ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST · EXECUTIVE COACH · DOCTORAL RESEARCHER
Hi, I'm Nilima,
I'm an Organizational Psychologist, Executive Coach and Doctoral Researcher at Columbia University. My current research examines growth through adversity in high-pressure professions.
I have a non-traditional path that's been guided by my curiosity and drive to make an impact. Before this, I spent a decade in consulting and advisory roles across industries, working on organizational challenges from drawing board to execution, much of it in demanding environments. My return to academia was prompted by questions that kept surfacing in my work that I could not find adequate answers to. These questions and experiences now shape my research.
As an executive coach, I also support professionals navigating similar pressures. Through this work, I see how far the right support can go, not only to catalyze growth but also to prevent erosion in pressure-cooker environments.
Right now, my focus is on bridging research and practice to improve mental health at work.
Connecting the dots across business, psychology and social impact.
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
My work spans consulting, coaching and advisory roles across industries:
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Management Consulting. At PwC, I worked across M&A, Strategy and Operations, Technology, and People & Organization, supporting large-scale, organization-wide transformations.
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Internal Advisory. At Google and Brookfield Properties, I led a diverse portfolio of projects across organizational design and effectiveness, change management, talent management strategy, and people analytics.
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Startup Building & Coaching. At Deeper Signals, I joined as the startup's first employee and helped build its analytics, research, product innovation, and marketing functions. I currently work there as an Executive Coach.
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Social Impact. Earlier in my career, I worked with non-profits across the globe, including Médecins Sans Frontières, United Way, Cancer Research UK and the Terry Fox Foundation . I also launched a social enterprise at the Regional Cancer Center in India to support underprivileged women who lost their partners to cancer.
EDUCATION
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Ph.D. Social-Organizational Psychology, Columbia University, New York, USA (in progress)
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Master's, Social-Organizational Psychology, Columbia University, New York, USA
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Master’s, International Business (with distinction), Grenoble Ecole de Management, France
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BSc (Hons), Mathematics, University of Bath, England
CERTIFICATIONS
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Executive and Organizational Coaching, Columbia University/Columbia Business School
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Change Management, PROSCI
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Intercultural Studies, University of British Columbia
LOCATION
I'm based in New York and previously lived in the UK, France, Canada, UAE and India.