By: Amit Avasthi
In recent decades, “Digital transformation” has become a commonly used term, prompting many organizations to embark on this journey. However, the fast pace of technological advancements has made it challenging to sustain these changes. Industry experts play a crucial role in ensuring that these transformations are implemented and deeply integrated into organizations. Digital transformations require not just technological changes but also significant shifts in organizational culture, processes, and employee behavior. Organizational Change Management (OCM) experts specialize in managing these human aspects of change, making them critical to the success of digital transformation initiatives.
Chhaya Kewalramani is one such OCM expert, known for her ability to blend business acumen with empathy and a deep understanding of Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management, and Psychology. Her expertise has helped organizations realize the gainfulness in business transformations, particularly during digital initiatives. As an engineer and an MBA with majors in Human Resource Management and Organizational Behavior, she combines technical expertise with a profound understanding of human behavior, making her a truly global change management expert.
Her journey began in human resources, where she quickly rose to prominence for her ability to navigate complex changes. At HCL Technologies, she led acquisitions alongside executives, managing to seamlessly integrate diverse cultures and comply with employment regulations across the EU, North America, the UK, and Asia.
Her transition to digital transformations was natural, and she established the Change Management practice for Digital Business at HCL. Her success led her to tackle some of the largest digital challenges faced by US-based companies, including leading data and analytics transformation at the World Bank Group. She then moved on to address cloud migrations, operating model changes, supply chain digitization, and various process and business transformations, earning accolades for her innovative approaches.
Doug Salcedo, A leader in Agile Transformation says “Chhaya did an excellent job of supporting the initiative from executive alignment, case for change research and documentation, journey communications, adoption planning, through to role mapping and other key OCM activities in the Enterprise Agile Transformation at KDP. She was a trusted partner, effective consultant, and very easy (and fun) to work with. She showed why having an effective OCM person on board any large transformation is critical to its success.”
Amazon recognized her talent and selected her to establish the change management function in their finance operations. In this role, she created a self-service change management toolkit, transforming change management within the organization. Her global expertise expanded during her time in the Czech Republic and the UK, where she gained a deep understanding of EU cultural nuances. Her stint with Amazon CZ was driven by her passion for travel and eagerness to experience diverse cultures.
Currently, Chhaya is leading the change management portfolio for the Life Sciences and Healthcare vertical of Genpact in North America. She ensures delivery, customer satisfaction, and capability building with her team of practitioners.
Outside her work, Chhaya is also actively involved in giving back to the industry. She serves on the boards of two esteemed organizations and is frequently invited to speak and teach Organizational Change Management at her alma mater, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM) Pune, where she shares her insights and experiences with the next generation of leaders.
Imogen Lawrence, a Global Leader in Organizational Change Management shares “Chhaya is a talented Change Management specialist and dedicated to delivering what the customer requires and effects change. Her energy and enthusiasm are infectious and make her a valued member of any team where she will drive for success.”
Today, she continues to inspire with her dedication to driving successful organizational change across borders and cultures. Her passion for empowering individuals and organizations to thrive in changing environments sets her apart as a leader in the field of organizational change management.
Published By: Aize Perez
