Smita Sharma
Bengaluru,KA
Summary
Senior CSR leader with 17+ years of experience leading enterprise-wide CSR strategy, multi-entity governance, regulatory compliance, and high-impact social development programs across India and global geographies. Leading social impact, interaction with ESG strategy, and governance across India and global operations (APAC, USA, UK, Europe, Australia). Proven expertise in ESG integration, statutory CSR compliance, sustainability reporting, multi-stakeholder engagement, and Board-level governance. Tracking record of aligning business strategy with SDGs, strengthening ESG maturity, and delivering measurable social and environmental outcomes at scale.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Global Program Manager- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
UST (formerly known UST Global)
India
01.2020 - Current
- Strategy and Policy:
- Formulated and implemented the CSR policy in line with government legislation, compliance and Sustainable development goals at India and global level.
- Revitalized Code of Conduct, other company policies and processed to enhance CSR commitment.
- Programs and partnerships:
- Aligned CSR programs with the company’s strategy and organizational goals.
- Plan, implement and track the CSR programs in the 8 States in India and out of India locations including APAC, the USA, the UK, Europe, and Australia.
- Increased the community level partnerships with non-profit organizations, academic institutions and government departments for the long term and sustainable implementation of the CSR programs.
- Financial and legal compliance:
- Managed the CSR budget of the 7 business entities of the UST group in India.
- Financial tracking and evaluation with the non-profit partners.
- Reviewing the functioning of the UST foundation as the implementation arm of UST for the CSR projects.
- Internal and external audits for the CSR and philanthropy budget with the finance and related teams.
- Managing employee grant and matching grant projects at international level.
- CSR projects planning, and evaluation with the CSR Board Committees at group and subsidiary level.
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Organization’s Values alignment with CSR
- Project data tracking at location and central level.
- Spearheaded launch of CSR management and employee engagement software portal from concept to completion with third party organization.
- Planning and managing the monitoring and evaluation strategy with each location team for quantitative and qualitative
- Reporting and Documentation
- Prepare and present the -
- CSR Board Committee reports at quarterly basis.
- Annual CSR report (descriptive and at global level) for publication
- Annual report to be submitted to Ministry of Corporate Affairs India as per CSR rules.
- CSR report for the Sustainability Reporting of the organization.
- Communication and media
- Collaborated with communication and media departments of the company to craft organizations CSR positioning internally and externally.
- Consistent publication of CSR progress updates, newsletter, and media stories with the communication team.
- Organizational goals
- Part of ESG core team of UST and DE&I working group.
- Represent the Office of Values and Culture vertical for consistent and largescale employee volunteering.
- Integrating the core Values of UST (Humanity, Humility, and Integrity).
- CSR awards and representation at National and international platforms refer my linked profile for further details
Head programs – Corporate Social Responsibility
United Way Bengaluru
Bengaluru
03.2017 - 12.2019
- Lead the education, health, and livelihood programs vertical of United Way Bengaluru – strategic planning, and operational management.
- CSR framework– state and national level program design and implementation.
- Stakeholder management – Corporate partners, liaising with Government departments and NGO partners.
- Managed CSR Programs:
- Education: Early childhood education, school education and higher education program.
- Employability: Skill development program for youth.
- Empowerment: Health, Nutrition and Women empowerment through livelihood improvement solutions.
- Volunteer Engagement.
- Impact assessment and documentation.
- Lead capacity building of program team and partner organizations.
- Designed and implemented the organizational sustainability plan.
Assistant Manager – Corporate Social Responsibility
Narayana Hrudayalaya ltd. (Narayana Health group of hospitals)
Bengaluru
01.2015 - 12.2016
- Programs managed:
- ‘e- Health Center’ – National level CSR program with Hewlett-Packard (HP)- India.
- Model village development program (Health, Education and livelihood).
- CSR grant management with Narayana Health charitable trust.
- Employee engagement program.
Project Specialist-Research
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), New Delhi
New Delhi
03.2009 - 12.2009
- Programs managed:
- “Strengthening State Plans and budget for Human Development (Health, Education and Livelihood)” with State Planning department of Rajasthan.
- Preparation of District Human Development Reports under national flagship program of Human Development Reports of UNDP.
- Research studies and analysis.
State Project Coordinator
UNICEF with Rajasthan State Women Commission, Jaipur
Jaipur
08.2005 - 02.2009
- Programs Managed
- Women and Child Development Program within the framework of State Women and Child development policy.
- State level advocacy program on, women and child rights, gender equity, safe motherhood and inclusive development with district and State Government departments.
- Subproject with Mahindra & Mahindra group under corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative.
Program Associate
Shikshit Rojgar Kendra Prabandhak Samiti’ (SRKPS- NGO), Rajasthan
Rajasthan
06.2004 - 07.2005
- Programs Managed
- Integrated Nutrition and Health Programme- II (INHP II) funded by CARE India with ICDS Rajasthan
- India literacy project, funded by India Literacy project, Bangalore.
- “Prevention of Early Marriage and Early Pregnancy and Young People’s Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights Project” funded by MAMTA - Health Institute for Mother and Child, New Delhi.
- Capacity building and mobilization of Panchayati Raj Institute (PRI) members under “Reforming Governance Institution” project funded by PRIA New Delhi.
Education
Executive Education Program - Corporate Social Responsibility
Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs
01-2017
Leadership in CSR - Executive Education Program
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
Foods, and Nutrition (Gold Medalist)
Rajasthan Agricultural University
01-2004
Skills
- Corporate social responsibility strategy
Accomplishments
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
- Directed CSR governance across 7 business entities with annual CSR budget oversight of [₹ XX Crore].
- Ensured 100% MCA CSR compliance with zero audit observations across reporting cycles.
- Integrated CSR initiatives into enterprise ESG framework aligned to GRI Standards.
- Enabled SDG alignment across programs impacting [XX,000+] beneficiaries annually.
- Established centralized ESG impact tracking system covering [XX programs] across 6 Indian states and 5+ global regions.
- Improved sustainability reporting efficiency and data accuracy by [XX%] through system digitization.
- Strengthened NGO ecosystem with [XX+] strategic partnerships and long-term grant governance model.
- Increased employee volunteering participation by [XX%] across global offices.
Certification
- Sustainable Business and Corporate Sustainability – e Cornell University (2025)
- GRI certified sustainability professional (2022)
- Social Return on Investment- SROI practitioner training (2018)
Timeline
Global Program Manager- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
UST (formerly known UST Global)
01.2020 - Current
Head programs – Corporate Social Responsibility
United Way Bengaluru
03.2017 - 12.2019
Assistant Manager – Corporate Social Responsibility
Narayana Hrudayalaya ltd. (Narayana Health group of hospitals)
01.2015 - 12.2016
Project Specialist-Research
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), New Delhi
03.2009 - 12.2009
State Project Coordinator
UNICEF with Rajasthan State Women Commission, Jaipur
08.2005 - 02.2009
Program Associate
Shikshit Rojgar Kendra Prabandhak Samiti’ (SRKPS- NGO), Rajasthan
06.2004 - 07.2005
Leadership in CSR - Executive Education Program
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
Foods, and Nutrition (Gold Medalist)
Rajasthan Agricultural University
Executive Education Program - Corporate Social Responsibility
Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs
Scholarly articles published
- “Status of Iron Folic Acid Tablet Distribution and Consumption” in Interdisciplinary conference on Nutrition in Health and Disease organized by Government Medical College, Surat, India.
- “Development and Nutritional Evaluation of Convenience Food.” in XXXVI annual meet organized by Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), University of Mysore. India.
- “Development and Nutritional Evaluation of Convenience Food” in 36th annual meet of Nutrition Society of India at All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Kolkata
Disclaimer
Date – 01-12-2023 Smita Sharma
Section name
https://www.linkedin.com/in/smita-sharma-b4553847/