Anika Sharma

Anika Sharma is a recognized Global Digital Expert and Organic Growth Leader. She has over 20 years of Digital, Brand Management and Consumer Marketing experience, and was recognized as a Rising Star by both Ogilvy North America and Grey Worldwide. Anika is a regular speaker at companies like Google, Bing, and Lenovo as well as at several US universities, including NYU Stern.

Anika has an exhaustive leadership history, including ‘Mobile first’, Social, Precision Activation, Digital Strategy, and CRM among others. She has led several large scale digital transformations involving Content Strategy, Content Development, Search Engine Optimization, Re-platforming, eCommerce, Website Redesign, Social as well as Amazon initiatives. These initiatives have been for global brands as diverse as Dubai Tourism, Starwood Group of Hotels, MTV, Unilever, Teflon, Kevlar, Mignon Faget, Jaguar, Land Rover, Ashley Stewart, Lenovo, and luxury brands such as Hanky Panky lingerie, Corelle Brands, Evian and Bosch, among others. The digital transformations involved navigating complex global portfolios and client+agency teams across markets such as the US, Canada, UK, Spain, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Columbia, Russia, India, China and Australia.

At Ogilvy, Anika was the Global Business Lead for the Starwood Group of Hotels. She led multi-functional teams to drive a precision-targeted digital transformation, utilizing sophisticated CRM techniques to millions of Starwood Preferred Guest members in 110+ countries. She is credited for adopting several new initiatives, including ‘Mobile first’, video email marketing, geo-targeting and the re-launch of the ‘experiential’ member engagement initiative. These initiatives were launched across Starwood’s entire digital ecosystem, including the website and the app.

She also led DuPont’s B2B2C businesses leading profitable multi-million dollar, multi-country digital transformation of their Food & Beverages, Cosmetics, Automotive, Advance Materials and Packaging businesses. These digital initiatives were at a corporate, BU and brand level. She globally re-positioned iconic brand Teflon, leading cross-functional glocal teams to execute a 360 degree integrated brand campaign for the B2B and the B2B2C space. Other brands she led to successful digital transformations included Kevlar, Nomex, Sentryglas, Corian and Tyvek. Anika was recognized as a Rising Star by Ogilvy North America.

As BBDO’s Digital Global Account Lead on Dubai Tourism, Anika led the team responsible for transforming Dubai into a global tourist destination well on its way to reaching its goal of 25 million visitors, establishing Dubai as a top 10 tourist destination by the year 2020. The digital transformation of the ‘Brand Dubai’ experience included the launch of the new Dubai website, the Dubai app, social media and content strategy across 5 global markets as well as several other Omni-channel experiences such as the #mydubai social initiative. Anika was also responsible for initiating and launching an integrated multi-media campaign to drive seasonal traffic from 16 countries to Dubai.

At Lowe and Grey Worldwide, Anika led a portfolio of global consumer accounts including Unilever and Johnson & Johnson across global markets and channels. For Unilever, Anika was the Account Head responsible for the Soaps and detergents category, trusted with the successful relaunch of the world’s largest volume brand. Anika won the Unilever Chairman’s award for outstanding performance.

At Grey, Anika launched the Cough and Cold OTC offering for Johnson & Johnson, was the global lead for Evian Water and launched Bosch’s Home offerings. She was recognized as a rising star by Grey South East Asia.

In her most recent role, Anika was the Vice President of Client Services & Growth at NetElixir, leading eCommerce strategy portfolios for NA clients and key partnerships with Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and UPS to deliver profitable portfolio YOY growth of more than 40% for clients such as Lenovo, Walkers Shortbread, Corelle Brands and Hallmark.

Anika is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Information, Operations and Management Sciences at the NYU Stern School of Business, the FDU Silberman College of Business and the Rutgers Business School. She was instrumental in the conception and launch of the Masters of Science in Digital Marketing program at Fairleigh Dickinson University, a testimonial to her expertise in this field.

Anika recently launched a weekly column with Adage called #MobileWatch, a playground for all things digital with an emphasis on consumer journeys. She holds an MBA in Marketing and a BA in Psychology. Anika has also completed the Digital Marketing, Social Media and eCommerce course from The Wharton School of Business.

Courses Taught

• Digital Strategy
• Social Media & Digital Marketing

Education

• Certification The Wharton School (2018 — 2018)
• MBA Jamnalal Bajaj Insitute of Management Studies (1999 — 2002)
• Graduation in Psychology University of Mumbai (1990 — 1993)
• 10th grade Dunnes' Institute, Colaba (1988 — 1990)

Companies

• General Manager and Global Client Partner Mindtree (2021)
• Professor Of Business NYU Stern School of Business (2017)
• Director - Business Development and Client Success, Customer Experience Group Orion Innovation (2020 — 2021)
• Client Partner, New Business and Consulting Ka Concepts (2018 — 2020)
• Weekly columnist, Digital, Mobile and Emerging Technologies Thought Leadership Ad Age (2018 — 2019)
• Adjunct Professor Of Business Rutgers Business School (2014 — 2018)
• VP, Head of Client Services NetElixir (2015 — 2018)
• Adjunct Professor Of Business Fairleigh Dickinson University Silberman College of Business (2015 — 2018)
• Global lead, SVP, Group Account Director BBDO I Proximity (2014 — 2015)