Abhinava Narayana
Learning Innovation | Customer Success | People Management
Bangalore,Karnataka
Summary
Abhinava (Abhi) is a Learning, Change, and Organizational Development professional with a passion for building companies (and products) that focus on delivering "Value through Learning." With a strong focus on "the Human Angle," Abhi has helped setup and run people-centric solutions, teams, and organizations.
Over the past 23 years, Abhi has enabled clients navigate multimillion-dollar projects, built and managed large teams, and developed innovative and effective solutions.
He is skilled in identifying opportunities and implementing practical business strategies with commitment to staying informed about latest trends, technologies and best practices.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Principal Consultant
Felicis Transformation
08.2023 - Current
- Consult with organizations to help build their MVPs in the EdTech Space
- Provide executive coaching to executives looking to grow in their careers
- Build talent development, and culture transformation roadmaps for startups
Chief Executive Officer
OneLearn Global
04.2022 - 07.2023
- Setup new business in the “Maritime Learning” space with disruptive first-in-industry learning technologies and pedagogical approaches; published a maritime content marketplace for content collaboration
- Built business to $1 Mil revenue in first year with roadmap for doubling it the next year
- Established defined USP, growth strategy, and exit roadmap
- Won Brandon Hall award for innovation/strategy for work done
Director of Customer Success - APAC
Eightfold.ai
07.2021 - 03.2022
- Set up Customer Success practice in APAC Region – focusing on customer retention, upsell and cross sell
- Built product strategies to integrate learning as an element within larger talent management platform; established new LOB
- Developed global Customer Success and Implementation playbook
- Liaised with sales, marketing, and management teams to develop solutions and accomplish shared objectives.
Head, Customer Success; ELearning Business
Adobe India Pvt. Ltd.
02.2017 - 07.2021
- Managed customer experience for $20 Million business with 100%+ growth and 95% retention across 600 customers
- Setup consulting learning advisory practice; achieved $2 Million BOB in 3 years
- Managed cohort of 50+ people (both direct and indirect)
- Reduced customer onboarding times by 80%
Specialist Senior (Human Capital)
Deloitte Consulting Pvt. Ltd.
02.2010 - 01.2017
- Led Training, Change Management, and Communications projects for F100 customers ($60 Million, 14 personnel)
- Mentored and developed teams; in-house mentor for Learning Strategy, Content Development, Change Management, and Learning Technologies
- Developed Go-to-Market materials in the domains of learning for E&R and TMT market segments
Practice Lead - Instructional Design
Astutix Learning Pvt. Ltd.
08.2008 - 02.2010
- Setup and lead Instructional Design Practice of organization
- Managed all projects delivered by organization
- Designed and delivered learning interventions in excess of 4000+ hours for people with disabilities
- Won Premium Partner status with several organizations
- Built and mentored 15-member team
Lead Instructional Designer
Edutech Dimensions Pvt. Ltd.
05.2007 - 08.2008
- Built team of 8 personnel
- Setup Instructional Design practice and processes
- Designed award-winning learning intervention for customers in Finance, Banking, and Petroleum industries
Consultant Learning Designer
Freelance Consultant
01.2007 - 05.2007
- Provided Learning Consulting on advisory basis – developed and delivered content (and training)
- Designed sales program for automotive dealership – resulting in a 60% growth in sales in 6 months (YoY sales)
- Supported clients with business analysis, documentation, and data modeling.
Domain Knowledge Lead - Automotive
Trina Systems Pvt. Ltd.
09.2004 - 12.2006
- Designed and delivered courses for automotive vertical (largest project 1000+ eLearning hours, 50+ member team)
- Reduced development effort per learning hour from 300 to 180 hours, ideated method to introduce 3D artifacts in eLearning
Apprentice Luthier
Edge Custom Guitars
05.2000 - 05.2004
- Designed and built over 100 guitars, amplifiers and other musical instruments
- Organized 10+ major rock concerts and music festivals
Education
MBA - Change Management
02.2017 - 02.2019
Bachelor of Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
09.2000 - 05.2004
Skills
Organizational Development
Training and Coaching
Business Development
Succession Planning
Executive Coaching
Change management
Learning and Development
Consulting
Product Development
Timeline
Principal Consultant - Felicis Transformation
08.2023 - Current
Chief Executive Officer - OneLearn Global
04.2022 - 07.2023
Director of Customer Success - APAC - Eightfold.ai
07.2021 - 03.2022
Head, Customer Success; ELearning Business - Adobe India Pvt. Ltd.
02.2017 - 07.2021
INSEAD - MBA, Change Management
02.2017 - 02.2019
Specialist Senior (Human Capital) - Deloitte Consulting Pvt. Ltd.
02.2010 - 01.2017
Practice Lead - Instructional Design - Astutix Learning Pvt. Ltd.
08.2008 - 02.2010
Lead Instructional Designer - Edutech Dimensions Pvt. Ltd.
05.2007 - 08.2008
Consultant Learning Designer - Freelance Consultant
01.2007 - 05.2007
Domain Knowledge Lead - Automotive - Trina Systems Pvt. Ltd.
09.2004 - 12.2006
Sir M.V.I.T - Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
09.2000 - 05.2004
Apprentice Luthier - Edge Custom Guitars
05.2000 - 05.2004
Talk To Me About
- Building a "Learning Business": I am passionate about the role of Change and L&D as key business drivers. I build products and services by developing value propositions at the intersection of learning pedagogy, technology, and user experience - backed by a service methodology.
- Fostering Innovation in Learning: As an industry, Change and L&D needs to be adaptive to new trends and technologies. I am an early adopter of most trends, and typically "connect the dots" to build next-gen models and methodologies. These days I am exploring the use of metaverse, behavioral analysis, MR/AR/VR, and ML/AI of learning data.
- Nurturing a "Change Inclusive" Culture: The team/organization of tomorrow is not just highly skilled, but also has the fortitude to live through change - incessantly. Developing such teams/organizations is critical to success.
- Leading Large Complex Projects: The true impact of L&D and change programs is felt over many years, when offering an L&D Product/Service, it is important to be able to coach customers and help them navigate through a maturity curve.
- Consulting Approach to Business: I have been a life-long consultant and believe there are efficacies in taking a consulting-approach in product/service organizations. Having worked across industries and with teams across the globe, I believe taking an advisory approach to business helps build better products and services.
- Coaching for Change: I drive success in any engagement by being a trusted advisor and change coach guiding my stakeholders through the transition. I invest in driving change through organizational coaching. I work best in fuzzy situations, and I am the "big idea" person in the room.
Works Of Eminence
- Master's Thesis on Building a Transformation Enabled Organization - moving from change management to managing change as a constant
- White papers on creating Unified Learning Experiences using a skill-based learning model for organizations.
- White paper on LH (Love-Hate) Theory; detailing the use of love and hate as design elements in change & learning programs.
- Conference paper on the adoption of Learning Tools and Methodologies to Train People with Disabilities in Jaipur