GIRIJA MANNOHAR
Bengaluru
Summary
Global Strategy & Operations Leader with 15+ years' experience driving organizational excellence and delivering fit-for-purpose solutions in leading pharmaceutical and retail settings. Trusted strategic partner to senior leaders, translating vision into action across 40+ countries. Specialist in governance frameworks, decision acceleration, and fostering agile, data-driven teams that adapt to shifting priorities. Renowned for leveraging analytics and executive communications to enable a play-to-win, fail-fast culture for continuous improvement and future readiness. Expert in strategic governance, data-driven insights, and executive communications.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Manager & Strategic Partner to Vice President of International Clinical Operations
Novo Nordisk Service Centre India Private Ltd.
09.2023 - Current
- As a Strategic Partner (Sep 2023 – Sep 2024), delivered the same high-impact responsibilities in an individual capacity. Promoted to Manager & Strategic Partner in Sep 2024 in recognition of leadership capability and expanded scope, including leading a team of four and driving enterprise-wide initiatives.
- Headed the Executive Strategy & Operations Office (ESO), providing Chief of Staff-level support to the Vice President.
- Designed and implemented a data-to-insight pipeline, enabling rapid synthesis of complex performance data into executive summaries; reduced VP decision turnaround time by 30%.
- Established and led the ESO as the central governance function, offering structure and insights to accelerate strategic objectives and executive decisions.
- Orchestrated content and cadence for 60+ key leadership meetings (IO Clinical LT, GTP Board), ensuring consistent strategic alignment among senior leaders.
- Led a team of four, overseeing analytics, strategic project support, and crafting executive communications to align 2,000+ employees.
- Provided critical project management for the launch and execution of the Clinical Operations Target Operating Model (TOM) across 40+ countries.
Senior Project Manager
Novo Nordisk Service Centre India Private Ltd.
01.2021 - 05.2023
- Led rigorous operational assessments across 16 global centres, identifying gaps and delivering strategies that accelerated clinical trial performance.
- Orchestrated 35+ deep-dive sessions and cross-regional summits, strengthening alignment and enabling high-impact strategic planning for trial delivery.
- Drive organisational change through targeted communication and change management in over 50 countries, ensuring consistent messaging and seamless clinical operations transitions.
Senior Business Analyst
Novo Nordisk Service Centre India Private Ltd.
06.2017 - 01.2021
- Develop and launch key dashboards including cost, capacity and performance worldwide to support data-driven clinical trial decisions.
- Authored clear user guides to support effective dashboard use.
- Transitioned legacy Excel-based 10+ dashboards to Power BI, automating manual reporting processes and publishing high-level data to enhance transparency, and operational excellence.
Process Leader
Novo Nordisk Service Centre India Private Ltd.
01.2016 - 05.2017
- Managed a team of analysts responsible for identifying duplicate payments made to healthcare professionals (HCPs).
- Identified and eliminated $5K in duplicate HCP payments and published 100% compliant HCP payment data to ABPI (Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry) on schedule, ensuring public transparency of $20 million in Novo Nordisk healthcare professional payments, and maintaining regulatory integrity.
Various Roles
Tesco Bengaluru
01.2007 - 01.2016
- Progressed through positions from Officer to Senior officer to Senior Project Analyst and Team leader driving supplier payment optimization, compliance operations, and PMO initiatives.
Education
Independent Director Certification -
World Council of Directors
Nano Degree - Management Consulting
Jobaaj Learnings
PGP in Strategic Management - undefined
EMAS
02.2023
MBA - Business Analytics & Intelligence
VOUSSM
12.2022
Skills
- Business Analytics
- Strategic Management
- Project Management (PRINCE2 Agile)
- Data analytics (Power BI, Tableau, Excel)
- Visual Storytelling & Data Presentation (PowerPoint)
- Stakeholder Management
- Executive Communication
- Cross-Functional Leadership
Additional Information
Decision Acceleration: Designed structures to cut VP decision cycle time by 30% by synthesizing complex global data into concise executive summaries.
Strategic Governance: Established the Executive Strategy & Operations Office, orchestrating 60+ key leadership meetings to ensure global alignment and accountability
Bottom-Line Impact: Saved millions of dollars by automating several processes using existing technology, driven by curiosity and an innovative mindset. Receiver of TESCO CFO award and I am NOVO NORDISK award for Innovative mindset, automating processes and commitment to business.
Timeline
Manager & Strategic Partner to Vice President of International Clinical Operations
Novo Nordisk Service Centre India Private Ltd.
09.2023 - Current
Senior Project Manager
Novo Nordisk Service Centre India Private Ltd.
01.2021 - 05.2023
Senior Business Analyst
Novo Nordisk Service Centre India Private Ltd.
06.2017 - 01.2021
Process Leader
Novo Nordisk Service Centre India Private Ltd.
01.2016 - 05.2017
Various Roles
Tesco Bengaluru
01.2007 - 01.2016
PGP in Strategic Management - undefined
EMAS
MBA - Business Analytics & Intelligence
VOUSSM
Independent Director Certification -
World Council of Directors
Nano Degree - Management Consulting
Jobaaj Learnings