Pragya Misra

About Pragya Misra

I lead Strategy and Global Affairs for OpenAI in India, one of the world’s most critical AI markets. My role spans product, policy, partnerships, and go-to-market - bringing together one cohesive OpenAI story that aligns our mission with India’s priorities. Prior to this, I led Public Policy and Policy Communications for WhatsApp and Truecaller in India, giving me a deep understanding of how technology intersects with growth in India, and how vital it is to balance innovation with responsibility. That perspective now shapes how I help OpenAI build meaningful, long-term partnerships across government, industry, academia, and the creative economy, strengthening our ability to grow with purpose and credibility in India. I believe India has a defining role in the global AI story. My work is guided by the conviction that technology, grounded in India's values of inclusivity and collective progress, can bridge gaps and unlock human opportunity at scale. Outside work, I’m a Heartfulness meditation trainer and a golfer — both have taught me to find stillness in high-stakes moments and the courage to keep reaching for better.

Experience

1. Head of Strategy & Global Affairs, India

   OpenAI

   Oct 2025 — Present

   Leading OpenAI’s strategic vision and priorities in one of the world’s most consequential AI markets. Driving a unified India strategy that informs and aligns product, policy, partnerships, and go-to-market decisions along with continuing to lead Global Affairs.

2. Lead Public Policy & Partnerships for India

   OpenAI

   Apr 2024 — Oct 2025 · New Delhi, Delhi, India

   Forwarding OpenAI's values of safety, transparency, and human-centric innovation through collaboration to contribute to India's AI mission. Focussing on how Generative AI can maximise opportunity while minimising harm in society.

3. Director Of Public Affairs

   Truecaller

   Jul 2021 — Apr 2024

   Built the Public Affairs function at Truecaller • Nurtured relationships with key stakeholders, including government, media partners, civil society, and investors to become synonymous with safety in digital communication • Worked closely with government ministries and agencies to advocate on policies that support openness, trust, and safety on the internet. • Led for the #itsnotok campaign to create awareness and drive action towards minimising harassment over calls and sms communication.

4. Communications Manager

   WhatsApp Inc.

   Jul 2018 — Jun 2021 · New Delhi Area, India

   First hire for WhatsApp in India • Formulated the communications strategy for the “WhatsApp story” by framing and conveying WhatsApp’s brand proposition • Contributed towards positively impacting the brand perception by crafting a surround sound through social campaigns, executing events, forging partnerships to maximize the impact, generating numerous positive press moments, and speaking at several tech events • Handled complex product announcements and managed numerous crisis cycles by engaging with journalists and key stakeholders to convey our stance and preserve our brand values • Created effective and lasting relationships for WhatsApp in creative ways by identifying, building, and nurturing allies in government, civil society, and industry bodies to come out in support of WhatsApp-related issues publicly to influence policy making • Demonstrated the positive value that WhatsApp is contributing towards economic empowerment by showcasing business success stories and partnering with the government on Digital India and Startup India • Thought leadership on privacy and the role of messaging platforms in accelerating digital and financial inclusion. Engaged with government bodies to use WhatsApp for civic engagement • Collaborated across policy, marketing, business, integrity, and engineering domains from global teams to map out potential risks, and implications and forward our messaging • Served as an important and trusted liaison and partner for the global and local teams and between WhatsApp and Facebook • Helped drive consensus among internal partners by providing good counsel and making sound recommendations

5. Sector Head, Lifesciences and Transport

   Royal Danish Embassy

   Aug 2014 — Jun 2018 · New Delhi, India

   Increasing trade from Danish private and/or public enterprises to India and South Asia • Design market entry and expansion strategy for Danish companies • Advise on legal entity setup, regional targeting and taxation • Selection of local partner/distributors, initial sales pipeline creation, risk analysis and dispute resolution. • Support Danish government and companies in public policy advocacy, stakeholder management and tender participation • Partnered with Danish Investment agencies to support Danish SMEs expand their operations to leverage opportunities in India. • Establish support from key opinion leaders, and strategic industry/trade associations to create demand for innovative Danish solutions • Conducted events and managed business & ministerial delegations to position India to the Danish business community

6. Assistant Manager, Markets Team

   EY

   Feb 2013 — Jul 2014 · Gurgaon, India

   Business Development & Key account management for mid-market and managing priority clients in the Industries, Infrastructure and Consumer Product vertical (‘IIC’). • Cross-functional coordination across EY service lines to structure integrated proposals including tax, risk, business and transaction advisory • Account and stakeholder mapping and management including enabling C-suite and promoter level connects • Increased priority account sales by 35% through account strategy mapping viz. EY service lines • Led the EY client golf program and events • Member of the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ program and event team

7. Co-Founder & CEO

   MBA-Infosoft Pvt. Ltd.

   Oct 2008 — Jan 2013 · New Delhi Area, India

   IT Services providing ERP & Consulting solutions for SMEs in the retail, hospitality and education sectors • Grew top line by 500% in 5 years • Increased team size from 5 to 35 • Enhanced service portfolio from basic offshore website development to ERP implementation and high-end IT advisory • Developed new solutions for niche markets: ERP for schools and platform for wedding planning • Grew client portfolio to 35+ customers including clients like the Birla Group, Adidas group (India’s largest retail POS implementation), Hard Rock Cafe, Jindal Steel and many more

8. Golf Scholarship

   Indian Airlines (now known as Air India)

   2003 — 2007 · New Delhi Area, India

   • Ranked among the Top 3 in India as an amateur golfer • Consistently ranked in the Top 3 Indian Juniors • Represented India in various International tournaments around the world during 19••••07

Education

• The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

  Diploma in Bargaining and Negotiations

  2006 — 2006

• International Management Institute - IMI

  Master of Business Administration (MBA) · Marketing

  2009 — 2012

Skills

• Business Development
• Business Intelligence
• CRM
• Management
• Enterprise Software
• Business Strategy
• Pre-sales
• Team Management
• Strategy
• Marketing Strategy
• Entrepreneurship
• ERP
• Golf Management