Biography of Dr. Neha Sharma: Founder & CEO Accelerate India & CrADLE - Entrepreneur
Biography of Dr. Neha Sharma:
Dr. Neha Sharma's career is a compelling narrative of
leadership, innovation, and dedication. With over fifteen years of experience
spanning various industries and roles, she has emerged as a notable figure in
entrepreneurship, business consulting, and management. Her achievements
highlight her commitment to empowering businesses and shaping the startup
ecosystem.
From Academia to Entrepreneurship
Dr. Neha Sharma's academic journey culminated in a Doctorate
in Entrepreneurship from the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India
(EDII) in 2020. This pursuit was driven by her deep-seated passion to support
small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups. Her doctoral research was
supported by a fellowship and grant, underscoring her dedication to advancing
entrepreneurial knowledge and practices.
Early Career and Expertise in Design Thinking
Neha’s career began with a focus on mentoring and
handholding startups from their initial stages. During this period, she
developed a keen interest in design thinking, a methodology that emphasizes
understanding and addressing user needs. Her certification as a Design Thinking
Practitioner reflects her commitment to transforming theoretical concepts into
actionable strategies for businesses.
Leadership in Women’s Business Communities
In addition to her entrepreneurial and consulting roles,
Neha serves as a Program Leader for the Nationwide Community of Women Business
Professionals, known as Iron Lady. In this capacity, she supports women across
various career domains in their leadership journeys, contributing to the
broader goal of enhancing female representation and leadership in business.
Biography of Dr. Neha Sharma: Founder & CEO Accelerate India & CrADLE-Entrepreneur/Age/Net worth/CrADLE story/Dr. Neha Sharma story/Accelerate India
Academic Contributions and Teaching
Dr. Sharma's engagement with academia has been substantial.
As a visiting faculty member for MBA programs, she has imparted knowledge to
students both in India and abroad. Her tenure at EDII allowed her to deliver
lectures and conduct training programs, enriching the academic experience of
numerous students and professionals.
Empowering Startups through NASSCOM
At the NASSCOM Center of Excellence, Dr. Sharma played a
vital role in nurturing deeptech startups. The CoE focuses on accelerating
digital transformation for manufacturing enterprises in India. Neha’s efforts
in co-creation and co-innovation helped strengthen the Industry 4.0 research
segment, and she was instrumental in organizing conferences that fostered
dialogue between researchers and practitioners.
Diverse Industry Experience
Dr. Sharma’s career is marked by a breadth of experience
across various industry functions. Her roles have ranged from technical
research analyst positions to business management, project management, and
client servicing. This diverse background has equipped her with a comprehensive
understanding of different industry dynamics and business processes.
Leadership in CrADLE and Accelerate India
As the CEO of CrADLE, Dr. Sharma has worked closely with
startups, academia, researchers, and policymakers. Her role involves enhancing
the startup ecosystem and driving initiatives that support entrepreneurial
growth. Additionally, as the Founder and Director of Accelerate India, she
continues to make significant contributions to the entrepreneurial landscape.
Recognition and Accomplishments
Dr. Sharma’s contributions have earned her recognition among
the Top 100 Women Leaders in India by GlantorX and Zee News in 2022. This
accolade acknowledges her expertise in entrepreneurship and her impact on the
business community. Such recognition underscores her dedication to fostering
innovation and supporting emerging leaders.
Building and Leading Impactful Initiatives
In her role at Executive Access India, Dr. Sharma leads the
Social Impact and Development practice. Her work involves collaborating with
donors, impact investors, and non-profit institutions to fill leadership roles
and provide advisory services. This role allows her to influence the impact
sector significantly and support mission-driven organizations.
Addressing Challenges in Executive Search
One of the critical challenges Dr. Sharma faces in the
impact space is finding talent capable of solving complex problems on a large
scale. This requires deep engagement with the ecosystem to identify leaders who
are both committed and capable of handling the unique demands of impactful
roles. Balancing this with financial feasibility and client needs has been a learning
curve for her practice.
Future Vision and Growth
Looking ahead, Dr. Sharma envisions expanding her practice
at Executive Access India through initiatives like the Collective Credit. This
program brings together senior professionals to work with impact startups and
offers a cost-effective model for capacity building. Additionally, she aims to
launch a Board Series to provide practical insights to aspiring board members,
enhancing their effectiveness in governance roles.
Advice for Aspiring Leaders
Dr. Sharma believes that effective leadership stems from a
place of clarity, commitment, and inner conviction. She advises young leaders
and entrepreneurs to explore their passions, take initiative, and embrace
learning through experiences. By staying true to their core values and
continuously learning, emerging leaders can better navigate the complexities of
leadership and make a meaningful impact.
A Career Defined by Impact and Innovation
Throughout her career, Dr. Neha Sharma has demonstrated a
remarkable ability to adapt and excel across various roles and industries. Her
leadership in startups, academia, and the impact sector reflects her dedication
to innovation and growth. As she continues to shape the future of
entrepreneurship and leadership, her journey serves as an inspiration to many.
Timeline of Dr. Neha Sharma's Career
2020 - Earns a Doctorate in Entrepreneurship from EDII,
supported by a fellowship and grant.
Early Career - Focuses on mentoring startups and becomes
certified as a Design Thinking Practitioner.
2018 - Joins Iron Lady as a Program Leader, supporting women
business professionals.
2019 - Contributes as a visiting faculty member for MBA
programs, both in India and abroad.
2020 - Begins role at NASSCOM Center of Excellence, fostering
digital transformation for startups.
2021 - Becomes CEO of CrADLE, enhancing the startup
ecosystem and supporting entrepreneurial growth.
2022 - Recognized among the Top 100 Women Leaders in India
by GlantorX and Zee News.
2023 - Leads the Social Impact and Development practice at
Executive Access India.
2024 - Plans to expand Executive Access India with the
Collective Credit program and launch a Board Series.
