Headline

VP/ Director-Strategic People and Culture Leader | Leadership | Talent | Business Transformation | AI Immersion |Experiential Facilitation | 25 years experience in GCC | Shared Services | ANZ | Nokia | Vodafone | Idea

About

Strategic HR,Talent and Org Development leader with 25+ years of experience designing enterprise learning strategies, driving talent management cycles, and building high-performance cultures across global, matrixed organizations and GCCs.Proven expertise in instructional design, facilitating mid-senior level leadership programs, and partnering with C-suite and business leaders to translate business priorities into scalable L&D solutions. Deep experience leading diversity and inclusion initiatives including LGBTQIA+ advocacy, women returning to work, and early talent pipelines with measurable impact on engagement, retention, and employer brand. Adept at leveraging AI, LMS platforms, digital learning tools, and data-driven evaluation models to deliver learning at scale. Passionate about fostering autonomy, well- being, and a culture of continuous learning.Expertise in job evaluaion and organisation design for strategic workforce and talent decisions.International experience including in person immersions in England, China, Australia,Singapore and Philippines. I can be reached at sobbykurian.work@gmail.com

Location

Bengaluru

AI stack

claude

gemini

ChatGPT

Microsoft Copilot

Work experience

Senior Vice President- Workforce ANZ GCC at ANZ, Jun 2024 - Apr 2026 · 1 yr 11 mos, Bengaluru, • Established ANZ’s AI Immersion Centre in GCC India—driving AI literacy, productivity uplift and automation adoption. • Executed ANZ Hackfest for 3 years—now a leading BFSI tech innovation platform attracting top STEM talent.

Vice President- Workforce ANZ GCC at ANZ, Mar 2021 - May 2024 · 3 yrs 3 mos, Bengaluru, Privileged to lead a squad of passionate individuals who are responsible for -the strategy and execution of Early Talent ( from University relations, hiring, talent development and engagement of all early talent hires) - design and execution ANZs award winning initiative Return to Work in the Bengaluru Service Centre - enhancing ANZ Brand in schools and colleges and particularly among girls - to pursue STEM subjects - Building partnerships with Universities and other Industry bodies to get more women in Banking and Technology

Associate Vice President - Learning & Development at ANZ, Jul 2015 - Mar 2021 · 5 yrs 9 mos, Bengaluru Area, India, Pleased to belong to a niche group of Senior Facilitators that are responsible for primarily facilitating ANZs flagship Leadership Pathway Programs at Bengaluru and other hubs and offices. The role also involves in consulting, designing, deploying, delivering and tracking learning solutions. Certified Hogan Assessor by Hogan Assessments, and in SLII by Blanchard International. Have played a pivotal role in many culture building initiatives such as effective performance review, customer centricity, minimizing bias in decision making, and enhancing creativity and innovation. I am also proud to be an Pride Steering Committee member and have provided appropriate sensitization workshops for the India Management Team and to other teams that have hired from the LGBTQ community.

Senior Learning Development Consultant at Think Talent Private Ltd, Oct 2012 - Jun 2015 · 2 yrs 9 mos, Delivered consulting engagements for clients including Accenture, Honeywell, Reliance, Novartis, Biocon, and AstraZeneca—focused on leadership development, talent management, and learning strategy. Conducted needs analysis, designed instructional solutions, and facilitated leadership programs for mid-senior cohorts.

DGM-Learning & Development at Vodafone India Services Pvt Ltd, Apr 2011 - Sep 2012 · 1 yr 6 mos, Pune, Vodafone India Services Pvt Ltd- April 2011 till Sep 2012 VISPL is a multi business line shared services organization of Vodafone-the world’s largest telecom company. Employee strength of over 5000 located across 3 offices In India. Role: Head of Learning ( DGM- Learning & Development ) • Handled a team of 02 direct team members + 1 dotted line team member • Headed the complete L&D function, while managing a team of 03 people and ensured establishment of core capabilities for developing Vodafone India Services as a Global Center of Excellence • Distinguished efforts towards developing a high performance culture and inculcating Vodafone values to drive engagement and to become an employer of choice • Defined learning & development and employee engagement strategies and established the L&D function from ground up over a period of 06 months • Defined capabilities by introducing targeted learning solutions for different target segments • Started several D&I initiatives through inclusive leadership workshop for VISPL leadership team, selected direct reports and followed up for arrive at key priorities for VISPL • Spearheaded the launch of Vodafone SSTars Program – a unique R&R program to reinforce Vodafone values • Facilitated VISPLs participation in Vodafone People Survey by establishing contact with the group to set up VISPL as a separate entity and submitting all backend work on time; first of its kind initiative in India • Developed and launched a talent management process for Hi Pot identification aimed at development and succession planning • Designed an effective graduate trainee program for both International IT and network services

HRD Consultant/University Relations Manager at Nokia, Feb 2009 - Apr 2011 · 2 yrs 3 mos, Bangalore, Responsibilities: • Part of Global Practices Team- for providing HRD consultancy services to Devices and Services R&D at Nokia Bangalore with a strength of 1500 employees • Steered technical competency development for the organization and dealt with business critical needs with just in time and cost efficient solutions • Functioned as a core member of the Global Diversity & Inclusion project team aimed at increasing awareness of D&I through innovative approaches and established the D&I business case • Promoted “Gender Balance” and “Gender Bilingualism” across business units and encouraged them to define action plans • Worked as a core team member of the project team involved in conceptualizing, and implementing “My Consumer Connect” which enabled Nokia DRD employees to understand consumer and to enhance user experience Achievements: • Received two value cards by business units in recognition of the living the “ Nokia way”- embodying the Nokia Values • Felicitated with special HR Award-for planning and facilitating an organization wide Strategy Sharing Meet in September 2009 • “ Value Creator Award “ in March 2011

Learning & Development Manager at Symbian Software India Pvt Ltd, May 2008 - Jan 2009 · 9 mos, • Symbian was acquired by Nokia in 2009 ( so continuity of service from May 2008 to April 2011) Spearheaded learning & development function in line with the organizations objectives. • Introduced several best practices across India, UK and Beijing resulting in enhanced performance • Led the “Talent Identification and Management” process for the organization which resulted in proper talent deployment and increased employee engagement. • Developed an effective and feasible Leadership Intervention structure which was appreciated by UK management and several attributes implemented globally. • Rolled out an Employee Satisfaction Survey rollout for India and received 95% participation registration • Functioned as a part of the core team involved in Nokia-Symbian integration, instrumental defined and executed boarding plan, and cultural integration of the two organizations. • Projected several business relevant interventions for team development, new manager orientation, leadership and team effectiveness • Received special commendation from GM-Symbian for seamless Nokia-Symbian Integration for which led, designed and executed Symbian employees on boarding to Nokia • Holds the credit of being promoted within a time of five months of joining

Manager Learning at ANZ, Oct 2006 - May 2008 · 1 y 7 mo, Bangalore

Manager - Management Development at Idea Cellular Ltd, Apr 1997 - Sep 2006 · 9 y 5 mo, Pune

Education

Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resources Management, Human Resources Management and Services, Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development

Master of Arts (M.A.), English Literature, American and Indian Writing in English, Mahatma Gandhi University, Keralam