Sowmy VJ
Growth Expert
Location
London, United Kingdom
Toptal Member Since
May 30, 2022
Sowmy is a deep generalist management consultant with 25+ years of experience in finance, holding leadership roles and focusing on growing businesses through transformative change. Sowmy excels in mentoring technology-oriented startups to solve social issues and has used his expertise as a serial entrepreneur to achieve four successful exits.
Sowmy is available for hire
Hire SowmyCareer Highlights
Consulting Partner
Tata Consultancy Services
Expert Consultant
Expert Networks
Mentor
Freelance
Education
Executive Education Certificate
Fisher College of Business, Ohio State University
Case Studies
Improvement in Net Interest Margin for a Large UK Bank
Transformational LeadershipDesign of Experiments (DOE)Operational RiskBusiness TransformationBusiness PlanningBusiness Models+ 1 more
Acquisition of a Leading Mortgage Lender
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)Credit RiskCredit StrategyBusiness Process ModelingMarket Research & AnalysisBusiness Models+ 1 more
Pre-sales Compensation Model to Achieve Better Conversion
Compensation PlansPresalesMentorship & CoachingBusiness ModelsBoard Presentations
Software Expertise
Financial DataOther Expertise
Climate Risk MitigationCredit RiskEcosystemEntrepreneurshipGrowth StrategyStartup ConsultingTransformational LeadershipWork Experience
2020 - PRESENT
Advisory Board Member
Tapasya
- Developed a service strategy based on the problems identified through research. Coached the team to implement and show progress.
- Hired a number of skill-based volunteers who could perform accelerated research, strategy development, technology implementation, and media and communications.
- Expanded the services offered to cover all the way from pregnancy to six years of age for the child, when they are formally enrolled into school.
- Established a subscription-based model and continued contributions from company CSR programs as a constant source of funding.
- Ran a number of fundraising events such as yoga sessions and music and drama lessons conducted by volunteers who contributed their fees to the NGO.
Focus areas: Advisory, Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), Service Design, Growth Strategy, Business Strategy, Sales Compensation, Operating Models, Target Operating Models, Finance, Fundraising, Fundraising Consultant, Ideation, Revenue Strategy, Mentorship & Coaching, Presales, Transformational Leadership, Customer Success, Customer Experience, Management Consulting, Enterprise Software, Business Planning, Business Plan Consulting, Growth, Sales Growth, Go-to-market Strategy, Go-to-market Plans, Partnerships, Investor Presentations, Deal Structuring, Fundraising Strategy, Leadership Strategy, Project Leadership, Business Research
2015 - PRESENT
Consulting Partner
Tata Consultancy Services
- Established as a partner to major global financial institutions' CROs and CFOs and built a personal practice. The company is currently closing the year at £30 million in revenue with 80% billable utilization and triple annual growth since 2018.
- Built a diverse high-performance team of management consulting experts, risk specialists, ex-bankers, technology experts, and data scientists across major financial centers.
- Identified the risk of climate change as a major driver of financial stability and commissioned research into the financial sector's reshaping over the next few decades. It led to multiple large-scale opportunities for establishing transition plans.
Focus areas: Credit Risk, Operational Risk, Stress Testing, Credit Strategy, Structured Finance, Climate Risk Mitigation, Geopolitical Risk, Regulatory Risks, Sovereign Risk, Risk, Monetary Policy, Change Management, Excel 365, Word 2016, Microsoft PowerPoint, Financial Data, Startups, Investing, Climate Change, Process Mapping, Process Improvement, Business Transformation, Business Process Modeling, Business Process Analysis, Business Process Optimization, Market Research, Market Research & Analysis, Business Strategy, Compensation Plans, Sales Compensation, Finance, Fundraising, Seed Fundraising, Fundraising Consultant, Scaling, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Ideation, Business Validation, Revenue Strategy, Mentorship & Coaching, Presales, Transformational Leadership, Customer Success, Customer Experience, Sales Strategy, Fintech, Software as a Service (SaaS), Customer Service, SaaS, Management Consulting, Enterprise Software, Business Planning, Business Plan Consulting, Growth, Sales Growth, Go-to-market Strategy, Go-to-market Plans, Pitch Decks, Partnerships, Joint Ventures, Pitch Deck Consultant, Investor Presentations, B2B Partnerships, Deal Structuring, Leadership Strategy, Project Leadership, Competitive Intelligence, Business Research
2005 - PRESENT
Expert Consultant
Expert Networks
- Consulted with a global investment research firm to provide insight into the European bad debt market and subsequently helped them develop an investment thesis for a special situations fund.
- Consulted with a family office to access the sovereign debt market and developed a trading strategy.
- Consulted with a leading strategy firm to help them understand the treasury and asset management software space.
Focus areas: Advisory, Market Research & Analysis, Primary Research, Investment Thesis, Corporate Sales & Divestitures, Acquisitions, Asset Liability Management (ALM), Corporate Development, Due Diligence, Business Strategy, Sales Compensation, Finance, Fundraising, Seed Fundraising, Scaling, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Ideation, Business Validation, Revenue Strategy, Mentorship & Coaching, Presales, Transformational Leadership, Customer Success, Customer Experience, Fintech, Software as a Service (SaaS), Management Consulting, Enterprise Software, Business Planning, Business Plan Consulting, Growth, Sales Growth, Go-to-market Strategy, Go-to-market Plans, Pitch Decks, Partnerships, Joint Ventures, Pitch Deck Consultant, Investor Presentations, B2B Partnerships, Franchises, Deal Structuring, Competitive Intelligence, Business Research
2005 - PRESENT
Mentor
Freelance
- Mentored a wearable-based healthtech startup to build its revenue pipeline and raise seed funding of £500,000 in a period of 18 months. Currently working with them on an equity basis to take the startup to a Series A at a sizeable valuation.
- Coached a financial inclusion venture in India to expand its product line, reach 500+ locations, and gain 100,000 subscribers within three years.
- Developed the business case for an edtech startup in the UK and mentored them to raise funding. I helped them with the MVP strategy and to reach 100,000 users.
- Mentored (on an equity basis) and successfully exited an agritech startup that operates in Asia and Africa.
Focus areas: Advisory, Finance, Strategy, Growth Strategy, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Ideation, Business Validation, Revenue Strategy, Due Diligence, Startup Consulting, Startup Growth Strategy Development, Startup Funding, Shareholder Activism, Shareholder Value, Business Strategy, Compensation Plans, Sales Compensation, Operating Models, Target Operating Models, Scaling, Mentorship & Coaching, Presales, Transformational Leadership, Customer Success, Fintech, Software as a Service (SaaS), Management Consulting, Enterprise Software, Business Planning, Business Plan Consulting, Growth, Sales Growth, Go-to-market Strategy, Go-to-market Plans, Pitch Decks, Partnerships, Joint Ventures, Pitch Deck Consultant, Investor Presentations, B2B Partnerships, Franchises, Food & Beverage, Deal Structuring, Competitive Intelligence, Business Research
2014 - 2015
Strategy Director
Stratos Financial Advisory Services
- Established an investment thesis for an Indian urban growth story fund. This unique investment thesis is built on a $1 trillion projected investment needed to develop India's tier 2 and tier 3 towns into large cities.
- Achieved an initial close of $20 million by developing and executing a marketing strategy to raise capital among UK-based institutional investors and pension funds.
- Coached a team of strategy consultants to achieve high performance.
Focus areas: Advisory, Investing, P&L Management, Strategy, Credit Risk, Investment Thesis, Excel 365, Word 2016, Microsoft PowerPoint, Financial Data, Startups, Climate Change, Process Improvement, Business Transformation, Business Process Modeling, Business Process Analysis, Business Process Optimization, Market Research, Market Research & Analysis, Due Diligence, Startup Consulting, Startup Growth Strategy Development, Startup Funding, Shareholder Activism, Shareholder Value, Finance, Fundraising, Seed Fundraising, Fundraising Consultant, Scaling, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Ideation, Business Validation, Revenue Strategy, Mentorship & Coaching, Presales, Management Consulting, Enterprise Software, Business Planning, Business Plan Consulting, Pitch Decks, Partnerships, Joint Ventures, Pitch Deck Consultant, Investor Presentations, B2B Partnerships, Franchises, Food & Beverage, Deal Structuring, Leadership Strategy, Project Leadership, Competitive Intelligence, Business Research
2009 - 2014
Deputy Chief Risk Officer
Al Khalij Commercial Bank
- Executed a large-scale review of the lending cycle and advised the bank's course correction, which led to a stronger balance sheet during the worst period of the global credit crisis and established the company as a trusted name in the market.
- Oversaw the acquisition of the BLC Bank's UAE and French subsidiary and its integration within the Al Khaliji group.
- Established the target operating model for the risk department, which led to it becoming a business enabler.
- Positioned the Al Khaliji risk department as a leading player in The Gulf Cooperation Council banking market for talent, investment, and best practices.
Focus areas: Credit Risk, Operational Risk, Market Risk, Liquidity Risk, Excel 365, Word 2016, Microsoft PowerPoint, Financial Data, Startups, Process Improvement, Business Transformation, Business Process Modeling, Business Process Analysis, Business Process Optimization, Market Research, Market Research & Analysis, Due Diligence, Finance, Fundraising, Seed Fundraising, Fundraising Consultant, Scaling, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Ideation, Business Validation, Revenue Strategy, Mentorship & Coaching, Presales, Management Consulting, Enterprise Software, Business Planning, Business Plan Consulting, Saudi Arabia, Competitive Intelligence, Business Research
2008 - 2009
Manager, Risk Advisory Services
KPMG
- Developed the business case for a business continuity and resilience consulting practice and executed it to win multiple deals.
- Established a $2 million revenue business line within a year.
- Developed relationships with various KPMG country practices, using talent and methodologies to execute the consulting of my winning projects in the Middle East.
- Hired and coached a high-performance team to lead the practice forward, with a key emphasis on financial metrics and developing prudence in marketing, sales, delivery, and collection.
Focus areas: Credit Risk, Change Leadership, Credit Strategy, Business Continuity, Information Security, Excel 365, Word 2016, Microsoft PowerPoint, Financial Data, Startups, Process Improvement, Business Transformation, Business Process Analysis, Business Process Optimization, Market Research, Market Research & Analysis, Finance, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Ideation, Business Validation, Revenue Strategy, Mentorship & Coaching, Presales, Management Consulting, Enterprise Software, Business Plan Consulting, Partnerships, Joint Ventures, Pitch Deck Consultant, Saudi Arabia, B2B Partnerships, Competitive Intelligence, Business Research
2005 - 2008
Exexutive Manager
Deloitte
- Developed a strategy and execution plan for a new consulting line on financial stability, which was in line with the Basel II regulations taking shape globally and was instrumental in Deloitte's positioning as a leading banking consulting firm.
- Established customer outreach, met with 100+ customer stakeholders, and orchestrated the plan to develop a $5 million pipeline for a new service line.
- Developed methodologies and orchestrated client consulting engagements to take the service line to a steady state.
- Established a risk research team to understand trends, regulations, competitors' offerings; and customer investments, programs, and financials.
Focus areas: Credit Risk, Climate Risk Mitigation, Credit Strategy, Design of Experiments (DOE), Ecosystem, Entrepreneurship, Advisory, Business Continuity, Geopolitical Risk, Growth Strategy, Excel 365, Word 2016, Microsoft PowerPoint, Financial Data, Startups, Finance, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Ideation, Business Validation, Revenue Strategy, Presales, Management Consulting, Enterprise Software, Business Plan Consulting, Partnerships, Joint Ventures, Competitive Intelligence, Business Research
2004 - 2005
Head of Information Security
ITC Infotech USA
- Oversaw the rollout of a large-scale control improvement program across the EMEA region.
- Hired an expert team to staff the central functions and outsourced the routine monitoring functions to an offshore provider.
- Optimized and minimized overlapping controls to reduce the overload while not compromising on the design or the controls' effectiveness.
Focus areas: Business Continuity, Information Security, Design, Controls, Excel 365, Word 2016, Microsoft PowerPoint, Financial Data, Startups, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Ideation, Management Consulting, Enterprise Software, Partnerships, Joint Ventures
1999 - 2004
Lead Engineer
HCL Technologies
- Established the HCL Technologies' first experimental sales and IT infrastructure outsourcing project in India, which included operation and maintenance.
- Built the sales methodologies and frameworks for the IT infrastructure management of banks, financial services, and insurance firms.
- Created the basis for a billion-dollar business line and built a team for it.
Focus areas: Change Leadership, Business Technology, IT Infrastructure, Excel 365, Word 2016, Microsoft PowerPoint, Financial Data, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Ideation, Management Consulting, Enterprise Software, Joint Ventures
Education
2022 - 2022
Executive Education Certificate in Strategy
Fisher College of Business, Ohio State University - Columbus, OH, USA
2021 - 2022
Certificate (Executive Education) in Digital Transformation & Innovation
INSEAD - Fontainebleau, France
1997 - 1999
Post Graduate Diploma in Management
Anna University, Chennai - Chennai, India
1993 - 1997
Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering
University of Madras - Chennai, India