisition costs (CAC), & establishment of trust
  • Experience in national media, international press, vernacular media, & digital channels
  • Built a highly-functional communications team at Prime that brought together external communications, media relations, internal communications, event planning, content development & social media management functions for the portfolio
  • Provided strategic media relations and communications consulting to all 40+ portfolio startups
  • Led the development and execution of sales-driven PR campaigns with high response rates across Fintech, SaaS, GenAI & Healthcare sectors, leading both B2C & B2B campaigns
  • Enhanced organization's presence on social media platforms to align with company's objectives
  • Established a robust brand image by conducting effective market research to gain insights into consumer behaviour
  • Crisis Management & Quality Control

Senior Account Manager

Archetype
10.2013 - 09.2014
  • Coordinated and executed public relations activities for clients, ensuring alignment with objectives and budget
  • Served as primary point of contact for clients, overseeing day-to-day public relations operations
  • Oversaw and managed a team of junior members
  • Drafted and approved written PR materials such as press releases and fact sheets
  • Communicated with and secured editorial opportunities from journalists in various media outlets
  • Key Clients - Cisco, NetApp

International Campaigns Manager

Archetype
05.2011 - 10.2012
  • Working from brief through to campaign development & execution on client PR programs across the EMEA region
  • Planning & budgeting effectively for clients across multiple geographies
  • Overseeing day-to-day activity (coordination & account delivery) across core international accounts
  • Managing, mentoring, setting objectives & conducting performance review of junior team members
  • Key Clients - Nokia, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Sybase, and Logica

Senior Account Executive

Archetype
04.2008 - 02.2011
  • Planned, secured & managed more than 50 press & analyst briefings for NXP Semiconductors at Electronica 2010 - Munich & conducted key briefings for the CEO to provide important updates and insights
  • Executed results driven media relations program for Kroll Ontrack Legal Technologies, securing coverage in The Economist in December 2010 with a mention in an article on WikiLeaks
  • Executed media relations campaign for Kroll Ontrack Data Recovery, securing coverage in Slashdot with more than 50 comments and articles, and generating significant buzz in the tech blogosphere
  • Developed & executed a STEM-focused PR campaign for The MathWorks in the UK, generating extensive media coverage & driving awareness of MathWork's products and services
  • Planned & managed CDNLive2010 event for Cadence EMEA, which included coordinating logistics, securing speakers, and overseeing marketing efforts, resulting in increased brand visibility and industry recognition with over 35 articles in the UK alone
  • Coordinated teams from 9 countries globally and led campaigns for NXP, MathWorks, and Cadence
  • Key clients: NXP Semiconductors, MathWorks, Cadence Design Systems, Kroll Ontrack, Nokia, and Total Energies.

Account Executive

Archetype
01.2007 - 10.2007
  • Coordinated and executed public relations activities for clients, ensuring alignment with objectives and budget
  • Served as primary point of contact for clients, overseeing day-to-day public relations operations
  • Oversaw and managed a team of junior members
  • Drafted and approved written PR materials such as press releases and fact sheets
  • Communicated with and secured editorial opportunities from journalists in various media outlets.

Account Executive

Perfect Relations
03.2006 - 01.2007
  • Enhanced brand awareness through the development of press releases and other PR collaterals
  • Created and maintained content for internal and external communications
  • Extensive experience in developing and maintaining media relations across India
  • Key clients: Cisco, Tavant Technologies, Cricinfo

Education

Electronics & Communication Engineering -

Dayananda Sagar Institute of Technology
Bangalore, India
08.2000 - 06.2003

Skills

Marcomms Strategy Formulation & Execution

International & Regional Media Campaigns

Marketing & Branding

PR & Media Relations

Market Research & Competitor Analysis

Social Media

Team Management & Leadership

Corporate Communications

Crisis Communications

Timeline

Freelance Consultant, PR & Marketing Comms

Yaary
10.2023 - 12.2023

Head - PR & Marketing

Prime Venture Partners
09.2014 - 07.2023

Senior Account Manager

Archetype
10.2013 - 09.2014

International Campaigns Manager

Archetype
05.2011 - 10.2012

Senior Account Executive

Archetype
04.2008 - 02.2011

Account Executive

Archetype
01.2007 - 10.2007

Account Executive

Perfect Relations
03.2006 - 01.2007

Electronics & Communication Engineering -

Dayananda Sagar Institute of Technology
08.2000 - 06.2003

Global Marcomms Lead for India

NXP Semiconductors
1 2024 - 06.2024

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
Akhila DeshpandeMarketing Communications I Tech PR I Startups