Saumya Patnaik
www.linkedin.com/in/saumya-patnaik
Summary
A seasoned and action-oriented HR Leader with 17 years of cross-industry experience shaping Talent, Culture, Leadership Capability and People Strategy across global technology, engineering, semiconductor, telecom and product-based organizations. An alumna of IIM Calcutta, brings in a distinctive blend of business acumen, behavioral science and people strategy to drive organization-wide impact. Known for decisive leadership, clarity of thought, and execution discipline, Saumya excels in fast-paced, structured environments requiring strong stakeholder alignment. Fosters a leadership philosophy that centers on courage, conviction and human connection; committed to creating thriving talent, enabled leaders, and culture as a competitive advantage. Proven track record of delivering measurable transformation and high-value outcomes including increasing talent review participation by 34%, reducing high-performer attrition by 50%, improving organizational retention by over 12%, leading enterprise-level HR technology implementations, and building sustainable HR models institutionalized by global vendors.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
HR Lead
Newton School
04.2025 - Current
- Partners with Founders to align people strategy with Newton School's mission in technical education transformation.
- Designs people roadmaps emphasizing culture, capability-building, and organizational clarity.
- Enhances manager effectiveness via structured development, coaching, and performance conversations.
- Leads initiatives fostering collaboration, belonging, and alignment across academic/nonacademic teams.
- Establishes scalable HR systems, communication, and talent processes for rapid growth.
- Champions human-centered employee experiences, ensuring connection, value, and empowerment.
- Elevates leadership capability to build purpose-driven, high-impact teams.
Manager - Talent Experience
MiQ
05.2023 - 01.2025
- Drove talent experience and change management, translating insights into measurable business outcomes.
- Strengthened manager capability and led organizational change programs across global teams.
- Improved engagement, clarity, and retention through experience-led interventions.
Manager - Global Talent Management
Microland Limited
02.2022 - 03.2023
- Spearheaded talent management and HR technology initiatives, reducing high-performer attrition by 50%.
- Led SuccessFactors implementation for 3,000 employees, improving adoption and talent visibility.
- Built compliance dashboards, enhancing process discipline and HR governance.
Assistant Manager HR
Capgemini Engineering
07.2015 - 02.2022
- Designed and executed OD interventions, driving performance and change management.
- Built MIS dashboards for manpower optimization and business decisions.
- Led business continuity planning during COVID, ensuring uninterrupted operations.
HR Business Partner
Tata Communications
10.2011 - 08.2012
- Managed HR operations and global mobility, streamlining policies and improving employee experience.
- Built and presented HR dashboards for leadership decision-making.
- Diagnosed OD needs and developed global transfer policies.
HR Business Partner
Tech Mahindra (formerly Mahindra Satyam)
05.2010 - 09.2011
- Handled HR operations, engagement, and retention, improving retention by 12%.
- Led rewards and recognition programs and process optimization.
- Managed annual performance reviews and appraisal processes.
HR Officer
UL Group
07.2008 - 05.2010
- Established and scaled HR function from scratch, implementing PeopleStrong for automation.
- Formulated HR policies and managed employee lifecycle.
- Digitized HR subfunctions, improving efficiency and compliance.
Education
Executive Program - Strategic Human Resource Management
Indian Institute of Management
01.2024
MBA - HR
MET League of Colleges
01.2008
SSC -
K.V. Ozar
01.2000
Skills
- Strategic HR leadership
- Talent management and development
- Organizational development
- Change management
- HR technology implementation
- Performance management
- Employee engagement and retention
- HR analytics and MIS
- Stakeholder alignment
- Diversity and inclusion
- Compliance oversight
Certification
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification
Accomplishments
- Boosted talent review participation by 34% through data-led performance calibration at MiQ.
- Reduced high-performer attrition by 50% by designing career pathways and enhancing manager capability at Microland.
- Improved organizational retention by 12% through targeted HRBP interventions at Tech Mahindra.
- Led enterprise-level SuccessFactors implementation for 3,000 employees, increasing adoption and talent visibility; optimized people processes work flows in aspects of talent management, onboarding practices & various policies administration.
- Institutionalized HR department from scratch followed by digitization of processes to scale.
Languages
English
Proficient (C2)
C2
Hindi
Proficient (C2)
C2
Oriya
Intermediate (B1)
B1
Marathi
Elementary (A2)
A2
Bengali
Elementary (A2)
A2
Timeline
HR Lead
Newton School
04.2025 - Current
Manager - Talent Experience
MiQ
05.2023 - 01.2025
Manager - Global Talent Management
Microland Limited
02.2022 - 03.2023
Assistant Manager HR
Capgemini Engineering
07.2015 - 02.2022
HR Business Partner
Tata Communications
10.2011 - 08.2012
HR Business Partner
Tech Mahindra (formerly Mahindra Satyam)
05.2010 - 09.2011
HR Officer
UL Group
07.2008 - 05.2010
Executive Program - Strategic Human Resource Management
Indian Institute of Management
MBA - HR
MET League of Colleges
SSC -
K.V. Ozar