Dr Ajay Bakshi

Leadership Snapshot

Executive Coach • Independent Board Director • Business Transformation Leader

Profile

Dr. Ajay Bakshi is a Chartered Fellow of Boston Imperial University of USA, PCC & FIOD, Fellow of Institute of Board Directors, two-time TEDx Speaker, Hogan Certified Coach, Managing Director of Metamorphosis Unlimited, President and Board Director of Intelligent Leadership Executive Coaching (ILEC), Independent Board Director, Executive Coach, PCC and FIOD.

He has been featured in Fortune India February 2026 and is the author of the books Build to Outperform: Creating High Performing Teams and Build Your Leadership Skills – Lessons from Martial Arts.

About

Ajay Bakshi is a Business Transformation Leader with experience in Sales, Operations, Risk and Compliance, Sustainability, Corporate Governance and Human Resources. He has held C-Suite level roles like Executive Board Director, CHRO and currently Independent Board Director with Nitco Ltd.

He is an Executive Coach at C-suite levels and a Business Leader with experience of 30 plus years in transforming organizations through people. He is also a TEDx Speaker.

Business Accomplishments

• Director – HR for Vodafone, Sterlite Technologies and Prudential Global Services.
• Led Corporate Social Responsibility in these companies.
• Introduced transformation initiatives including ESOPs, Balanced Scorecard, Performance Management, Organization Restructuring, Top Talent Programs and Leadership Development Programs.
• Created leadership development programs with tie-ups with leading institutes including IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIT Mumbai.
• Recognized for Best Global HR Strategy by Business World for Vodafone Global Services India.
• Contributed to Vodafone Global Services India being ranked among Dream Companies to Work For by Times of India Ascent.
• Provided business leadership and HR leadership to the growth of Vodafone Shared Services from a 1,000 FTE to a 12,000 FTE organization.
• Successfully led the acquisition of Cable & Wireless India with Vodafone Shared Services and Vodafone India Shared Services.
• Worked internationally with Prudential Plc as Head of Talent for UK and Europe.
• Designed and implemented talent management strategy and development centers across UK, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore.
• Served as Head HR for Sterlite Technologies and contributed to the integration and merger of Telecom Cables and Power Transmission businesses of the Sterlite Group.
• In 2022, appointed President and Board Director of Intelligent Leadership Executive Coaching, founded by John Mattone.

Professional Accomplishments

• Mechanical Engineer from MIT Manipal.
• Master's degree in Business Administration from Pune University.
• PhD in Philosophy, specializing in Human Resources and Organizational Development from California Public University.
• Honorary Doctorate in Executive Coaching in HR and Business Transformation from Brookfield International University, USA.
• Doctor of Philosophy – PhD, Human Resource and Change Management from British National University of Queen Mary.
• Professional Certified Coach, PCC, ICF USA.
• Fellow Member of Institute of Directors.
• Empaneled Independent Board Director, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India.
• Certified Organizational Development Coach.
• Internationally certified administrator for psychometric instruments including Hogan Inventory, MBTI, DISC and OPQ 32.
• PCC Executive and Business Coach with 5000 plus coaching hours.
• Coached over 15 CEOs and business leaders at CXO, CHRO levels and women leaders.
• Certified by NIS Sparta as facilitator for Adventures in Attitudes and SPIN Sales Training Module.
• Over 50,000 hours of facilitating interventions across UK, Europe, Asia and India.
• Certified facilitator from Old Mutual Business School, South Africa.
• CODC from Symbiosis.

Key Capabilities

Awards & Recognition

• February 2026 – Most Exemplary Coaching Leader – India Award from World HRD Congress, Mumbai.
• November 2025 – Conferred Global Power Leader Award for the third year in succession by House of Lords, London.
• 2025 – Awarded Chartered Fellow status for contributions in Business Coaching and Leadership Transformation by Boston Imperial University, USA.
• 2025 – Asia Pacific Future Skills Leadership Summit Awards – Best Executive Coach and Best Business Coach.
• 2025 – Bharat Ratna Samman approved by Government of India, MCA, Delhi.
• 2025 – Exemplary Executive Coach of the Year, House of Lords, London.
• 2025 – Iconic Vibrant Leaders by Fortune India Exchange.
• 2024 – Business Transformation Leader of the Year, Atal Achievement Awards at Vigyan Bhavan.
• 2024 – Rashtriya Padma Bhushan Samman from Human Rights Commission India Chapter.
• 2024 – Appointed as National Vice President, Human Rights, India Chapter.
• 2024 – Exemplary Business Coach of the Year at Dusit Thani, Dubai, UAE.
• Featured in Economic Times Ascent Change Makers, July 2024 Edition.
• June 2024 – Award for contributions in Executive Coaching and Leadership Development at Indo-Nepal International Award Summit.
• May 2024 – Global Achievers Summit, Said Business School, University of Oxford, UK.
• 2024 – Honorary Doctorate awarded by Human Rights Protection and endorsed by Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India.
• 2024 – Economic Times Rising Star Leadership Award.
• 2024 – Award for Contributions on Leadership Development and Executive Coaching, White Page International, House of Lords Award, London.
• 2024 – Role of Leadership and Coaching in Driving Performance, Culture and Sustainability, Economic Times.
• 2024 – Top 10 Executive Coaches India, Silicon India.
• 2023 – Leadership Award in Executive Coaching, Times Group.
• 2023 – Inspiring Leaders of Asia, White Page International.
• 2023 – MSME Awards, Best Leadership Excellence Award Executive Coaching.
• 2023 – Entrepreneur First, Global Business Leaders to Follow.
• 2022 – Visionary Leader, Times of India.
• 2022 – Inspirational Leaders of Asia, White Page International.
• 2021 – 10 Most Promising Executive Coaches, Silicon India.
• 2021 – Business Performance Coach, Economic Times.
• 2021 – 10 Most Influential Business Leaders, Business Sight.
• 2020 – Company of the Year, Business Connect.
• 2020 – MSME Best Consulting Company of the Year, Time2 Leap Awards and Ministry of MSME, Government of India.
• 2019 – 10 Most Promising SME Advisor, Consultant Review.
• 2016 – HR Leadership Award, Hindustan Times.
• 2016 – Leaders Awards, 24 MRC.
• 2016 – HR Leadership Award, Economic Times.
• 2016 – Best HR Strategy in Line with Business, Business World.
• 2016 – CHRO of the Year, Genius Consultant.
• 2015 – HR Leadership Award, Business World.
• 2015 – HR Director of the Year, India Human Capital Summit.

Recent Projects

Executive Coaching

Dr. Ajay Bakshi has helped provide strategic coaching inputs to CXOs including CFOs, CEOs, CIOs, General Counsel Legal and CHROs on strategic HR and business advisory roles, business and HR strategy, and career transition from a functional role to a CXO role.

• Strategy
• Change Management
• Building and leading high-performance teams
• Creating high-performance culture
• Organization design and restructuring
• Aligning strategy and execution
• Building executive presence
• Building an inspirational leadership style

Key Clients

Hinduja Global Services, Anand Bazaar Patrika, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Kennametal Ltd, Asia Honda Ltd, Doosan Bobcat Ltd, United Phosphorus Ltd, Capgemini, Syngenta Ltd, Kotak Education Foundation, Lupin Ltd, Honda Cars, Honda 2 Wheelers, Standard Chartered Bank, Hindustan Unilever India Ltd, Coca Cola Ltd and HSBC India Ltd.

Leadership Development Workshops

• Facilitated First Time Managers Program in companies like JSW Ltd, Sleepwalkers Ltd and Bitwise Ltd.
• Facilitated senior leadership programs in companies like Mahindra's, Hinduja Global Services, Volkswagen, Tata Tinplate, AXA Global Shared Services Pvt Ltd, Napino Automotive Ltd and Cyient.
• Mid-level Management Interviewing Skills and Competency Framework Programs in companies like Kantar, Persistent Systems, KEC, Clarivate and First American.
• HR Analytics workshops for Times Analytics, First American, Polycab Limited and Hinduja Global Services Limited.
• Performance Management design and deployment across leadership teams in Lovino Kapur Cotton, Napino Automotive Ltd and Tata Tinplate Ltd.

Assessment and Development Centers

• Designed and deployed Assessment and Development Centers in AXA Global Services, Thirdware Limited, Interglobe Ltd, Arccessium Ltd, ESDS Ltd and Amdocs Ltd.

HR Audits

• Reviewed entire Hire-to-Retire process including HR compliance and policies in Tamil Nadu Water Investment Company.
• Reviewed and audited HR process including organization design and restructuring across Aadhar Housing Finance and ING Vysya Bank Ltd.

Press Releases & Media Features

• 2026 – Featured in Fortune India, February 2026.
• 2025 – Transforming Leadership for Organizational Excellence, Business Today.
• 2024 – Top Iconic Brands to Watch in 2024, Economic Times.
• 2023 – Featured in Business Today – Time to Discover Your True Potential.
• June 2022 – Metamorphosis Unlimited: A Catalyst of Change in the C-suite World, Economic Times.
• November 2021 – Metamorphosis: Unlimited Positive Change, Business Today.
• September 2021 – Metamorphosis Integrated Leadership Development Strategy, Fortune India.
• August 2021 – Times Inspiring Leaders, Economic Times.
• July 2021 – Enabling Human Asset for Corporate Growth and More, Fortune India.
• July 2021 – Building Sustainable Talent Practices in the New Normal and Beyond, Aviyana Times.
• May 2021 – Metamorphosis Helps Set Holistic Diversity and Inclusion Strategies for All Businesses, Forbes India.
• 2021 – Metamorphosis Unlimited Transforming Business with Strategic HR Solutions, Enterprise World.
• 2021 – 10 Most Promising Consulting HR Consultants to Watch, Inner Review.
• 2020 – Metamorphosis Unlimited: Helping Business Enhance Through People, Consultants Review.
• 2016 – Leaders Corner, Economic Times.

Books by Dr. Ajay Bakshi

Build to Outperform: Creating High Performing Teams

The book authored by Dr. Ajay Bakshi is a one-stop guide for leaders to build, sustain and grow a high-performing team from scratch.

The book intends to help in:

• Identifying current gaps and future gaps in leadership.
• Aligning strategies to personal aspirations of becoming leaders.
• Understanding what a high-performing team is and why one must cultivate the culture of high performance.
• Building a high-performing team right from the hiring stage.
• Sustaining and retaining high-performing teams.
• Understanding the importance of coaching, mentoring and line of succession.
• Engaging and motivating virtual teams in the new virtual era.

Build Your Leadership Skills – Lessons from Martial Arts

This book emphasizes how martial arts standards, including discipline, resilience, focus and adaptability, may be implemented to professional and personal development. The book provides realistic techniques and insights, making it a precious manual for emerging and skilled leaders.