Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Affiliations
Certification
Publications
Timeline
Generic
Somak Ghoshal

Somak Ghoshal

New Delhi

Summary

Performance-driven multidisciplinary executive with 17 years of experience in content creation, learning design, communications and training solutions, catering to clients across sectors and geographies. A Gallup-certified strengths-based coach helping individuals and teams overcome workplace challenges and personal interferences to achieve their goals

Overview

17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
4
4
Languages

Work History

Vice-President, Curriculum and Learning & Faculty In Residence; Lead, School for Managers

Harappa
New Delhi
04.2023 - Current
  • Led creation of 4 flagship programs for the US market, focused on development of professional skills for employees at different tenure levels
  • Lead curriculum design and co-lead delivery of the Women CXO Program
  • Led curriculum design and co-lead delivery of BUiLD It, a program for women startup founders, in conjunction with CXXO, a Kalaari Capital initiative
  • Facilitate online sessions as SME on communication and leadership skills for enterprise learners and cohorts at the Harappa School of Leadership
  • Responsible for adding original content to Thriversity, Harappa's self-paced learning library
  • Lead delivery of all programs under Harappa's School for Managers.
  • Led cross-functional teams for successful completion of major projects, resulting in increased efficiency and client satisfaction
  • Managed financial planning and budgeting processes, ensuring fiscal responsibility and maximising return on investments

Communications Specialist

Freelance
New Delhi
11.2021 - Current
  • Write for acclaimed Indian and international publications on books, arts and culture
  • Recent work has appeared in Mint Lounge, The Voice of Fashion, The Hindu, Open magazine, among others.

Director, Curriculum and Learning

Harappa
New Delhi
12.2021 - Current
  • Oversaw design and delivery of self-paced courses, based on Harappa's Thrive Skills, i.e. cognitive, behavioral and social skills essential to excel in 21st-century workplaces
  • Facilitated synchronous sessions as SME on writing and communication
  • Built learning solutions for clients
  • Led curriculum team that launched Harappa's B2C business on Harappa Learning App
  • Facilitated cross-functional collaboration for improved decision-making processes within Harappa

Consultant

LiveMint
Bengaluru
01.2018 - 10.2021
  • Covered books, culture, lifestyle, workplace beats as senior reporter
  • Planned, commissioned and edited several special editions end to end
  • Mentored team of junior writers by setting goals and reviewing their output
  • Launched and produced fortnightly

Senior Editor

HuffPost
Bengaluru
07.2016 - 11.2017
  • Covered pan-India news and features, focused on India's South
  • Launched, managed and grew Books vertical
  • Developed comprehensive editorial calendars, aligning content strategy with business objectives
  • Spearheaded initiatives to diversify content offerings, reaching new audiences and increasing reader engagement levels
  • Managed team of writers and junior editors to deliver accurate and engaging content
  • Oversaw story pitches, assignments, final revisions and layouts

Managing Editor

HarperCollins Publishers India
Noida
11.2014 - 06.2016
  • Commissioned and acquired ~ 25 non-fiction titles for HarperCollins India in genres like narrative nonfiction, memoir, biography, reportage, business and anthologies
  • Worked on select list of fiction titles
  • Managed P&L and co-created marketing campaigns
  • Leveraged market research insights to shape editorial strategy specifically tailored to target audience preferences

Features Writer

LiveMint
New Delhi
12.2012 - 10.2014
  • Commissioned, edited and wrote for Books vertical of Mint Lounge (weekly)
  • Also contributed to culture, interviews, cover stories and news reports for daily edition
  • Wrote two fortnightly blogs, one on publishing and the other on fine arts
  • Recorded fortnightly vlog on books and publishing

Commissioning Editor, Literary Fiction

Penguin Random House UK
New Delhi
12.2011 - 11.2012
  • Commissioned and acquired literary 20+ fiction and non-fiction for PBI
  • Managed P&L and GMs on each title effectively
  • Authors included: M.G Vassanji, Anjan Sundaram, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Shyam Selvadurai, Aruni Kashyap, Shazaf Fatima Haider, Musharraf Ali Farooqi, Kalpana Swaminathan
  • Multiple titles went into reprint and won awards
  • Liaised with graphic designers to create visually appealing covers and layout
  • Worked closely with sales and marketing teams to plan and launch successful promotional campaigns

Assistant Editor

ABP Group
Kolkata
09.2006 - 11.2011
  • Was with opinion pages of The Telegraph (Calcutta), which included edit, oped, books and arts review pages
  • Leader writer
  • Other responsibilities included editing daily columns, proof-reading, conceptualizing and designing pages
  • Reported on books, fine arts, music, politics and society

Education

Master's degree - English Language and Literature

University of Oxford
United Kingdom
01.2004 - 2006.04

Master of Arts - English

Jadavpur University
Kolkata
2002.01 - 2004.04

BA (Hons) - English, Sociology and Political Science

St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), Kolkata
Kolkata
01.1999 - 2002.04

Skills

Communicationundefined

Affiliations

Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach

Issued Jan 2024-Expires Jan 2027

Credential ID 38172

Certification

Rhodes Scholarship

Publications

- 10 Indian Heroes who Help People Live with Dignity10 Indian Heroes who Help People Live with Dignity (Penguin Random House India, 2021)

- Piku's Little World (Pratham Books, 2019)

Timeline

Vice-President, Curriculum and Learning & Faculty In Residence; Lead, School for Managers

Harappa
04.2023 - Current

Director, Curriculum and Learning

Harappa
12.2021 - Current

Communications Specialist

Freelance
11.2021 - Current

Consultant

LiveMint
01.2018 - 10.2021

Senior Editor

HuffPost
07.2016 - 11.2017

Managing Editor

HarperCollins Publishers India
11.2014 - 06.2016

Features Writer

LiveMint
12.2012 - 10.2014

Commissioning Editor, Literary Fiction

Penguin Random House UK
12.2011 - 11.2012

Assistant Editor

ABP Group
09.2006 - 11.2011

Rhodes Scholarship

09-2004

Master's degree - English Language and Literature

University of Oxford
01.2004 - 2006.04

BA (Hons) - English, Sociology and Political Science

St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), Kolkata
01.1999 - 2002.04

Master of Arts - English

Jadavpur University
2002.01 - 2004.04
Somak Ghoshal