Jayant Sharma

About Jayant Sharma

My vision is to use technology to improve lives and accelerate progress towards public good. When I started my career in strategy consulting, I noticed the contrasts in the decision-making processes between my start-up firm and the government and private sector clients we served. The bigger the decision\'s impact, the starker the differences. Then, even though serendipity led me to the development sector, I discovered my passion for working for the public good. Passion was only the starting point though. I needed to have a long-term plan to prepare myself for opportunities to make or influence consequential decisions that can positively affect more and more lives. So far, I have been fortunate to take on increasingly bigger roles at a start-up, an NGO with global operations, and three multilateral organizations. In the process, I have evolved in several ways. My start-up background made me think that I can apply the same breakneck pace to development initiatives. I learned that it takes time to build projects, influence decisions, and policies. A lot of time! Execution is a beast of its own. That’s when rubber meets the road, and most initiatives or policies fizzle out. Lastly, I also learned to appreciate the power of timing. Hard work, persistence, and passion of everyone involved in a major endeavor means nothing unless the conditions in the environment align at the right time. I stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the development sector, policy environment, and existing private sector solutions and approaches to global issues. Also, with the hope that it will all come together one day, I keep learning about finance, negotiations, innovation in its various forms and its etymology, effective communication, narratives, power of questions and framing, and how to learn. Such cross-disciplinary interests help me to solve problems creatively, think strategically, and apply the lessons learned in one area to others. I also reflect on my known unknowns and my unknown unknowns, which allows me to surround myself with those more knowledgeable than me. If you are trying to use technology to solve a problem that will keep improving lives in the long run and seek a multidimensional leader with high risk tolerance, then we should talk. If I appear underprepared for such an opportunity, then we should certainly talk. Why? Because, I have been unprepared or underprepared for every job I have ever had.

Experience

1. Head - Planning Unit

   United Nations

   Mar 2019 — Present · New York, NY, US

   Portfolio sample: Developed AI-enabled Global Situational Awareness and Emergency Response Program. Lead author of institutional policy framework for crises mandating multi-agency response. Built partnerships with multiple UN agencies for collaboration during joint emergency response scenarios. Leading Communications Strategy and Strategy Monitoring of UN\'s Global Drone programme. Developed and scaled first ever real-time KPIs to measure planning effectiveness of UN Missions globally with an total annual budget of $3.5 Billion. Developed simulation model for planning and deployment of renewable energy infrastructure across UN missions globally. Led COVID-19 scenario planning and impact analysis used by 45+ UN missions. Nominated for 2019 UN Secretary-General Award for “Innovation” for launch of simulation modeling and predictive analytics platform for ~$15 Billion of humanitarian and peacekeeping needs globally. The platform is used by 1,100+ staff in 30+ UN agencies across 52 countries for partner management. Divisional Focal point for UN Secretary-General\'s Data Strategy. Divisional innovation strategy focal point.

Education

• Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University

  Bachelor of Engineering - BE

  2005 — 2009

• Columbia University - School of International and Public Affairs

  Master of Public Administration - MPA

  2016 — 2018