Sidharth Shekhar

• As a Team Leader at Cognizant, I am responsible for training and optimizing a cutting-edge, real-time AI platform designed to identify the earliest signals of critical events, risks, and threats by analyzing vast amounts of public data.
• I lead a dynamic team of 12 Annotation Analysts, guiding them in meticulously assessing and categorizing news content from diverse platforms, including X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and audio bytes.

• Led statewide liquor distribution and supply operations, ensuring seamless coordination with Jharkhand State Beverages Corporation Ltd (JSBCL) for payments, compliance, and correspondence.
• I represented the company in high-level meetings with the Jharkhand Excise Department.
• Managed logistics with beverage companies—oversaw stock audits, transport, demurrage, and weekly settlements.
• Optimized business processes by reviewing department performance and collaborating with senior leadership.
• Built and nurtured key relationships with vendors, customers, and partners.
• Mitigated risks by implementing robust risk management protocols.

• Authored high-impact articles under tight deadlines, specializing in national & foreign affairs, explainers, live blogs, and photo stories.
• Curated and managed the Monthly Content Calendar for Times Now Digital’s main desk.
• Balanced breaking news coverage with in-depth analytical pieces, earning recognition as a versatile multitasker.
• Exclusively highlighted the struggles of Indians stranded abroad during COVID-19, reporting acknowledged by PM Narendra Modi via retweet.

🔗 PM Modi’s Retweet: https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1240271081807609857

• Researched and wrote in-depth articles on national and international affairs, ensuring accuracy and relevance.
• Developed content plans for special reports and monthly magazine issues, overseeing end-to-end execution.
• Commissioned and curated expert articles from industry leaders and subject specialists, maintaining high editorial standards.
• Conducted interviews with diplomats and ambassadors, securing exclusive insights for publication.
• Managed social media (Facebook) for D&B—crafted engaging content, analyzed performance metrics, and optimized reach.
• Collaborated with designers on layout, formatting, and visual storytelling to enhance reader engagement.
• Led editorial workflows: proofreading, fact-checking, and finalizing content for print/digital distribution.
• Assigned and directed freelance writers, while brainstorming fresh story angles with the editorial team.

• Reported on breaking tech news, wrote analytical explainers, and covered the startup ecosystem and business of technology.
• Produced comprehensive gadget reviews and conducted in-depth interviews with industry leaders (mobility, cloud computing, analytics, open source).
• Led the PCQuest online content team, overseeing strategy, assignments, and editorial quality.
• Developed monthly content plans for print and digital, ensuring seamless coordination with design, production, and in-house teams.
• Managed end-to-end publishing workflows—from ideation to final output—optimizing efficiency and reader engagement.

• Developed, wrote, and delivered content using SEO tools on various relevant topics for clients.
• Created and managed a monthly content calendar.
• Performed quality assurance checks on all published materials before release to maintain brand consistency across all platforms.
• Collaborated with external stakeholders to ensure alignment between business objectives and content strategy.

• Reviewed, edited and proofread written materials for grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax and clarity.
• Conducted research and fact-checked information for accuracy before publication.
• Managed multiple writing and editing assignments in a dynamic environment within stated timelines.