Dr. Ashish Sharma, PhD

About Dr. Ashish Sharma, PhD

I am a senior Talent Management and Learning & Leadership Development professional with over 30 years of industry experience, backed by a PhD in Management (Training & Development). My career is dedicated to a singular focus: bridging the gap between corporate strategy, human capability, and applied management education.Over the last decade, I have architected enterprise-wide talent, leadership, and capability systems across Pharmaceuticals, Retail, and Manufacturing—currently heading the L&D function for major multi-plant operations at INOX Air Products.Core Pillars of My Expertise:Executive Education & Training: Proven success in coaching senior leadership, aligning talent systems with business goals, and executing strategic commercial training (such as our recent enterprise Sales Training initiatives).Curriculum & Program Design: Expert at building structured, high-impact capability frameworks from scratch (including comprehensive 18-month Management Trainee Career Development Programs) that ensure young professionals are day-one employable.Applied Research & Thought Leadership: Integrating academic rigor ($\text{PhD}$) with 30 years of ground-level operational insights to solve real-world business challenges.I am passionate about fostering deep industry-academia collaboration, shaping the next generation of business management talent, and contributing to institutions through executive education, guest lecturing, advisory roles, and applied research.

Experience

1. General Manager

   INOX Air Products

   Oct 2025 — Present · Mumbai

2. Lead Consultant | Fractional Head – HR & People Strategy

   LDG Academy

   Jul 2025 — Sep 2025 · Mumbai

   How I Help I specialize in designing and implementing strategic people solutions that align talent with growth. My engagements typically include: 🔹 Strategic Advisory & Leadership -Strategic HR Planning & People Alignment -Interim HR Leadership during transitions and scale-ups -Leadership Development & Talent Strategy 🔹 Capability & Culture Building -Learning & Development Frameworks & Academy Design -Organization Development (OD) Interventions -Culture Building & Change Management -SOP-Based Sales Enablement & Functional Training I work alongside existing HR teams—not to replace them—but to strengthen systems, elevate capability, and align leadership execution with business outcomes. Where I Create Impact -Startups building HR infrastructure from scratch -SMEs scaling across geographies or product lines -Enterprises navigating transformation, M&A, or org redesign -Firms with operational HR but no strategic leadership layer -Companies needing short-term or project-based people strategy support If you're ready to scale people, performance, and purpose—without expanding headcount—I'm here to help you lead that shift.

3. GM HR (L & D)

   Ajanta Pharma Ltd

   Jul 2024 — Jul 2025 · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

   Key Achievements: Spearheaded the establishment of Ajanta Learning Academy in collaboration with EY, crafting enterprise-wide capability-building initiatives. Designed and implemented a competency dictionary for 100+ roles, enabling internal mobility, career development, and succession planning. Rolled out structured internship-to-absorption programs, tapping into fresh talent and reducing early attrition. Anchored performance-driven learning interventions that aligned directly with functional KPIs across departments.

4. Head – Learning & OD

   Wellness Forever Medicare Pvt. Ltd.

   Aug 2022 — Apr 2024 · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

   Scope: Oversaw the entire L&D function for 5,000+ employees across 400+ stores in 45 cities, reporting to the CHRO. Key Achievements: Enabled 60% store expansion and 75% revenue growth by building a business-aligned L&D engine for frontline and managerial capability. Designed role-specific career development frameworks from store executive to regional head, fostering high performance and retention. Created SOP-aligned training programs for daily store operations, leading to consistent compliance scores of 95%+. Launched L&D platform, streamlining content delivery and reducing time-to-productivity by 40% for new hires. Built succession pipelines and upskilling programs for first-time managers and high-potential talent across departments.

5. Co-Founder

   Skillstation LLP

   Apr 2021 — Jul 2022 · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

   www.skillstation.co.in

6. Head of SafeR+

   Fleet Management Limited

   Mar 2019 — Mar 2021 · Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra

   Scope: Led global L&D initiatives for 14,000+ marine crew and 1,000+ shore-based staff across 4 continents. Reported to the Head QMS. Key Achievements: Championed behavior-based safety programs, resulting in an 80% reduction in crew injuries and a 550% increase in near-miss reporting. Trained over 300 Master Mariners and Chief Engineers on mentoring and coaching junior officers—leading to a 35% increase in retention for new crew. Created a system to track outcomes while the crew is sailing.

7. GM Learning and Development

   Wellness Forever Medicare Pvt Ltd.

   Feb 2015 — Feb 2019 · Mumbai

8. Training And Development Consultant

   2014 — 2015 · Maharashtra, India

9. HR and Training

   Machen Pharma Ltd

   Sep 2012 — Jan 2014 · Mumbai

   Overall incharge of Training and Development. Additional charge of managing the HR gamut.

10. Senior Manager-Sales Training

    Unichem Laboratories Limited

    Apr 2010 — Sep 2012 · Mumbai Area, India

    Budgeting, planning and formulating Training Calendar in consultation with Stakeholders. Designing, developing and implementing the required training for field force through structured learning process, Monitoring external best practices, researching current approaches and developing a network to support training and development work, Preparing and conducting modules for high performers and weak performers, Conducting Training Needs Analysis on a regular basis.

11. Manager-Sales Training

    Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. / Ipca Labs. Ltd.

    Sep 2006 — Apr 2010 · Mumbai

    In charge of Training and development of Sales force. Involved in Final Selection (recruitment) at HO for MRs and Area Managers

12. Regional Manager, Area Manager, Sr PSO

    Wockhardt Ltd., Pfizer Ltd.

    1993 — 2006 · Ahmedabad, Jaipur

    Started as Sales Rep (Medical Representative) and subsequently handled a team as Manager.

Education

• JNU

  Master of Business Administration (MBA) · Human Resources Development

  2017 — 2018

• Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad

  Diploma in Business Administration · General Management

  1994 — 1995

• CPU

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD · Human Capability Development

  2019 — 2025

• XLRI Jamshedpur

  PGCHRM · HRM

  2011 — 2012

Skills

• Learning Strategies
• Pharmaceutics
• Project Planning
• Vendor Management
• Personnel Management
• Team Management
• Capability Building
• Sales Management
• L&D Strategy
• Learning and Development
• Sales Effectiveness
• Learning & Development Strategy Organizational Development Competency Mapping Talent Management Strategic HR Leadership Performance Consulting Behavioral & Leadership Training Digital Learning Solutions Change Management Stakeholder Engagement
• HR Transformation
• Performance Management
• Recruiting
• Industry Academia Collaboration
• HR Policies
• Communications Strategy
• Talent Management
• Hospital Sales
• DeepSeek
• Sales
• Market Research
• Analytical Skills
• MIS
• HRIS
• Cultural Transformation
• Benefits Negotiation
• Training Delivery
• Learning Management
• Culture Change & Alignment
• Talent Assessment & Development
• Behavioral Training
• Succession Planning
• Feedback
• HR Consulting
• Strategy
• Recruitments
• Employee Relations
• Culture and Change Management