Sonia Sharma
Summary
HR leader with 22 years of experience driving business performance through strategic HR initiatives. Proven expertise in Business Partnering, Talent Management, and HR technology. Skilled in designing and implementing effective HR processes while leading cross-functional teams to foster a high-performance culture.
Overview
2027
2027
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief People & Organizational Development
Welspun Group
05.2025 - Current
- Architected enterprise-wide HR strategies that improved organisational effectiveness through scalable, cost-efficient, and collaborative operating models.
- Standardised and optimised HR processes to elevate operational efficiency, governance, and workforce productivity.
- Developed a future-ready talent and people strategy to accelerate business growth, cultural transformation, and organisational resilience.
- Built leadership and succession pipelines via strategic workforce planning, coaching frameworks, and executive capability development.
- Orchestrated organisational design and change management initiatives to enhance agility, innovation, and scalability across the enterprise.
- Established a data-led people operating model, integrating workforce intelligence, and analytics into strategic decision-making.
- Enabled a high-performance and inclusive culture through DEI integration, engagement frameworks, and performance enablement.
- Led digital HR transformation and capability building through continuous learning ecosystems, and talent development platforms.
- Served as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board, converting talent insights into competitive advantage and business outcomes.
- Aligned organisational structure, workforce capability, and talent architecture with long-term business strategy and growth priorities.
CHRO
SINTEX BAPL (by Welspun)
03.2024 - 05.2025
- Formulated long-term HR strategies to support business expansion, automation, and digital transformation in textile operations.
- Aligned workforce capabilities with production goals by implementing strategic manpower planning and capability mapping.
- Built leadership pipelines and succession plans for critical operational roles across factories, and corporate functions.
- Led change management initiatives to support modernisation, lean manufacturing, and cost optimisation programmes.
- Created data-driven HR dashboards and analytics to enable strategic decision-making, workforce forecasting, and planning.
- Partnered with the CEO and Board to shape organisational culture, sustainability practices, and ESG workforce compliance.
- Developed strategic partnerships with training institutions, industry bodies, and stakeholders to ensure future-ready talent supply.
People Partner Lead-Advanced Textiles
Welspun India Ltd
Mumbai
01.2006 - 03.2024
- Led design and implementation of an SBU-based structure to align with business goals.
- Spearheaded creation of Business APEX team, hiring for key leadership positions.
- Managed hiring processes internally for five years, achieving cost savings.
- Established complete organizational structure and HRIS systems for greenfield project.
- Developed Variable Pay Policy aligned with overall business strategy.
- Created retention policies tailored for skilled labor to enhance commitment and reduce turnover.
- Introduced Machine Engineer Concept, establishing structured career paths for Diploma Engineer Trainees.
- Launched Technical Squadron in collaboration with Plant Operations Head to improve problem-solving capabilities.
- Established firm's organisational strategies through strategic thinking and direction.
GM -HR
Welspun India Limited
- Led organisational development initiatives across India, resulting in a 12% increase in workforce productivity and a 15% improvement in process efficiency through targeted capability-building and change management programmes.
- Drove end-to-end talent acquisition strategy, achieving 96% in-house hiring, reducing external agency costs by 30%, and onboarding 100–120 campus hires annually, strengthening the talent pipeline.
- Designed scalable organisational structures to support new business lines and expansions, enabling 20% faster decision-making, and a 30% reduction in role redundancies.
- Implemented succession planning for critical leadership roles, achieving an 85% internal fill rate and increasing leadership bench strength by 40%, in alignment with business continuity goals.
- Facilitated annual goal-setting and performance alignment for direct reports of the MD, contributing to a 25% improvement in leadership performance metrics and enhanced strategic execution.
- Standardised HR processes and governance frameworks that improved operational efficiency by over 20% and reduced compliance risks, accelerating employee resolution turnaround times by 35%.
Business Partner HR - Retail Team
Welspun
- Executed HR operations, overseeing manpower planning and end-to-end employee lifecycle management.
- Designed and executed employee engagement initiatives to enhance workforce satisfaction.
- Facilitated internal and external audits, ensuring compliance with organizational standards.
- Managed HR dashboards and presentations for various internal review platforms.
- Spearheaded initiatives to enhance product and service offerings based on market feedback.
- Evaluated performance metrics to monitor progress towards achieving business targets.
Education
Certification course - Design Thinking, Change Management
MIT
12.2021
PGDBA - Human Resource
Symbiosis
Pune01.2006
Advance HRP -
Ross Business School
Michigan, USASkills
- Organisational development
- HR strategy alignment
- Talent acquisition
- Performance management
- HR process optimisation
- Data-driven decision making
- Change management
- Succession planning
- Leadership development
- Workforce analytics
- Stakeholder collaboration
- Resource optimisation
- Culture building
Professional Development
- Welspun Leadership Academy Program, 2016-01-01
- GLP (Group Leadership program), 2021-01-01
- Outstanding Women Leadership Award, The World Women Leadership Congress, 2025-02-01
Custom Section
- Mahavir Spinning Mills Limited, 2002-01-01, 2005-12-31, Handled Procurement of Capital items for the Projects Coordination with Commercial, MIS, Instrumental in hosting First Projects related to Carbon Footprints and led the complete project from HO under guidance of Head Projects, Part of Core Team which created Standardized Purchase Process across Textiles
- Welspun, 2006-01-01, 2008-12-31
Timeline
Chief People & Organizational Development
Welspun Group
05.2025 - Current
CHRO
SINTEX BAPL (by Welspun)
03.2024 - 05.2025
People Partner Lead-Advanced Textiles
Welspun India Ltd
01.2006 - 03.2024
GM -HR
Welspun India Limited
Business Partner HR - Retail Team
Welspun
Certification course - Design Thinking, Change Management
MIT
PGDBA - Human Resource
Symbiosis
Advance HRP -
Ross Business School