Sonal Budhiraja

About Sonal Budhiraja

Math is easy. People and systems are hard.I’m a mathematician by training, but my perspective was really built in the four years I spent away from a screen—running a coaching center and working with NGOs. I went in wanting to \"give back,\" but I came away with a hard truth: charity is rarely sustainable, and not every problem has a clean solution. Life happens in the greys. It’s messy, and it’s complicated.Building what actually works In my 7.5 years in corporate analytics, I’ve learned that a brilliant algorithm is useless if it doesn\'t solve a human problem. I don’t build \"black box\" models; I build consumer-centric Proof of Concepts (PoCs) that people can actually use. Whether it’s Pricing or Innovation, my focus is on bridging the gap between deep-tech rigor and frontline reality. I’ve found that the secret to a successful project isn\'t just the code—it’s the stakeholder relationships and the trust you build along the way.Choosing to be vulnerable Beyond the work, I’ve spent years navigating the corporate world as a mother. For a long time, I lived in a silent \"survival mode\"—just focused on the sprint of Deliver. Finish. Go. I’m choosing to be open about those struggles now because I think it helps to know you aren’t the only one running on thin margins. Efficiency might get the reports done, but it’s rapport that keeps a team together. My goal is to build a culture that values both.

Experience

1. Senior Manager

   AB InBev

   Apr 2024 — Present · Bengaluru, IN

Education

• St. Stephen's College, Delhi

  Masters of Sceince, Mathematics

  2011 — 2013

• Amity University

  Post Graduate Diploma, NGO Management

  2008 — 2009

• Delhi University

  Bachelor's degree, Mathematics

  2004 — 2007

• Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata

  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Quality, Reliability and Operations Research

  2013 — 2018