PUJAPARNA PAUL
Pune
Summary
Senior techno-business leader with 9+ years of experience driving corporate innovation, startup partnerships, and cross-functional programs across global organizations. Proven expertise in problem discovery, pilot/POC execution, ecosystem engagement (startups, academia, industry bodies), and stakeholder management at the senior leadership level. Strong ability to translate customer and business problems into scalable technology solutions, build structured innovation programs, and deliver measurable business impact. Experienced in operating at the intersection of technology, strategy, and execution within complex enterprise environments.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
4
4
Certifications
Work History
Senior Manager - Innovation & Strategy
Tata Motors Passenger Vehicle Limited
Pune
05.2025 - Current
- Lead enterprise-wide innovation programs aligned with future mobility, safety, and customer experience priorities.
- Drive problem discovery workshops with business, engineering, and leadership teams to identify high-impact opportunity areas.
- Source, onboard, and manage startups and academic partners to co-develop POCs, and early-stage solutions.
- Translate customer experience and business problem statements into technical solution scopes, defining success metrics, timelines, and governance.
- Own end-to-end program management from ideation to POC, to prototype, to leadership review.
- Design and execute organization-wide innovation initiatives, including CTO challenges and startup engagement days, to foster an innovation culture.
- Present executive-ready updates, impact narratives, and scale-up recommendations to senior leadership.
Senior Engineer - Technology & Program Management
Mercedes Benz Research & Development India
Bangalore
06.2019 - 04.2025
- Designed and executed long-term (5–7 years) technology roadmaps aligned with global product and regulatory strategies.
- Built and managed global outreach programs with startups, universities, and internal R&D teams across the EU and APAC.
- Conducted first-level technical and business evaluations of emerging technologies, including feasibility, scalability, and compliance readiness.
- Led pilot programs and POCs, defining objectives, KPIs, governance cadence, and risk mitigation plans.
- Owned CapEx and OpEx budgets, ensuring ROI justification, and financial governance for innovation programs.
- Implemented digital governance frameworks (stage gates, KPI dashboards) to track execution and outcomes.
- Planned and delivered innovation showcases, leadership demos, and external engagement events.
- Directed key projects, including Heated Seat Belt Technology development and Polymagnetic Seat Belt Latch patent filing.
Engineer - Product Strategy & Market Programs
Mahindra Research Valley
Chennai
08.2016 - 05.2019
- Supported new product introductions by translating Voice of Customer (VoC) insights into product and technology requirements.
- Conducted competitive benchmarking, JD Power analysis, and market intelligence for product positioning.
- Partnered with dealers and customers through clinics and outreach programs to validate concepts and features.
- Delivered Six Sigma process improvement initiatives, reducing development rework, and cycle time.
Education
B.Tech - Mechanical & Automation Engineering
Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology
Delhi06-2016
Diploma - Electronics & Communication Engineering
Board of Technical Education
Delhi06-2013
10th - Science
Tripura Board of Secondary Examination
Agartala03-2010
Skills
- Corporate innovation and venture programs
- Startup sourcing, evaluation, and pilot execution
- Ecosystem partnerships (startups, academia, industry bodies)
- PoC, pilot program management, and ROI tracking
- Executive stakeholder management and governance
- Program governance (stage gates, KPIs, risk, and budget control)
- Innovation events, challenges, and culture building
- Global collaboration (EU, APAC, India)
- Agile and waterfall project management
- Innovation strategy and technology roadmapping
- Program and outreach management
- Ecosystem engagement and competitive intelligence
- Problem discovery and solution scoping (design thinking)
- Techno-Business Evaluation (AI/ML, Data, Digital Platforms
Certification
Project Management Principles and Practices - Coursera.
Accomplishments
Silver Award - Stakeholder and Customer Orientation (Mercedes-Benz)
Additional Information
Languages: English, Hindi, Bengali
Interests: Swimming, Reading
Timeline
Senior Manager - Innovation & Strategy
Tata Motors Passenger Vehicle Limited
05.2025 - Current
Senior Engineer - Technology & Program Management
Mercedes Benz Research & Development India
06.2019 - 04.2025
Engineer - Product Strategy & Market Programs
Mahindra Research Valley
08.2016 - 05.2019
B.Tech - Mechanical & Automation Engineering
Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology
Diploma - Electronics & Communication Engineering
Board of Technical Education
10th - Science
Tripura Board of Secondary Examination