Against All Odds: The Inspiring Journey of Pankaj Kumar
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Against All Odds: The Inspiring Journey of Pankaj Kumar

In a world that thrives on innovation, technical brilliance, and resilience, few have journeyed as far and as diligently as Pankaj Kumar. A trailblazer in the realm of Business Analytics and Information System (BAIS), Pankaj has tirelessly scaled the walls of adversity to cultivate a path of success. His tale is one of resolve, aspiration, and undeniable expertise, a testament to the power of a driven mind in the rapidly evolving landscape of information technology.

Born into a working-class family, Pankaj was no stranger to the challenges life threw at him. Despite this, he charted a path of academic excellence, guided by an insatiable curiosity for knowledge. He excelled in mathematics and computer science during his school years, achieving a stunning 95 and 92 respectively in his Higher Secondary Certificate Examination and securing an overall score of 90.12%. These remarkable accomplishments earned him a well-deserved scholarship from Tata Steel, enabling him to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering at Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Odisha. 

While he relished academic success, Pankaj also found joy and value in the arts of debate, drama, and story writing. His knack for language earned him the ‘Best Speaker Award’ in English, while his leadership skills saw him rise to the post of school captain. These experiences instilled in him a set of core values that would later become instrumental in shaping his career. 

Pankaj’s fascination with technology led to a passion for coding, and he took it upon himself to share this knowledge with others. During his undergraduate program, he tutored fellow students in various programming languages, and even trained them in coding for autonomous robotics. This not only provided him with financial self-sustainability, but also sharpened his skills and deepened his understanding of the subject. His work in autonomous robotics led to state-level recognition when a robot he designed clinched a podium finish in a state-level race.

His accomplishments did not stop there. After graduation, Pankaj joined Oracle, India, and in the three years since, he has accrued significant IT experience, overseeing a total of 14 implementation projects of Oracle Fusion HCM. He leads a team of five associates, managing clients, consulting on best practices, and enhancing functionality requirements. His expertise has earned him the prestigious title of “Oracle Fusion HCM 11g HR Certified Implementation Specialist.”

As a technical consultant and team leader, Pankaj has demonstrated his proficiency not only in technology but also in the art of leadership and teamwork. His stellar performance has won him several letters of appreciation from clients and managers alike, a testament to his commitment to his role and his relentless pursuit of excellence.

After his commendable role at Oracle, Pankaj’s next journey was with the consulting giant, Deloitte. Joining in February 2017 as an Oracle HCM Technical Consultant, he was exposed to a different dimension of the technology world. Here, Pankaj played an instrumental role in translating intricate business goals into appropriate HR solutions. With an extraordinary acumen to assess feasibility and optimize solutions, he integrated inbound conversion using HDL and outbound integration using HCM Extracts and BIP for a Healthcare industry client. During his tenure, Pankaj worked extensively with two key modules of Oracle Fusion HCM: Core HR and Benefits. His meticulous nature and attention to detail are evidenced in his creation of technical specification and unit testing documents, as well as his participation in SIT and UAT phases of the project. This stint at Deloitte further sharpened his technical skills and fostered his managerial acumen.

In January 2019, Pankaj took another leap forward in his career and joined IBM as an Oracle Cloud HCM Technical Lead. Here, Pankaj was entrusted with an array of responsibilities, including advising clients on HR transformation projects leveraging Oracle HCM Cloud and assisting client stakeholders in defining business requirements. His role also involved carrying out end-to-end implementation activities for clients, which included planning, configuration, development, testing, and delivery. Leading the technical development team, Pankaj guided them through technical conversion and integration activities. His technical prowess was displayed in the mass data conversion of client’s data from the legacy system to Oracle Cloud HCM using Oracle’s proprietary tools. Moreover, he generated analytical reports using Oracle Cloud Analytics tools, demonstrating a knack for insightful data interpretation.

In his latest endeavor, Pankaj has taken up the role of Manager Advisory at KPMG US. In this capacity, Pankaj leads the Technical development team and is responsible for designing the technical architecture for the Oracle Cloud HCM Implementation project. His impressive work includes carrying out business requirement gathering sessions, planning and executing end-to-end implementation activities, and developing proofs of concept as and when required. Apart from these, Pankaj has also been successful in migrating mass data from the legacy system and loading them onto Oracle Cloud HCM. His exemplary performance and leadership skills have earned him the responsibility of leading and supervising a team of 20 associates, encouraging them to be great team players while fostering continuous improvement and innovation. Pankaj’s trajectory of roles demonstrates his impeccable blend of technical expertise and managerial acumen, making him a true stalwart in the world of Business Analytics and Information Systems. 

Pankaj’s journey across hardships and inspiring roles at TCS, Oracle, Deloitte, IBM, and KPMG encapsulates the essence of resilience, dedication, and a burning desire to excel. His technical prowess combined with his drive to inspire and lead make his journey a remarkable and truly inspiring one. Through every transition and achievement, Pankaj continues to shape his narrative, proving that no challenge is too large and no detail too small in the pursuit of innovation and excellence.

But Pankaj’s success isn’t confined to his professional pursuits. He is a dedicated social worker with a mission to make the world a better place. An active blood donor, Pankaj has donated blood eight times so far and aims to reach a half-century in his lifetime, a goal inspired by his father’s words, “Leaders Save Lives.”

From the corridors of a humble school to the boardrooms of Oracle, Pankaj Kumar’s journey has been nothing short of inspiring. His story embodies the quintessence of perseverance, dedication, and an unwavering pursuit of excellence. His indomitable spirit serves as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring technologists around the world, demonstrating that with the right combination of hard work and passion, one can transcend any adversity and reach unimaginable heights.

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