Manika Mittal

Strategic operator and leadership partner with 15+ years of experience in executive communication, brand stewardship, and cross-functional execution—currently reporting to the Group CEO at Balancehero India. I lead the communications and marketing charter, driving purpose-led storytelling, digital innovation, and unified brand positioning across regulated sectors like fintech.

Recognized as a PR 40 Under 40 leader and a regular speaker at leadership forums, I advocate for data-driven communication. Currently pursuing an Executive MBA from Indian School of Business (ISB), I bring a systems-thinking mindset and cross-disciplinary agility- equipping me to lead through ambiguity, drive alignment at scale, and deliver impact across functions.

Accomplished communications and marketing leader with over 15 years of experience driving brand strategy, executive visibility, and business alignment across fast-paced, regulated industries. Currently serving as a strategic partner to the Group COO at Balancehero India, I lead the integrated communications and content marketing function—owning strategic reputation, digital outreach, and stakeholder engagement at scale.

My career has spanned end-to-end brand building—from market launches and media strategy to influencer marketing, celebrity-led brand endorsements, and high-impact storytelling that translates business intent into audience trust. I’ve led cover story planning for national media, orchestrated industry narratives, and delivered measurable outcomes through purpose-driven content and platform-native storytelling.

Operate with autonomy across high-velocity projects such as AI-powered marketing automation, digital campaigns, and policy-facing communication—executed under tight timelines and budget frameworks. I’ve built the communications function from the ground up, launching internal systems and governance frameworks that bring clarity, consistency, and impact.

Recognized as a PR 40 Under 40 leader, I’ve managed CXO positioning, led media training for senior leaders, and designed leadership enablement programs. My role often mirrors Chief of Staff responsibilities—translating leadership vision into action, driving alignment across functions managing business-critical communication cycles.

I’ve proactively navigated high-stakes reputational risks by embedding crisis preparedness and foresight into our communication processes. Strong relationships with regulatory and non-governmental bodies have helped shape a resilient narrative architecture for the organization. My proprietary A2I framework (Awareness–Influence–Impact) has guided the company’s transformation from a challenger fintech to a trusted, leadership-led NBFC brand.

With my EMBA, I am investing in deepening my business acumen—learning to bridge enterprise-wide understanding across units and functions.

• PR 40 Under 40 – BusinessWorld (2024): Recognized for leadership in crisis communications and narrative building in a regulated fintech.
• True Star of the Year – Balancehero India: Company-wide annual award for outstanding performance and impact.
• Quarterly Star Award- Acknowledged for managing media and communications during critical business transitions.
• Dr. Stya Paul Award - for Human Values, Apeejay Stya Education (Svran Foundation), 2008
• Speaker & Trainer- Communications and PR speaker at forums- IAMAI, Economic Times, AdGully, Media4exchange

Professional Certificate Programme in Digital Marketing from ISB