Onkar Sharma
Content Strategist
Greater Noida (West)
Summary
A technology and business content strategist, content marketer, novelist (Revenge Theory) and a poet (Songs of Suicide), journalist, communications expert, cybersecurity content creator/curator, and social media manager with more than 17+ years of experience in B2B media and professional services organizations. Rich experience of writing on popular domains within technology and business and creating powerful marketing narratives for leading brands that cut across online, print and social media platforms.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
2
2
Certifications
3
3
Languages
Work History
AVP – Technology Content
EXL Service
06.2022
- Designed, developed and coordinated diverse content (blogs, whitepapers, videos, articles, marketing collaterals) by helping the CIO with various publishing needs
- Headed content for the Global Technology process and managed the team of contributors and designers
- Spearheaded outcome-based content development for Generative AI use cases and their evangelization across functions and departments
- Engaged in different high-priority, board-centric strategic initiatives and preparation of powerpoint presentations
- Created subject/theme specific content, site navigation and layout of content for the external / internal community sites of the company
- Conceived, planned, produced, and distributed content aligned with business objectives
- Evangelized prioritized initiatives of the CIO office ensuring wider reach and engagement with target groups
- Coordinated with internal teams to identify and explore content-related opportunities and utilize them for mindshare and industry visibility
- Developed strategic content including CIO presentations, whitepapers, blogs, and other thought leadership materials.
Freelance Content Strategist, Marketing Content
07.2021 - 06.2022
- Consulted several IT companies (in the datacenters, cloud, analytics, RPA, AI/ML, cybersecurity space) on freelance as well as contract basis for content-related projects
- Conceiving, writing, editing, and proofing an array of externally facing short- and long-form content, including advertisements, articles, blogs, brochures, content hubs, ebooks, emails, fact sheets, infographics, interactives, landing pages, newsletters, podcasts, press releases, reports, resources, scripts, social media, and websites
- Writing documents, such as sales enablement materials, employee communications and HR-related copy, events materials, etc
- Ensuring communications alignment with brand standards and supporting documents, such as brand, corporate, marketing, and solution messaging; audience and persona information; buyer’s journey and interaction details; marketing plans on a page; and technology/industry trend information
- Using requirements indicated in creative briefs, articulate questions and identify gaps that must be addressed to maximize effective content development that measurably achieves the business objective
- Interviewing marketers, SMEs, and other sources whose input drives content narratives.
Principal Specialist, Marketing Content
Cyberinc Pvt Ltd and Forcepoint
07.2020 - 06.2021
- Played a key role in transitioning the Cyberinc content to Forcepoint as per the M&A process
- Post the transition, got released as the proposed role at Forcepoint wasn’t commensurate with my knowledge and experience
- Responsible for managing the content marketing strategy to drive and propel Cyberinc’s market reach for its cybersecurity product
- Creating content strategy, in alignment with the marketing and sales initiatives - to drive traffic, engagement, leads, generate interest in Remote Browser Isolation and Isla Isolation platform, drive campaigns & digital initiatives, and help enable sales
- Writing a variety of thought leadership and technical (cybersecurity) marketing content in the appropriate style (e.g., case studies, email marketing, press releases, SEO web-page content, blogs, market reports and social medial posts, brochures)
- Collaborating across functions and silos to deliver an effective content marketing strategy and editorial plan
- Measuring content effectiveness, delivering regular performance reports, and adapting as necessary
- Aligning content with editorial requirements, including basic SEO, consistency with brand voice
- Understanding the basic best practices of the leading social media channels, which content and approaches work on each and why.
Content Head and Media Manager – Cyber Security
PwC India
12.2017 - 06.2020
- Responsible for managing the content for PwC’s Cyber Security practice and align it to the media requirements
- Authored thought-leadership papers, surveys and whitepapers on various cyber security issues – data privacy, GDPR, IDAM, SOC, MSS (managed security services), IIOT security, SCADA, etc
- Worked closely with SMEs (subject matter experts) to create content for media consumption on the hot issues and ensuing that PwC’s opinion is well placed on core industry issues
- Focused on building relevant communities within the security and safety domains and engaging with key people from an editorial perspective
- Independently written and driven content for the cyber security page of PwC India’s website
- Written blogs and press communications for better visibility and media outreach
- Handled social media for the cyber security practice and ensuring that Cyber Leaders are able to establish adequate connect using different social platforms – LinkedIn, Twitter, Youtube and Facebook
- Responsible for conceptualizing CXO level events for the cyber security practice
- Independently driven webinars to enhance outreach among clients
- Independently driven conceptualization and content creation for all marketing and sales collaterals.
Executive Editor
Dataquest, CyberMedia (I) Ltd
10.2010 - 12.2017
- Spearheaded Dataquest magazine’s print and online operations catapulting it to achieve greater readership
- Headed a team of a dozen professionals including journalists, content editors, designers and marketing people
- Strategized and institutionalized key annual events life DQLIVE and Telecom Leadership Forum; strengthened the brand among appropriate communities and target audience
- Regularly appeared as a speaker and moderator for key panel discussions on topics related to the IT industry
- Began as Assistant Editor in 2010 and rose to the rank of editor due to my stories, connections in the IT industry and in-depth reach in the user community (CIOs/CISOs)
- Reignited the importance of DQ Top 20, an annual industry survey by Dataquest and increased its relevance for the Indian IT
- Exclusively handled beats like Datacenters, Cyber Security, and Enterprise Applications (ERP, CRM, SCM)
- Positions held at Dataquest before being promoted to Editor include Associate Editor, Senior Assistant Editor, Assistant Editor and then Operations Editor.
Editorial Coordinator and Senior Correspondent
EFY
04.2008 - 10.2010
- Worked as an Editorial Coordinator and Journalist for ‘BenefIT’ and ‘i.t’ magazines
- Handled the entire magazine end-to-end, from coordinating with contributors and editors to getting it designed for final print
- Wrote stories on interesting business IT issues and interviewed innumerable industry leaders/government heads
- Built relationships with CEOs and IT heads of the mid-size companies as greater thrust was to focus on IT problems of SMEs and SMBs
- Started as Business Correspondent and rose to the rank of Editorial Co-ordinator
- Liaisoned with external contributors, authors and freelance journalists
- Conducted SMB-related seminars and roundtables to raise IT problems of growing and small organizations
- Played a key role in EFY’s annual trade show ‘Edutech’ at Pragati Maidan.
Special Correspondent
itVARnews, TechPlus Media Pvt Ltd
10.2007 - 04.2008
- Wrote stories for itVARnews & IT PRICE VAR, an English Portal and IT magazine for the channel partners
- Built relationships in the IT channel and distribution networks of India to take up their challenges and issues through my articles
- Interviewed CEOs and heads of top IT companies in India to increase readership and outreach
- Conducted many channel events and award functions to recognize the channel fraternity in India
- Reviewed laptops and IT products for the magazine and online portals.
English Lecturer
SD Public School
04.2005 - 07.2007
- Headed Department of English and taught English to intermediate classes
- Inspired students to hunt for knowledge and increase understanding about current affairs
- Played a career counsellor’s role by guiding students to take up the right subjects for better future
- Built school’s reputation by conducting a host of extracurricular and quiz activities
- Prepared students for inter-state and inter-district drama/skit competitions.
Part Time Anchor
All India FM Radio
03.2005 - 06.2006
- Anchored a weekly programme for youth on All India Radio, Hamirpur (FM) from March 2005 to June 2005.
Education
M A English literature -
Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla
Bachelor of Arts - undefined
NSCBM Post Graduate Govt. College, Hamirpur
Intermediate - undefined
Boys Senior Secondary School, Hamirpur
Skills
Internal Communications
undefinedCertification
HubSpot Content Marketing Course, August 2021
Areas Of Interest
- Creative Writing in all major genres – poetry, fiction, non-fiction.
- Trekking: Trekked several mountain peaks in the tribal regions of Himachal in search of the divine peace
Technical Qualifications
- Diploma in Computer and Information Technology from Asset International Institute (One Year)
- Certificate Course in English Typewriting (Six Months)
Pen Name
Onkar Sharma
Personal Information
- Father's Name: Late Anant Ram
- Mother's Name: Chanchla Devi
- Date of Birth: 06/11/1980
- Marital Status: Married
Timeline
AVP – Technology Content
EXL Service
06.2022
Freelance Content Strategist, Marketing Content
07.2021 - 06.2022
Principal Specialist, Marketing Content
Cyberinc Pvt Ltd and Forcepoint
07.2020 - 06.2021
Content Head and Media Manager – Cyber Security
PwC India
12.2017 - 06.2020
Executive Editor
Dataquest, CyberMedia (I) Ltd
10.2010 - 12.2017
Editorial Coordinator and Senior Correspondent
EFY
04.2008 - 10.2010
Special Correspondent
itVARnews, TechPlus Media Pvt Ltd
10.2007 - 04.2008
English Lecturer
SD Public School
04.2005 - 07.2007
Part Time Anchor
All India FM Radio
03.2005 - 06.2006
M A English literature -
Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla
Bachelor of Arts - undefined
NSCBM Post Graduate Govt. College, Hamirpur
Intermediate - undefined
Boys Senior Secondary School, Hamirpur
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