Experience Transformation Leader

Abhishek
Sharma

CX Strategy & Experience Transformation · AI-Enabled Systems Design
Digital Adoption · Financial Services & Enterprise Technology

Signals Systems Scale™
$400M
Digital Ecosystems Managed
+145%
Digital Adoption Delivered
12+
Years Across 3 Continents
™ Proprietary Framework
Signals → Systems → Scale™ Operating Model
01
SignalsVoC, behavioral & AI-assisted data synthesis
02
SystemsGovernance, journey architecture & AI workflows
03
ScaleAdoption, automation & commercial impact
About

Curiosity as a career —
always asking why, for whom, and what next

Customer experience did not happen to me as a career choice — it emerged as a way of working. Engineering gave me a foundational gift: the discipline of asking why something is built the way it is, for whom it is built, and what it actually does for the person on the other side of the screen. Those questions, more than any technology, became the lens through which I have approached every role since.

Starting as a software engineer at Infosys — working on systems for Vodafone UK and Telstra Australia — I was already more interested in the human behind the ticket than the ticket itself. That curiosity pulled me toward postgraduate study: a dual MBA across Berlin and Pune, where I gained international exposure through live consulting projects in Germany, immersion in multicultural business environments, and a rigorous grounding in operations and supply chain strategy. That combination — technical foundations, global perspective, and operational discipline — shaped the practitioner I became.

"I have always worked with a simple compass: Why are we doing this? For whom? What exactly are we building? How should we do it? And then — what does success look like next?"

Engineering made me better at operations because I understood what was happening under the hood. Operations made me better at CX because I could see where organizational systems created friction for customers. CX made me better at strategy because I learned to read what data alone cannot tell you — the gap between what customers do and what organizations assume they do.

That through-line — from engineering to operations to experience strategy to AI-enabled transformation — is not a series of pivots. It is one continuous inquiry, across three continents, into how organizations can work better for the people they serve. Today that inquiry takes the form of the Signals → Systems → Scale™ model: a practical operating framework for turning customer intelligence into organizational capability and commercial growth.

I work with organizations — as a leader, as a consultant, or as both — where that question is genuinely alive: how do we understand our customers deeply enough to serve them well at scale?

  • 📍
    Irvine, California — open to US-wide & global remote rolesAvailable for leadership positions and consulting engagements
  • 🎓
    Dual MBA / MA — International BusinessHWR Berlin (Germany) & Symbiosis Institute (India), 2014–2016
  • 🎓
    BE — Computer Science & EngineeringMITS Gwalior, 2006–2010 · Technical depth behind every CX decision
  • Six Sigma Green Belt · Process ExcellenceData-driven discipline applied to customer and operational systems
  • 🌍
    3 continents · USA · India · GermanyEnglish (fluent) · Hindi (native) · German (working knowledge)
  • 🛠
    Theydo · Dovetail · Figma · Miro · Salesforce · MS Dynamics · CopilotSAP · Google Analytics · C++ · Java · CRM platforms
How I Work
?
Why are we doing this?
Establish the real purpose before any solution is considered
For whom?
Name the human — customer, employee, partner — before designing anything
What exactly are we building?
Define scope, outcome, and success criteria with precision
How do we do it?
Choose methods, tools, and governance that match the problem — not the trend
What does success look like next?
Measure outcomes, learn from them, and define the next horizon
Proprietary Framework

Signals Systems Scale™

01
Signals
Insight Architecture
Interpreting meaningful signals across customer and employee journeys — behavioral data, VoC programs, NPS analytics, AI-assisted qualitative analysis, and operational metrics — into unified decision intelligence. Not just collecting data: translating signal patterns into where trust breaks and where commercial opportunity lives.

Applied at DLL via enterprise VoC ecosystem using Dovetail AI analysis and Theydo journey mapping. At Aditya Birla via NPS and digital behavior analytics connected to C-Suite commercial dashboards.
02
Systems
Governance & Workflow Design
Translating signals into deliberate system design — journey architecture, AI-enabled workflow orchestration, chatbot and voice bot governance, CRM migration, and cross-functional accountability structures. The HELP framework (Helpful, Easy, Learning, Personalized) is one output of this pillar.

Applied at Aditya Birla via MS Dynamics migration, chatbot/voice bot/email bot governance. At HDFC Life via payment gateway governance for a $400M digital revenue ecosystem.
03
Scale
Adoption & Commercial Impact
Scale validates the strength of signals and systems. Through digital adoption programs, AI-assisted automation, and commercial alignment, transformation becomes measurable — in adoption rates, revenue uplift, cost efficiency, and CSAT. Scale is where strategy earns its proof of concept.

+145% digital adoption at Aditya Birla. $300K savings and +12pt CSAT at DLL. $400M ecosystem stability at HDFC Life. +5% revenue uplift via CX-driven retention and upsell.
+12 pts
CSAT improvement
+145%
Digital adoption
~$550K
Cost savings
+5%
Revenue uplift via CX
Career Journey

12 years · 3 continents ·
progressive leadership scope

Nov 2021 — Present
DLL Financial Services Ltd.
United States (Global MNC)
North America CX Lead · Global Customer Experience Team
↑ Progressed: Global CX Consultant → NA Regional CX Lead
+12 pts CSAT$300K Savings VoC EcosystemCustomer 360 Dovetail AITheydoMS Copilot
  • Built the initial governance frameworks and operating model for DLL's global CX team — shaping how experience intelligence would function across geographies before transitioning to North America CX Lead.
  • Designed and scaled enterprise Voice of Customer ecosystem integrating behavioral, survey, and operational data into executive decision dashboards — CSAT improved 12 percentage points, delivering ~$300K in cost savings.
  • Deployed AI-powered VoC tools: Dovetail for AI-assisted qualitative feedback analysis at scale, Theydo for connected journey mapping, and Microsoft Copilot for operational insight synthesis.
  • Led journey redesign using the proprietary HELP framework (Helpful, Easy, Learning, Personalized) — enabling scalable documentation and process modernization across multiple business units.
  • Aligned channel teams around shared CX signals supporting Customer 360 direction and analytics roadmap for the North America region.
Sep 2019 — Jan 2021
Aditya Birla Finance Ltd.
Mumbai, India
Senior Manager, Customer Experience
+145% Digital Adoption+5% Revenue Uplift COO Office ExposureVendor Evaluation Chatbot GovernanceVoice BotEmail Bot
  • Strategic individual contributor with direct COO office exposure — involved in new technology integration decisions, AI-assisted CX vendor evaluation, and cross-functional alignment across marketing, operations excellence, and corporate teams.
  • Governed end-to-end AI-enabled CX deployment: chatbot design and training, email bot and voice bot vendor evaluation and implementation — establishing governance frameworks adopted as organizational standards.
  • Led full migration of all customer journey workflows from legacy to new MS Dynamics CRM system across all lines of business — a complex program in a multi-entity financial services environment.
  • Increased digital adoption 145%, improved workforce productivity ~15%, and drove ~5% revenue uplift through upselling, cross-selling, and retention.
  • Built executive visualization frameworks linking NPS movement, digital adoption, and commercial indicators — strengthening C-Suite prioritization for technology investment.
Jun 2016 — Sep 2019
HDFC Life Pvt. Ltd.
Mumbai, India
Manager, Hub Operations — Digital Services & Business Operations
↑ Promoted: Deputy Manager → Department Manager → Manager
$400M Digital Revenue+30 bps CSAT Budget OwnershipLed 2 Team Leads Vendor InfluenceInternal Audit
  • Promoted twice — ultimately leading two functional teams through two direct team leads: Digital Services (online collections, portal, chatbot, new services) and Business Operations (TAT management, service parameters).
  • Owned departmental budget and expense governance: tracked monthly expenses, approved intradepartmental spend, conducted internal audits, and managed financial reporting — P&L accountability at department level.
  • Influenced vendor selection decisions for payment gateways and digital platform partnerships — evaluated campaign partners and proposed strategic marketing initiatives in collaboration with digital marketing teams.
  • Implemented omnichannel digital customer support improving CSAT by 30bps and reducing service turnaround by 20 percentage points.
  • Established payment gateway governance end-to-end — project charters, UAT impact assessments, monthly review cadence — ensuring zero revenue disruption across $400M in annual digital collections.
Nov 2014 — Jun 2015
Deutsche Telekom / Öekotek
Berlin, Germany
Consultant — International Strategy & Supply Chain
SCOR FrameworkInternational ExpansionEmerging Markets
  • Developed SCOR-based sustainability framework and self-assessment tool for Deutsche Telekom M2M division — identifying green supply chain levers and projected cost savings. Recommendations adopted by the client team.
  • Delivered international market expansion strategy for Öekotek Energiemanagement's energy efficiency software. Strategy adopted and used to guide expansion planning into emerging markets.
Sep 2010 — May 2013
Infosys Limited
Hyderabad, India
Senior Systems Engineer — Energy & Communications Services
Vodafone UKTelstra AustraliaRSA-256 EncryptionBMC Remedy
  • L2 production support for Vodafone UK — improved issue resolution rate 20% within defined TAT. Awarded Best L2 Support Staff during project transition.
  • Implemented RSA-256 encryption/decryption POC as key security deliverable for Telstra Australia — technical foundation informing every platform architecture conversation today.
  • Deployed internal e-commerce website on HYBRIS ERP; led requirements and high-level design with onsite and offsite stakeholders.
Case Studies

Transformation in practice — real outcomes

VoC · AI-Powered Insight
Building an Enterprise VoC Ecosystem That Drives Decisions
DLL Financial Services · USA · 2021–Present
Fragmented customer signals were limiting strategic visibility. Designed a VoC ecosystem integrating behavioral, survey, and operational data — using Dovetail for AI-assisted qualitative analysis and Theydo for journey mapping — into real-time leadership dashboards that replaced gut-feel with decision-ready intelligence.
+12 pts
CSAT Improvement
Digital Adoption · AI-CX · Governance
145% Adoption Lift Through Journey Intelligence & AI Integration
Aditya Birla Finance · Mumbai · 2019–2021
Connected behavioral signals, revenue visibility, and AI-assisted automation — governing chatbot, voice bot, and email bot deployment — to reposition digital channels as measurable growth drivers. Simultaneously led full CRM migration across all business lines.
+145%
Digital Adoption
Governance · Leadership · Revenue
Governing $400M Digital Revenue: Budget, Teams & Zero Disruption
HDFC Life · Mumbai · 2016–2019
Promoted twice to lead two functional teams with full budget ownership and vendor influence. Implemented governance-first digital infrastructure ensuring zero disruption to $400M in annual online revenue while deploying omnichannel support and improving CSAT by 30bps.
$400M
Revenue Ecosystem Governed

→ Detailed case study write-ups available on request. Contact me to discuss any engagement.

AI-Enabled CX Practice

Human at the center —
AI as the amplifier

Every AI tool I have deployed was designed to surface better signals, enable faster decisions, and reduce friction — with a human always reviewing, governing, and acting on the output. Technology amplifies human judgment; it does not replace it.

🧠
Dovetail — AI-Assisted Qualitative Research
Analyzed thousands of customer comments at scale, surfacing themes, sentiment patterns, and friction points. Connected to operational data for decision-ready VoC reporting used by senior leadership.
🗺
Theydo — AI-Powered Journey Mapping
Maps customer journeys with AI-assisted tagging and cross-functional alignment, connecting journey stages directly to VoC signals and business outcomes — moving journey maps from static documents to live strategic tools.
🤖
Chatbot, Voice Bot & Email Bot Governance
End-to-end governance of AI-assisted customer service bots at Aditya Birla — dialogue design, training validation, performance monitoring, escalation logic, and ownership alignment. Framework adopted across business units.
📊
Microsoft Copilot — Operational Insight Synthesis
Applied to analyze customer comment volumes, extract actionable insights, and connect them to operational metrics — enabling faster VoC cycle times and richer executive reporting.
🔍
AI Vendor Evaluation — Voice Bot & Automation
Led vendor evaluation for voice bot integration at HDFC Life — assessing NLP quality, integration architecture, and commercial terms. Built evaluation frameworks used as organizational standards.
Continuous Learning — AI & CX
AI for Everyone
Coursera · Andrew NgExecutive AI fluency and vocabulary
Generative AI for Business Leaders
Harvard Online / edXStrategic AI decision-making at VP level
Customer Experience in the Age of AI
LinkedIn LearningDirect CX + AI methodology mapping
Prompt Engineering for Analysts
DeepLearning.aiFormalizes Copilot usage as a teachable skill
AI Product Management
Reforge / Product SchoolConnects AI capabilities to service design

"Keeping humans at the center of any AI design is not a constraint — it is the design principle that ensures AI-powered systems earn trust, drive adoption, and deliver outcomes that last."

Core Competencies

Strategy, design, and execution

Strategic Leadership
Customer Experience Strategy & VoC Programs
Digital Transformation & Adoption Programs
Journey Mapping & Design Thinking
NPS, CSAT & CX Analytics
Cross-functional & International Team Leadership
Budget Governance & Departmental P&L
Vendor Evaluation & Strategic Partnerships
AI, Technology & Execution
AI-Enabled CX (Chatbot, Voice, Email Bot)
Dovetail · Theydo · MS Copilot
CRM: Salesforce & MS Dynamics
Figma · Miro (UX Prototyping)
Six Sigma Process Design & Governance
Payment Gateway & Digital Platform Integration
C++ · Java · SAP · Google Analytics
Thought Leadership

Perspectives on experience transformation

I write and speak about the intersection of customer behavior, digital systems, and AI-enabled transformation — grounded in real work across financial services, fintech, and enterprise technology. My focus is on thinking that practitioners actually need, not surface-level CX advice.

LinkedIn
CX Strategy & Experience Transformation | Signals → Systems → Scale™ | AI-Enabled CX | Financial Services | $400M Digital · +145% Adoption
My Point of View

Some transformation work starts with technology. The work that lasts starts with people. I began as a software engineer — then deliberately pivoted to experience strategy, because I recognized my greatest leverage was at the intersection of human behavior and digital systems. That engineering-to-strategy arc, across the US, India, and Germany, is the foundation of how I think and work. My Signals → Systems → Scale™ model is the through-line across every engagement I have led.

Follow on LinkedIn →
Topics I Write About
Framework
What most VoC programs get wrong — and the 3 signals you're missing
The difference between data collection and signal interpretation — and why most organizations are doing only the former.
Case Insight
How behavioral journey signals drove a 145% lift in digital adoption
What changes when you stop asking why users aren't adopting and start reading what their behavior is already telling you.
AI + CX
AI-powered VoC: using Dovetail and Copilot to synthesize thousands of customer signals
How AI tools amplify human judgment in qualitative research — without replacing the analyst's role.
Opinion
The CX metric your board actually cares about — and it is not NPS
Why connecting experience decisions to revenue impact is the only CX conversation worth having in the boardroom.
Governance
3 questions to ask before redesigning any customer journey
The diagnostic framework I use at the start of every engagement — regardless of industry or organization size.
Systems
Why chatbot governance is a CX strategy problem, not an IT problem
The organizational decisions that determine whether an AI-assisted channel builds or destroys customer trust.
Professional Landscape

Leaders in experience transformation I follow

A selection of recognized leaders working at the same intersection of customer experience strategy, digital transformation, and consulting — whose work and thinking I follow closely.

Annette Franz
Founder & CEO — CX Journey Inc.
Leading CX transformation consultant, author, and speaker. Known for human-centered journey design and VoC programs that connect directly to business outcomes.
Journey MappingHuman-Centered CXVoC Programs
↗ linkedin.com/in/annettefranz
Jon Picoult
Founder — Watermark Consulting
CX consulting firm founder with deep financial services expertise. Known for connecting CX investment to shareholder value and commercial outcomes.
Financial Services CXCX ROIConsulting
↗ linkedin.com/in/jonpicoult
Jeannie Walters
CEO — Experience Investigators
CX consulting firm founder and internationally recognized thought leader. Focuses on VoC programs, journey mapping, and building CX practices that create measurable organizational change.
VoC ProgramsCX ConsultingThought Leadership
↗ linkedin.com/in/jeanniewalters
Blake Morgan
CX Futurist · Forbes Contributor · Author
Customer experience futurist focused on digital CX and AI's role in transforming how organizations serve customers. Forbes contributor, author, and keynote speaker.
Digital CXAI in CXThought Leadership
↗ linkedin.com/in/blakemichellemorgan
Diane Magers
Former CEO, CXPA · Independent CX Consultant
Former CEO of the Customer Experience Professionals Association. Deep expertise in operationalizing enterprise CX programs and building organizational CX capability at scale.
CX StrategyVoC ProgramsEnterprise CX
↗ linkedin.com/in/dianemagers
Shep Hyken
Chief Amazement Officer — Shepard Presentations
CX author, keynote speaker, and consultant. Named a top customer service expert by Global Gurus. Known for making customer service a measurable competitive advantage.
CX ConsultingCustomer ServiceSpeaking
↗ linkedin.com/in/shephyken

These are leaders whose work sits at the same intersection of customer experience strategy, human-centered design, and measurable business impact. I follow their thinking and contribute to the broader conversation about where experience management is heading — particularly at the intersection of AI and human-centered CX design.

Education

Global academic foundations

2014 — 2016
MA — International Business & Consulting / Strategic Management
Berlin School of Economics & Law (HWR)
Berlin, Germany
Live consulting projects with Deutsche Telekom M2M division (SCOR sustainability framework) and Öekotek Energiemanagement (international expansion strategy). Recommendations adopted by both client teams.
2014 — 2016
MBA — International Business & Operations / Supply Chain Management
Symbiosis Institute of International Business
Pune, India
Dual degree pursued simultaneously with HWR Berlin — providing cross-cultural business immersion across Europe and Asia-Pacific with a strong operational and supply chain foundation.
2006 — 2010
BE — Computer Science & Engineering
Madhav Institute of Technology & Science
Gwalior, India
Technical foundation informing every platform architecture, AI governance, and CRM integration conversation — from RSA-256 encryption at Infosys to chatbot design at Aditya Birla and AI VoC tooling at DLL.
Consulting Practice

Bringing Signals → Systems → Scale™ to your organization

Currently available for select consulting engagements alongside VP/Director-level leadership search. I work with financial services, fintech, and enterprise technology organizations navigating CX transformation — where customer behavior, digital systems, and intelligent AI-enabled workflows must align to drive growth and trust.
Start a Conversation →
Engagement Areas
VoC Program Design & AI-Powered Implementation
Customer Journey Mapping & Experience Architecture
Digital Adoption Strategy & Channel Modernization
CX Governance & Operating Model Design
Chatbot / AI Bot Governance & Optimization
C-Suite CX Analytics & Executive Dashboard Design
Month 1 — Foundation
Build & Position
  • Portfolio live at ScaleWithSignals.com
  • LinkedIn profile updated
  • AI for Everyone course complete
  • First thought leadership posts published
  • Consulting intake form active
Month 2 — Visibility
Publish & Reach
  • 2 full case studies published
  • GenAI for Business Leaders complete
  • 15 consulting outreach conversations
  • VP/Director applications active
  • LinkedIn engagement building
Month 3 — Momentum
Convert & Scale
  • 20+ thought leadership posts live
  • 2–3 consulting discovery calls
  • VP/Director interviews in progress
  • First consulting deliverable
  • Medium / Substack article published
Contact

Let's build something meaningful

Whether you are exploring a VP/Director leadership opportunity, a CX transformation consulting engagement, or simply want to exchange ideas on experience management and AI — I welcome the conversation. Based in Irvine, California. Available for US-based roles, global remote positions, and select international consulting travel.

Send a Message

Message sent — thank you. I will respond within 24 hours.