Gardening, Music and Travel
Dr. Usha Gopinath Menon
Financial Inclusion Expert
Bengaluru,Karnataka
Summary
Strong leader and problem-solver dedicated to streamlining operations to decrease costs and promote organizational efficiency. Uses independent decision-making skills and sound judgment to positively impact company success.
Accomplished Executive Director recognized for leveraging strong team leadership and development to drive forward progress. Highly organized, detail-oriented leader skilled in directing high-performing teams to develop solutions and solve operational and technical problems. Success implementing systems across multiple operations with superior organizational and communication skills. Versatile Executive Director focused on promoting mission and increasing effectiveness of key programs. Passionate about managing and overseeing implementation of company's daily operations. Quick and firm decision-maker possessing first-rate communication and organizational skills. Recognized for successfully collaborating with management to develop work plans, financials and strategies.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
5
5
Languages
Work History
Senior Executive Director
Samhita Social Ventures
Bengaluru
01.2023 - Current
- Exercised appropriate cost control to meet budget restrictions and maximize profitability.
- Drove strategic improvements to enhance operational and organizational efficiencies.
- Aligned department vision, goals, and objectives with company strategy to achieve consistently high results.
- Built relationships with donors, government officials and other organizations to secure funding and support for organization.
- Set organizational goals and objectives to guide and direct company focus and achieve mission fulfillment.
- Developed and implemented organizational strategies to achieve set goals and objectives and secured long-term success.
- Implemented business strategies, increasing revenue and effectively targeting new markets.
- Trained and guided team members to maintain high productivity and performance metrics.
- Reduced operational risks while organizing data to forecast performance trends.
- Negotiated price and service with customers and vendors to decrease expenses and increase profit.
- Worked closely with organizational leadership and board of directors to guide operational strategy.
Chief Program Officer
Make A Difference
Bengaluru
08.2021 - 08.2024
- Developed feasible strategy for program growth meeting organizational vision and mission.
- Collaborated across disciplines to build high-quality infrastructure to support programs.
- Fostered team cohesiveness, positive workplace culture and support of staff.
- Led processes to set program goals, recommended timelines and organized resources needed to achieve goals.
- Managed relationships with partner organizations and led integration of program models with internal programs.
- Kept programs in line with established mission parameters.
- Turned strategic mandates into actionable program plans.
- Created and implemented program frameworks, performance standards and quality assurance requirements.
- Provided key leadership to project managers, directors and other team members.
- Designed and developed playbooks for programs on skilling, entrepreneurship and youth employability programs across India
Senior Program Director
Nasscom Foundation
Noida
09.2022 - 01.2023
- Developed programs for entrepreneurship and digital literacy from ground up, laying out framework, and defining roles.
- Provided ongoing direction and leadership for program operations.
- Maintained and updated project related documents.
- Designed and developed digital content for financial and digital literacy programs and enhanced scalability and sustainability
- Communicated regularly with stakeholders, updating on progress to build support for program.
- Monitored program performance to identify areas for improvement.
- Developed and implemented program goals and objectives, establishing specific and measurable outcomes aligned with organization's overall mission.
- Supervised program staff, managing and evaluating performance provide high-quality services to program participants.
- Negotiated program contracts and agreements to obtain cost-effective pricing.
- Developed and implemented program evaluation systems to assess program impact.
- Conducted outreach activities to engage local stakeholders in programs.
- Provided leadership, guidance and support to staff members.
- Assessed community needs and identified resources for social and community service programs.
- Referred clients to appropriate team members, community agencies and organizations to meet treatment needs.
- Participated in community events to promote services and engage with public.
- Collaborated with community members to develop and implement service initiatives.
- Developed and implemented training programs for staff.
- Researched best practices and developed strategies to improve program outcomes.
- Partnered with local organizations to expand access to social and community services.
- Spearheaded fundraising efforts to support social and community service initiatives.
Accenture Supported CSR
EDI
Bengaluru
01.2020 - 12.2020
- Supported the Chamber of Commerce entity We Act to help women entrepreneurs build business scale and diversify
- Developed community reputation through commitment to customer satisfaction and strong client relationships.
- Participated in team meetings and training sessions to stay informed about product updates and changes.
- Reduced process inconsistencies and effectively trained team members on best practices and protocols.
- Increased efficiency and team productivity by promoting operational best practices.
- Liaised with sales, marketing, and management teams to develop solutions and accomplish shared objectives.
- Increased efficiency and performance by monitoring team member productivity and providing feedback.
- Sought ways to improve processes and services provided.
Gender Expert
FCDO Supported Project For PwC
Hyderabad
01.2019 - 01.2020
- Designed and developed gender score card for MSME in 5 States of Karnataka, Telangana, New Delhi, Haryana and UP
- Strategy building for women entrepreneurs to scale business operations with appropriate market and credit linkages
- Proven ability to develop and implement creative solutions to complex problems.
Team Leader
UNDP Assisted Project
Port Morseby
01.2017 - 01.2019
- Designed and developed training curriculum for financial literacy for TVET in 14 provinces of PNG.
- Tracking mechanisms for building efficiency in learning and retention of knowledge for teachers and students.
- Created a flagship program across Pacific for schools and colleges
- Linkage established with Western Union and ANZ Bank.
Senior Director Asia
Accion International
Bengaluru
07.2008 - 12.2016
- Prioritized and allocated valuable resources to meet business targets.
- Fostered work culture of collaboration and inclusion to increase morale and reduce turnover.
- Drove strategic improvements to enhance operational and organizational efficiencies.
- Instituted formal operating procedures and enforced adherence to policies and regulations that impacted bottom-line.
- Partnered with financial and customer operations teams to drive business transactions using customer data and Lean concepts.
- Strategized and executed business plans for customer operations design, development and maintenance.
- Managed strategic business planning and implementation
- Directed design and execution of business transformation initiatives to drive performance, profit optimization and growth opportunities.
- Revamped operational plans to refocus staff and align processes with business objectives.
- Worked closely with organizational leadership and board of directors to guide operational strategy.
- Oversaw operations and provided corrective feedback to achieve daily and long-term goals.
- Monitored and coordinated workflows to optimize resources.
- Fund raising to 300 crs in 9 years with footprints Pan India and 50 partnerships for financial literacy and entrepreneurial training .
- Flagships in China, Africa, Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar and India.
- Designed and developed curriculum using award winning methodologies by IBD.
Team Leader
DFID
Madhya Pradesh
02.2006 - 11.2006
- Designed and developed village level plans to support micro planning for community led initiatives.
- Responsible for assisting the team of social scientists to come up with a strategy for livelihood opportunities that has scale in 6 districts of MP.
- Training methodologies developed to support women led CBO to build strategy for efficiency and operational frameworks
Team Leader
World Bank Assisted Jal Nirmal Project
Bengaluru
01.2003 - 12.2004
- Designed livelihood opportunities framework for women in 14 districts of Karnataka
- Responsible for creating market linkages and buy back for women entrepreneurs in the skill enabled field to augment incomes .
- Set up the PMU for WATSAN to regularize village level committees to build ownership and operation and maintenance practices.
Education
Master of Arts - Development Economics And International Development
Bangalore University
Bengaluru 07.1987 - 07.1989
Ph.D. - Economics
Bangalore University
Bengaluru 02.1994 - 09.1997
Skills
Strategic planning
undefinedAccomplishments
- Overhauled the training for internal stakeholders and rolled out new programs which resulted in an 60% boost in overall job performance.
- Achieved desired level of expectations by completing set objectives with accuracy and efficiency.
Interests
Reading biographies
Timeline
Senior Executive Director
Samhita Social Ventures
01.2023 - Current
Senior Program Director
Nasscom Foundation
09.2022 - 01.2023
Chief Program Officer
Make A Difference
08.2021 - 08.2024
Accenture Supported CSR
EDI
01.2020 - 12.2020
Gender Expert
FCDO Supported Project For PwC
01.2019 - 01.2020
Team Leader
UNDP Assisted Project
01.2017 - 01.2019
Senior Director Asia
Accion International
07.2008 - 12.2016
Team Leader
DFID
02.2006 - 11.2006
Team Leader
World Bank Assisted Jal Nirmal Project
01.2003 - 12.2004
Ph.D. - Economics
Bangalore University
02.1994 - 09.1997
Master of Arts - Development Economics And International Development
Bangalore University
07.1987 - 07.1989
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