Varsha Karmakar

• Team Development & Leadership: Built and expanded a high-performing team from 2 to 10 members, fostering a collaborative work environment that significantly boosted productivity, morale, and team cohesion.
• Revenue Growth & Performance: Drove significant revenue growth, increasing monthly revenue from ₹9 Lakhs (GMV ₹25 Lakhs) to ₹22 Lakhs (GMV ₹58 Lakhs and beyond) through strategic planning and operational excellence.
• Client Retention & Satisfaction: Achieved an impressive 92% client retention rate by consistently delivering high-quality service and successfully managing end-to-end event execution.
• Client Acquisition & Conversion: Secured and onboarded new clients, converting them into long-term, high-value accounts through exceptional service and tailored event solutions
• Vendor Network Expansion: Developed and maintained a comprehensive database of local and global vendors (catering units, restaurants, and brands), providing them with a platform to showcase their offerings and securing recurring business partnerships
• Event Planning & Execution: Led the full-cycle planning and execution of events, managing menu design, budgeting, logistics, and manpower allocation to ensure seamless on-ground operations.
• Customized Menu Curation: Worked closely with clients to understand their specific requirements, curating bespoke menus that aligned with their expectations and event objectives.
• Collaboration with Culinary Teams: Partnered with kitchen teams to propose innovative and cost-effective menu options, optimizing both quality and budget.
• CSR & Community Engagement: Collaborated with NGOs to facilitate impactful Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, creating mutually beneficial outcomes for both vendors and clients.
• Sustainability & Waste Reduction: Minimized food wastage by implementing precise production plans and arranging the donation of surplus food to underprivileged communities.
• Crisis Management & Problem Solving: Effectively handled unforeseen challenges during events, ensuring minimal disruption and maintaining high levels of client satisfaction.
• Operational Analysis & Problem Solving: Analyzed operational challenges and service delivery issues, identifying root causes, preparing comprehensive reports, and recommending actionable corrective measures to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Client Engagement & Experience Enhancement: Elevated client experiences by organizing engaging food programs, food festivals, and pop-up events that kept employees engaged and alleviated food fatigue.
• Branding & Marketing Collaboration: Partnered with the Marketing team to incorporate branding elements into events, enhancing the overall experience and reinforcing SmartQ’s brand presence.
• Financial Operations & Vendor Payments: Streamlined vendor payment processes with the Finance team, ensuring timely payments and meticulous tracking of invoices and transaction records.
• Team Training & Development: Mentored and trained team members on key aspects of event management, including food costing, menu curation, vendor management, business closures, and strategic event execution, contributing to both their personal and professional growth.
• Performance Management & Development: Conducted regular performance reviews, delivering constructive feedback and creating tailored personal development plans to enhance team members' growth and performance.
• Employee Relations & Engagement: Fostered strong employee relationships by cultivating a supportive, positive, and inclusive work environment that promoted collaboration and high morale.
• Agility & Leadership: Demonstrated flexibility and leadership in adapting to evolving business priorities, ensuring smooth transitions and continued success during periods of change.
• Workload Management & Resource Allocation: Strategically planned employee workloads and delegated tasks to optimize team performance, particularly during seasonal demand fluctuations.
• Employee Recognition & Motivation: Launched and managed an employee recognition program, rewarding exceptional team achievements and individual contributions to drive motivation and productivity.

• Vendor Onboarding & Partnership Development: Successfully onboarded and established strategic partnerships with catering units, restaurants, and brands to meet the diverse meal needs of clients, enhancing the company's service offerings.
• Brand Acquisition & B2B Negotiations: Secured collaborations with renowned B2C food brands (local and global), negotiating corporate pricing and presenting sustainable B2B opportunities to expand SmartQ’s vendor network.
• Menu Planning & Nutritional Balance: Collaborated with kitchen teams to design daily menus that prioritized nutritional balance, visual appeal, and regional preferences, offering a harmonious mix of North and South Indian dishes tailored to Bangalore’s diverse corporate demographic.
• Food Costing & Budget Management: Managed food costing to align with corporate budgets, ensuring cost-effective solutions while maintaining high-quality standards for client satisfaction.
• Vendor Negotiation & Cost Optimization: Led price negotiations with vendors, achieving cost savings while maximizing profit margins for SmartQ through strategic pricing and service offerings.
• Vendor Relationship Management: Cultivated and maintained strong, long-term relationships with vendors, ensuring their continued partnership and integration into SmartQ’s operations.

• Content Planning & Collaboration: Worked closely with marketing teams to develop content calendars and execute plans, ensuring content aligned with broader marketing goals.
• Crafting Engaging Content: Wrote compelling, informative, and SEO-friendly content across various formats, including blogs, articles, social media posts, and website copy, aimed at capturing and engaging the target audience.
• Maintaining Brand Voice: Ensured consistency in tone and voice across all written content, staying true to brand guidelines while adapting style to different platforms and audiences.
• Voiceover Work & Engagement: Provided voiceovers for website content and articles, enhancing user engagement and increasing the average time spent on the site.
• Content Promotion & Social Media Growth: Contributed to attracting and retaining online readers through compelling articles, leading to a significant increase in social media followers and audience engagement.

NGO Volunteering & Crisis Support: Volunteered to coordinate the preparation and distribution of 20,000 meals per day for one month during the COVID-19 crisis, assisting individuals stranded in Bangalore camps.

Vendor Onboarding & Partnership Development: Onboarded spa and salon chains, negotiating competitive rates and exclusive discounts to enhance customer offerings and drive business growth.