Abhi joined SUMS as an Associate Consultant in August 2026. Abhi brings over 7 years’ progressive experience in Learning & Talent Development, built almost entirely within UK higher education. Holding job titles like Career Development Officer, Organisational Development Consultant, and Project manager, Abhi has led strategic talent and skills programmes in Russell Group universities. Her expertise spans digital transformation (LMS adoption, GenAI integration), coaching (EMCC-certified with Distinction), and large-scale programme delivery for professional services, academic and research staff alike. Abhi has demonstrable experience helping institutions align Research and Education strategies to ways of working (e.g., HR Excellence in Research renewal, REF embedding). She combines instructional design rigour with measurable, Kirkpatrick-evaluated impact across academic and professional services functions.
How can Abhi support universities?
- Diagnose L&D and talent gaps: Run needs analyses and benchmarking to identify where a university is underinvesting in staff capability, then design targeted programmes to close those gaps.
- Lead digital and AI adoption: Design & deliver change management campaigns for LMS transitions and GenAI rollouts, design stakeholder engagement sessions and “show and tell” demos to build buy-in among all staff.
- Build coaching infrastructure: Design internal coaching networks and mentoring schemes from scratch, using systemic frameworks (GROW, McKinsey 7S, Kotter) to support staff through restructures and change.
- Design and evaluate leadership programmes: Build bespoke leadership and development pathways (e.g. women-in-leadership, EDI-focused), embedding Kirkpatrick evaluation to prove impact and secure further investment.
- Project-manage large-scale change: Run complex, multi-stakeholder institutional projects (conferences, awards, research policy renewals) end-to-end, managing external partners and senior sponsors.
- Coach leaders through transition: Provide 1:1 coaching at an EMCC-accredited (Distinction) standard, to help managers, service leads, academics, and directors navigating restructures and organisational change.
Examples of Abhi’s work with unviersities include:
- Developing a bespoke Leadership Framework and designing an institution-wide Talent Enablement strategy- London School of Economics (LSE)
- Setting up the institution’s first Internal Coaching Network- London School of Economics (LSE)
- Designing and delivering AI training pathways as part of a digital transformation programme- London School of Economics (LSE)
- Developing a learning strategy for the Arts and Humanities department- University of Mumbai
Abhi speaks four languages fluently, and has travelled to 17 countries. Outside of work, she practises oil painting and portrait sketching as a hobby.