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Anika Sharma
General Manager and Global Client Partner, Luxury, Retail, and Consumer Goods at LTIMindtree
New York, United States
As a client partner, with P&L responsibility, I ensure that my CPG and Retail clients, including the world's largest beauty company in the world, are future-ready, empowered with digital, analytics, data and tech. So whether it is L'Oreal, Marmot, Lancome, Valentino, Prada, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Yankee Candle, or YSL it is my job to lead them to the future faster with a data-fueled, human-design mindset.
Today's retail & cpg power brands are looking to effortlessly reimagine growth, and endlessly re-engineer themselves to capitalize on it. As of 2023, four out of five CEOs are increasing digital technology investments to counter current economic pressures, including inflation, scarce talent and supply constraints. As emerging technologies and consumer demands create ripples in the supply chain, one thing is clear - brands need to know their consumers intimately.
Connecting SAP, Salesforce, Azure, AWS and GCP amongst other technologies, I am tasked to deliver true customer intimacy across the entire customer journey. True consumer intimacy means delivering on your brand promise in the methods, channels, and timeliness that the individual consumer desires - from subscriptions and same day delivery to anticipating latent needs and events. A channel-agnostic era that covers phygital and is analytics-informed: Online, mobile, in-store, curbside, marketplace, kiosk, the employee, and social commerce. Getting you to the future faster, that is my and our promise at LTIMindtree. Now, how can I help you?
About Anika: A digital thought leader and a professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business, Anika consistently ranks as one of the top digital global leaders to follow in 2020, 2021 and 2022. She is also recognized #top25 Global Digital Thought Leaders and Influencers.
When she is not leading clients into the world of end-to-end customer journeys, digital strategy, customer experience and digital transformation, you will find her planting herbs in her garden, meditating with her friends, swimming long laps, training for triathlons or filling rooms with her resounding laughter.
In detail:
Anika Sharma is an acknowledged global digital expert and an organic growth leader who has been recently recognized as one of the top digital leaders to follow in 2020 by Thinkers 360. Anika brings to the table 15+ years of digital marketing, social media marketing, brand management and consumer behavior marketing experience across a diverse portfolio of B2C, B2B2C and B2B brands. She has implemented several large-scale digital transformations for traditional brick and mortar businesses moving to digital and e-commerce formats. During this process she designed and led content strategy and development, Search Engine Optimization, Replatforming, eCommerce, website re-designing, social media strategy as well as Amazon initiatives. Anika was also instrumental in leading overall business strategy for these businesses, ensuring that the digital and integrated programs implemented during the transformation worked seamlessly with their offline versions.
Some brands for which she has implemented digital and integrated brand initiatives have been Unilever hero brands such as Dove, DuPont hero brands such as Teflon, Kevlar, Tyvek, Nomex, Corian, Sentryglas, Sorona and Danisco. She has also worked on large scale digital programs for Ashley Stewart, Elf Cosmetics, Century 21, Hallmark, luxury lighting brands like Kate Spade and Thomas O’Brien for Circa Lighting, Luxe New Orleans jeweler Mignon Faget, Corelle brands such as Corelle, CorningWare, Pyrex, SnapWare and Chicago Cutlery amongst others in the retail space. In the textile category, Anika helped Welspun Textiles and luxury lingerie brand Hanky Panky implement successful, ground-up digital programs that involved replatforming, online campaigns with Search Engine Optimization as well as Search Engine Marketing as well as Social and eCommerce initiatives, working in conjunction with third party retailers such as Costco.
In the hospitality and tourism space, Anika led digital transformation for Brand Dubai, launching their new website, the Visit Dubai application as well as 40+ different social campaigns in 16 countries. She has been the Global Digital Business Lead for the Starwood Group of Hotels (now Marriot Bonvoy) and 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 e-mail marketing, geo-targeting and the re-launch of the ‘experiential’ member engagement initiative. These initiatives were launched across Starwood’s entire digital ecosystem, including their website and web application.
In the consumer electronics space, Anika was responsible for all online initiatives including paid, organic and content strategy for Lenovo. Her leadership was responsible for Lenovo having its best revenue-generating results with 40% increase YOY for 3 consecutive years. She did this by establishing a strong relationship with the C-Suite, working directly with the CMO as well as the NA head of the digital business. The strong results also translated in Anika winning the entire Lenovo EMEA (14 countries) and Lenovo Australia business for both, the B2C as well as the B2B business units.
For the automotive industry, Anika was the digital agency lead for all the brands in the Jaguar Land Rover portfolio. She was also core to the digital strategy team responsible for the launch of F-Pace, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Discovery, the Jaguar SUV as well as the Jaguar F-TYPE.
In the food and beverage business, Anika has lead eCommerce and digital transformation programs for Teleflora (part of The Wonderful Company), Kansas City Steaks, UK Iconic brand Walkers Shortbread as well as for Wine & Country Gift Baskets.
Some of the other brands that Anika has been associated with are MTV, Evian water, Johnson & Johnson and Bosch, amongst others.
Recognized as a Rising Star by both Ogilvy North America and Grey Worldwide, Anika has also won the Unilever Chairman’s award for outstanding performance, while at Lowe. She has spoken at Google, Microsoft, and Lenovo as well as at several US universities, including NYU’s Stern School of Business, the Rutgers Business School, the Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University as well as at Fairleigh Dickenson University’s Silberman College of Business. She has been quoted several times in the press on all things digital, retail and eCommerce, has been a weekly columnist for Adage and serves as one of the go-to digital/retail/eCommerce thought leaders for the NYU Stern School of Business Press team.
Anika is an Adjunct Professor of Marketing, Digital Marketing, Digital Strategy, Social Media and Mobile-first Marketing at the NYU’s Stern School of Business as well as at Pace University’s Lubin School of Business. She has conceptualized and launched the Masters of Science Program in Digital Marketing, at the Fairleigh Dickenson University’s Silberman College of Business.
She holds an MBA in Marketing and a BA in Psychology, as well as digital marketing certification from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
As a client partner, with P&L responsibility, I ensure that my CPG and Retail clients, including the world's largest beauty company in the world, are future-ready, empowered with digital, analytics, data and tech. So whether it is L'Oreal, Marmot, Lancome, Valentino, Prada, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Yankee Candle, or YSL it is my job to lead them to the future faster with a data-fueled, human-design mindset.
Today's retail & cpg power brands are looking to effortlessly reimagine growth, and endlessly re-engineer themselves to capitalize on it. As of 2023, four out of five CEOs are increasing digital technology investments to counter current economic pressures, including inflation, scarce talent and supply constraints. As emerging technologies and consumer demands create ripples in the supply chain, one thing is clear - brands need to know their consumers intimately.
Connecting SAP, Salesforce, Azure, AWS and GCP amongst other technologies, I am tasked to deliver true customer intimacy across the entire customer journey. True consumer intimacy means delivering on your brand promise in the methods, channels, and timeliness that the individual consumer desires - from subscriptions and same day delivery to anticipating latent needs and events. A channel-agnostic era that covers phygital and is analytics-informed: Online, mobile, in-store, curbside, marketplace, kiosk, the employee, and social commerce. Getting you to the future faster, that is my and our promise at LTIMindtree. Now, how can I help you?
About Anika: A digital thought leader and a professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business, Anika consistently ranks as one of the top digital global leaders to follow in 2020, 2021 and 2022. She is also recognized #top25 Global Digital Thought Leaders and Influencers.
When she is not leading clients into the world of end-to-end customer journeys, digital strategy, customer experience and digital transformation, you will find her planting herbs in her garden, meditating with her friends, swimming long laps, training for triathlons or filling rooms with her resounding laughter.
Find her on LinkedIn @digitalanikasharma, twitter @TheAnikaSharma and instagram @theanikasharma
Email: anikadas@gmail.com
Available For: Advising, Authoring, Consulting, Influencing, Speaking Travels From: New York
Speaking Topics: CPG, Luxury Retail, Customer Experience, B2B, Retail, Digital Marketing, Digital Transformation, Storytelling, Social Media, Mobile Marketing, IOT, tr
Anika Sharma
Points
Academic
83
Author
61
Influencer
65
Speaker
16
Entrepreneur
0
Total
225
Points based upon Thinkers360 patent-pending algorithm.
Thought Leader Profile
Portfolio Mix
Company Information
LTIMindtree
General Manager and Global Client Partner, Luxury, Retail, and Consumer Goods
How to make the most of your LinkedIn profile
Washington Square News
December 12, 2024
We all have our digital homes, our goto online hubs, where we reside. Mine is LinkedIn. I discovered LinkedIn late in life (and am, hopefully, making up for lost time), unlike my wonderful, talented student, Andrea Lui, who has been a LinkedIn warrior since 10th grade. It was my absolute pleasure to share my thoughts and be quoted for her recent article in the Washington Square News: How to make the most of your LinkedIn profile.
Here are some additional thoughts on how to make your LinkedIn profile profile work harder for you:
Why is LinkedIn such a powerful tool for young people: LinkedIn, like any other social media channel, is a tool, especially for young people. It's power lies in the way it is being used or can be used. Think of LinkedIn as your digital home, as your living resume that is constantly updated and informed by what you share, what you write and the updates you keep making to your profile. When recruiters or potential intern hirers are looking, it ensures you come up in relevant searches and are part of that important mix, even when you are not logged in.
In what way have you benefited the most from being an active LinkedIn user: I have changed careers and countries. I started in Advertising. My roots are in Madison Avenue, soaking in the richness of larger-than-life brands. From there, I moved to technology consulting. LinkedIn, all through, has helped me:
- Own my narrative
- Been a witness to my ongoing metamorphosis as well as the keeper of the timeline of those critical inflection points
- Ensured that I was able to build a community around my interests, my roles and my morphing career.
- Work is very important to me. It is a large part of who I am and I am very passionate about it. LinkedIn celebrates that side of me and ensures that it works as hard on my behalf, as I do at my work.
Are there any cons or is there anything that students/young adults/new users should be mindful about when using LinkedIn: Mindful is a great word. First and foremost, be mindful that LinkedIn is a public place. It is out there. Whether you like it or not, people will judge you, so be your authentic self. Don't worry about how many people like your posts or how many followers you have. Stay true to making it your working, always-on profile, the way you would like to come across to the world. Follow the companies that you aspire to work at and the leaders that you aspire to work with. Finally, use it as a networking tool. Building, having and holding on to your tribe matters. The good news is, that with LinkedIn, building that tribe, especially a global one, is much easier.
I am glad to share these thoughts in the Washington Square News article as well as here. Access Andrea Lui's article here
Assistant Professor
NYU Stern School of Business
December 12, 2019
Anika is an Adjunct Professor of Marketing, Digital Marketing, Digital Strategy, Social Media and Mobile-first Marketing at the NYU’s Stern School of Business as well as at Pace University’s Lubin School of Business. She has conceptualized and launched the Masters of Science Program in Digital Marketing, at the Fairleigh Dickenson University’s Silberman College of Business.
She holds an MBA in Marketing and a BA in Psychology, as well as digital marketing certification from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Tags: Customer Experience, Emerging Technology, Generative AI
Assistant Professor, Advisory Board Member - Masters of Science in Digital Marketing Program, Silberman College of Business
Silberman College of Business
June 15, 2015
Assistant Professor, Advisory Board Member - Masters of Science in Digital Marketing Program, Silberman College of Business. Subjects taught at graduate and undergraduate level: Consumer behavior, Digital Marketing, Introduction to Marketing, Marketing Management, Social Media
CMO Dialogues | In Conversation with John Boccuzzi, Jr., President, ISG Research
LinkedIn
April 11, 2025
A recent KPMG study shows that 97% of executives at companies with over $1B in revenue are planning significant AI investments, with 43% expecting to spend more than $100M. Yet, only 31% of these organizations have CIOs leading AI efforts—while 34% are led by CEOs. This fragmented leadership signals a need for deeper alignment at the top.
Gartner echoes this shift: 45% of CIOs now co-lead digital initiatives with other C-suite leaders. The message is clear—integrated leadership is no longer optional if you want AI to move beyond pilots into business value.
That’s exactly why we launched CMO Dialogues - an LTIMindtree Interactive podcast exploring the intersection of Technology, AI, and Business.
Our inaugural guest is someone who’s been helping Fortune 500 companies navigate these transformations from the front lines: John Boccuzzi, Jr., President of ISG Research. He’s not just a tech whisperer - he’s someone with an ear to the ground and a sharp eye on what’s next. Read all about it here.
Earth Day 2025: Making a Case for Pre-Loved!
LinkedIn
April 22, 2025
As someone who loves clothes dearly, this earth day, my friend Ranjani Nangia, made me rethink a few things around the balance of clothes-love and the impact on the environment. There is no doubt: clothes maketh the man, and the woman. According to Vogue, an estimated (shocking) amount of 80 to 150 billion clothes are produced every single year. While the exact number can vary, this figure highlights the massive scale of the global clothing industry, also leading to a massive textile waste problem. Fashion, especially fast fashion, is one of the most environmentally damaging industries today. But beyond the carbon footprints and overflowing landfills, there’s something more subtle driving our clothing habits: social influence.
The Power Shift: Women Are Reshaping the Economy
LinkedIn
April 01, 2025
Whether you are walking into a bustling supermarket or scrolling through an online shopping site - nearly every product, from the food on the shelves to the skincare ads popping up, has been influenced by women and their purchasing power. According to the World Economic Forum, in the United States alone, women either control or significantly influence 85% of consumer spending, equating to over $10 trillion annually.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/power-shift-women-reshaping-economy-anika-sharma-i2oje/
LinkedIn
March 31, 2025
With the International Women’s Month 2025 celebrations coming to an end, I wanted to shine a spotlight again, (I wrote about this a while back. Link enclosed in the column) on this growing and very important demographic. Women continue to make up roughly half of the U.S. working population and, when adjusted for self-employment, are the new workforce majority. There has been a significant rise in the number of females graduating as well. As of 2019, almost half of the employed female population between the ages 25-64, held a bachelor’s degree or higher. This statistic represents a quadrupling of women with degrees since 1970. If this trend continues, soon there will be two women who will earn a college degree for everyone, earned by a man.
As the U.S. population ages, women’s influence on the economy will continue to grow. Women already control most of the consumer spending, and because they live longer than men (by about 5-6 years on average), they will increasingly own and manage wealth, make key purchasing decisions, and shape industries. This isn’t just a “nice to have” demographic - it’s the future of consumer spending. Companies that embrace the power of older female consumers will thrive, while those that ignore them risk missing out on trillions of dollars. Layer that with AI and you have a winning combination for any business that wants to tap into this rich, smart, independent, growing demographic.
AI isn’t just about automation. It can be a tool for a woman seeking to enhance her financial freedom, health, and lifestyle choices as she lives longer and outlives her male counterparts. Companies like L’Oréal, Lyft, Amazon, Google, Airbnb, and Ellevest that integrate AI-driven personalization, accessibility, and safety into their offerings will win the holy grail of loyalty and spending power of this rapidly growing demographic. So, the only question that remains is: with women living longer is your business ready to serve them? Read all about it in my latest CMO Spotlight here: https://lnkd.in/eEjBU6WK
From Chalkboards to Cloud: How the Pandemic Fast-Tracked EdTech with Salesforce.
LinkedIn
March 07, 2025
I have always loved teaching. My aunts endearingly look at this love, as me carrying on my grandfather’s legacy. He was the head of the chemistry department at a university and even wrote a book on Organic Chemistry. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons I teach – because it’s in my genes. However, the main reason, I believe I teach, is because of the transformation that I see in students, during the span of a mere semester. To see their faces, light up when they understand a concept and can apply it in the real world, is a joy I cannot put into enough words!
Super Bowl’s Super Miss
LinkedIn
February 20, 2025
David Ogilvy, the founder of the advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather, and, the father of modern advertising, in his 1963 book, Confessions of an Advertising Man, famously wrote, "Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted, and the trouble is I don't know which half.”
Super Bowl's Super Miss
LinkedIn
February 19, 2025
This year, total Super Bowl ad spend surpassed the billion-dollar mark for the first time, with nearly an hour of commercial slots sold at an eye-popping rate of around $8 million each (for 30 seconds), up from $2.2 million two decades ago. Advertisements have become almost as important as the game, with one-third of viewers tuning in just to watch the commercials.
Considering it is 2025 and with Americans set to spend a record $537 billion on consumer technology this year, including gadgets, apps and all other kinds of consumer hardware and software, according to the Consumer Technology Association's latest trends, why are companies still hesitant to embrace tech in their brand communication?
Brands need to razor-sharp focus on direct engagement, conversions, and trackable results. The good news? Technology can help. It’s time for the CMO and the CTO to partner and work together. Brands like Yahoo, Fetch, and booking.com that will leverage tech to enhance their brand message, with, ultimately win the game. Read all about it in my latest Anika's take, here: https://lnkd.in/eygtuC6y
Redefining Leadership: How CMOs Thrive in an AI-Powered Marketing Era
LTIMindtree
February 06, 2025
AI Brings a Sea Change to Marketing
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the poster child for innovation in today’s business landscape. It’s a total game changer—an enabler of efficiencies, hyper-personalization, and predictive insights across industries. McKinsey estimates the generative value of AI at a staggering $4.4 trillion, with a significant portion of that value stemming from marketing and sales. This transformation is definitely augmenting marketing—and fascinating to witness it rewriting the role of the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).
Marketing is at a pivotal moment. The explosion of massive data sets, layered with AI-driven tools, is catalyzing rapid growth opportunities. Gartner’s 2023 CMO Spend and Strategy Survey shows marketing budgets currently holding steady at 9.1% of company revenue. However, by 2025, 75% of marketers anticipate budget increases, with 20% foreseeing boosts beyond 20%. Additionally, the LTK & Northwestern University 2024 Brand Study reveals that half of brands plan to significantly escalate their spend on creators—indicating a clear trend toward digital and personalized marketing investments.
The truth is undeniable—marketing, powered by AI, is shaping a future that demands agile, data-rich, and technologically adept CMOs.
The Pivotal AI Marketing Moment
LinkedIn
February 03, 2025
AI is the poster child for all things innovation these days. And rightly so - it is game changing, whether as a tool for creating efficiencies by automating repetitive tasks or for faster data mining, to harness key insights and facilitate hyperpersonalization. The potential continues to be mind boggling, with the generative value of AI currently pitched at $4.4 trillion, according to McKinsey. Considering a large percentage of that value set will come from marketing and sales, it is going to rapidly change the marketing landscape as well as the evolving role of the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).
Indian students, H1B and the American Dream
LinkedIn
January 23, 2025
Indian students continue to arrive on American soil, believing in the power of the American dream and the American education system. This number has grown significantly since 2000. During the last academic year, students from India became the largest group of international students in American higher education, replacing China for the first time since 2009, as per figures by the US State Department and the nonprofit Institute of International Education.
$989 billion, Black Friday & the story of an empty Target
LinkedIn
December 20, 2024
An estimated 197 million shoppers opened their wallets between Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year, according to the National Retail Federation survey. But as more and more retailers expanded their online presence with e-stores and shopping apps, the clear distinction between Black Friday (in-store shopping) and Cyber Monday (online shopping) start blurring, resulting in a 5-day shopping holiday instead of clear, distinct 2 days. In fact, Black Friday, is now, outpacing Cyber Monday, in terms of the number of online shoppers.
This has also resulted in Cyber Monday becoming the continuation of Black Friday rather than its own unique shopping event, creating what experts call “Black November” to describe the month-long promotions leading up to these sale events.
Some of the key brands this holiday season? The Oura ring, that has become a popular accessory with many prominent CEOs such as Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Dorsey, and Casper CEO Neil Parik, Natura, the beauty giant from Brazil, and Ranavat, the First South Asian-Founded Ayurvedic Skin-Care Brand to Launch at Sephora.
The sight of empty aisles in shopping malls and stores is becoming an increasingly common image in retail, but I believe we are inherently shoppers and will continue to be, consumers at heart. So, an empty Target on Black Friday maybe a sign that retail needs to reinvent itself, but we will continue shopping whether it is online, on social channels, in marketplaces like Etsy or in-store. The consumer is ready with their open wallets. The question is, will brands be ready to slice the largest pie of the consumer’s $989 billion wallet size this holiday season? Read all about it in my monthly column here.
AI & A World More Pink!
LinkedIn
November 27, 2024
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, except for skin cancers. It accounts for about 30% (or 1 in 3) of all new female cancers each year. The American Cancer Society is largely responsible for establishing October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but it became popular thanks to two key non-profits: Susan G Komen for the Cure and the Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Campaign (The Campaign) that unites and inspires people globally in its mission to help create a breast cancer-free world for all.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Nonprofits make up 5.6% of the US GDP and employ about 10% of the workforce. For non-profits, leveraging technology is increasingly important:Technology allows non-profits to automate routine tasks, such as donor management, outreach, and financial tracking, while reducing manual effort and operational costs.
With increased expectation around transparency, technology also allows donors to be informed in real time, on how their contributions are being used. And finally, let’s talk scale:as non-profits grow, technology allows them to scale their operations and enhance impact, without a proportional increase in costs. From virtual events to global campaigns, tech expands possibilities and can make a big difference in the organization's ability to fulfill its mission.
So how do some of the most tech-savvy nonprofits use cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, blockchain, and digital platforms? Read all about it in my monthly column here:https://lnkd.in/emCBFf7h
hashtag#breastcancer hashtag#tech hashtag#AI hashtag#trevorproject hashtag#charitywater Susan G. Komen The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. charity: water The Trevor Project
Tech that makes me go mmm!
Linkedin
September 17, 2024
was in a car accident recently. It was almost 11 PM and I was heading to Boston, to go hiking with a friend. My iPhone was on the dashboard, playing my favorite music and I was 2 hours away from my friend’s house. A lot happened in that moment. For one, I did not know that I was in an accident, because it happened so quickly. Two, I had no idea what would happen next. I didn’t know if I was ok or what should ok look like in an accident. Every single air bag in my Toyota Prius was deployed and I went from ‘what just happened’, to ‘wow, I had no idea this car had so many air bags’ to ‘look how pretty these air bags look – all white and cloudlike.’ For a second, I thought, maybe I am dead and in heaven. It all happened in seconds but felt like a slo-mo hour-long minute. Within seconds of the accident, my iPhone said, “It looks like you have been in a car crash. We will immediately inform your emergency contacts.” Within seconds my family knew that I was in a car crash and was receiving my live location.
Technology that makes me go mmm!
LinkedIn
September 17, 2024
I was in a car accident recently. Within seconds of the accident, my iPhone said, “It looks like you have been in a car crash. We will immediately inform your emergency contacts.” Within seconds my family knew that I was in a car crash and was receiving my live location. In that moment, I fell in love with technology and technologists, all over again.
Brands that use technology be there in their consumer’s lives, when they are needed the most, whether in the form or an app or a feature, will win the loyalty lottery! And that journey always begins with deep listening. Customer-centric companies are laser-focused on providing consistently amazing experiences. They behave like leaders, disrupt their industries and in return, are rewarded with growth and increased revenue.
Apple, Lyft and United are 3 such examples of companies that are using technology to get closer to their customers – a master class right here for others to follow! Read all about it in my monthly column here: https://lnkd.in/dMz7we-K
Tags: Customer Experience, Digital Disruption, Emerging Technology
Ice Cream and The Art of Customer Experience
LinkedIn
July 11, 2024
Customer experience (CX) continues to emerge as a crucial differentiator across industries and segments. Yet, it continues to be an after-thought with companies often thinking, “Do I have the discretionary spend to concentrate on customer loyalty?” To which I say, if you don’t concentrate on an experience-first approach, don’t expect those customers to be loyal for too long!
Exceptional customer experiences are not about knowing every detail about your customers, it’s about knowing what your customers do, and why they do it. Demonstrate that you understand how to help them be successful and confident at pivotal moments in their journey. Tech is the only way to do this at scale! Now the question is, where do we begin before it is too late?
Read all about it in my latest monthly column, including my quest for the perfect ice cream and a conversation with John Boccuzzi, Jr. on his latest book, The art of Seducing your Customers.
The need for a Retail Renaissance
LinkedIn
June 03, 2024
Think of retail like Vegas. Every day is a new opportunity to have a winning hand and the house always wins. Except, in this case, the house is the consumer. Every retailer, today, including Walmart, Alibaba and Amazon, is at the risk of being irrelevant. They will need to constantly work on their value propositions.
The retail companies getting it right, see themselves as ‘technology-first’. The key, however, is going to be in understanding and strengthening the differentiation, being absolutely obsessed with customer experience, constantly innovating by making innovation part of the company’s core culture (instead of a single department somewhere), being data informed and data obsessed and finally, understanding that investments in technology are mandatory to survival.
I had the opportunity to hear Bala Parameshwaran of Bain & Company and Luc MAGNIEZ of LTIMindtree on what will it take for our favorite retail brands to not just survive, but thrive.
Read all about The need for a much needed Retail Renaissance, in the latest addition of my monthly column. Right here.
The 28 Trillion Dollar Female Economy
LinkedIn
April 07, 2024
Women are estimated to control anywhere between 70-80% of consumer spending. But women are not just consumers and influencers of products. They also control 32% of the world’s wealth. Yes, you read that right. 28 Trillion Dollars to be precise!
Women are, increasingly, likely to be the primary breadwinner, financial contributor and head of household, making 85% of day-to-day spending decisions and 80% of healthcare spending decisions for the family.
So, how can companies gain from this wealth shift and growing influence of women? To begin with, look beyond consumer goods, beauty, health and fitness, education and financial technology. When thinking about the female consumer, perhaps, ask, “which industries are not influenced by the female dollar?” Read all about it in my monthly column!
Role of humans in the age of AI
LinkedIn
March 04, 2024
I am predicting that the most searched words of 2024, will be “AI” or “artificial intelligence." There is no doubt that the generative AI market is ready to explode. Unlike flash-in-the-pan trends like NFTs and Metaverse, the AI boom has seen an influx of programs like Google’s Gemini, ChatGPT, Salesforce’s Einstein, IBM’s Watson amongst others. The market is expected to reach $1.3 trillion over the next 10 years, from a market size of $40 billion in 2022. Brands like LVMH, Casablanca Paris and Gucci are already embracing AI in deliberate ways.
What, then, is the role of us 8.1 billion humans now? Are machines going to take over the world? Will artificial intelligence be more revered than human intelligence? Will humans continue to remain relevant? Is the fear real?
Read more in my monthly column on all things AI including Sujit D'Mello's take.
QR Codes: small squares, big tech powerhouses
LinkedIn
January 05, 2024
They are powerful enough to engage, entice and even create advocates out of potential consumers. They used to be popular in South and East Asia, but the pandemic made them an overnight global phenomenon. With so much to offer, I thought top retail brands would jump at making these powerhouse work hard for them. But the examples of brands using them well, are few and far-between. So why are QR codes still an exception rather than the norm, when it comes to retail, fashion, beauty and luxury? Especially if there are so many ways to leverage them for a better retail experience?
I could go on and on about the brand possibilities with QR codes. But this to me is clear. Looking for a good, seamless, relatively inexpensive and easy way to create loyalty, while telling your brand story seamlessly? Look no further than these little powerhouses of tech, also known as QR codes!
Coach’s Tabby carves new luxury segment, “Expressive Luxury”
LinkedIn
September 24, 2023
The recent reinvention of the brand may have been to get Gen Z’s attention, but it is getting attention from Millennials and Gen X’ers too. The question is: can technology further empower Coach and its mission to become an “expressive luxury" brand? Sure, Coach had its use of cool tech at its Soho location in NY. But, unless Tapestry’s hero brand, Coach, leans into the use of tech to provide seamless, luxury-infused, personalized experiences, the Gen Z consumer will move on to those that speak its native language of digital and social tech.
Tags: CRM, Customer Loyalty, Digital Transformation
Can Tech Enable, Where Luxury Stores Fail?
LinkedIn
August 14, 2023
Despite the rise of online shopping, stores continue to be a large part of the consumer journey. In 2022, the in-store or brick-and-mortar retail channel was forecast to account for 85% of total retail sales in the United States. By 2026, e-commerce is expected to make up for nearly 21% of all retail sales but stores are not going away anytime soon. It made me think: can tech deliver where stores are failing today? What was I missing in the Dior store that I expected? Did I expect to find broken bottles and a nonchalant store attendant? No. But my expectations were more than that: I expected a hyper-personalization experience. I expected to dive into the collection and discover for myself, why so many people around the world, love Dior. As a fierce brand loyalist of Chanel’s Coco Noir, I expected to be lured by scents so unique that it would take me to places I have never been. Could tech enable the ‘hyper-personalization’ that I expected as a luxury consumer? Here are a few ways, I believe, technology can enhance the luxury experience.
Tags: Digital Transformation, CRM, Customer Loyalty
The Oura of Heady Excitement
LinkedIn
February 20, 2023
The world of Wish, Shein, and Temu do not faze me. They are haphazard catalog sites without the allure of a bazaar (something that #etsy does so well) or the well-laid out floor plans of an actual store. If I switched the logos, you may not even be able to tell the difference between the sites and their offerings. After all, It is the fight of the cheapest or the fastest. So why am I comparing fast fashion destinations to a premium product like Oura. The reasons are plenty, but let me list out a few: 1. They are all app-first experiences, 2. It is possible to spend a lot of money on these sites. My Average Order Value has been close to $350-400 on Shein, yet my experience has been the same as ordering a $2 product. Cheap items arrived at my doorstep, packed in cheap plastic, all rolled up in one bundle, in case I needed another reminder that I was ordering a fast fashion mass-produced product, 3. Finally, whether you believe it or not, today's multi-brand-smart consumer who is ordering an expensive wearable, is the same one who is ordering from Shein, Temu or for that matter, Wish - and expecting a memorable experience no matter where is she ordering from. Unfair? Sure! But, real? Yes, and something to make a note of.
Tags: Customer Experience, Customer Loyalty, Social
Get it Wrong to Get it Right
LinkedIn
June 27, 2021
In some countries, people read tea leaves. The making of my cup of filter coffee, on the other hand, has given me an entire book of learnings. Especially as those opportunities are fewer and far between in other areas of my life, including in my professional life.
Will I be attempting to make filter coffee anytime soon? You bet. But for once in my life, I am actually looking forward to getting it wrong, to eventually get it right.
As I train for my first triathlon and my first serious mountain climb, it was important for me to understand the difference between pain and discomfort. I believe it is the difference between ‘comfort zone’ and the zone where we push our limits, becoming the best versions of ourselves. It has been proven, time and time again, that when it comes to endurance, strength, and speed, there are physical limits. But most of us could be capable of far more than we think. Can the muscle called WillPower be a game changer?
The Prodigal Return to our homes
LinkedIn
May 17, 2021
Overnight, our colleagues were replaced by our partners, spouses, children, pets and plants. The places that we visited the most during the days and that fed our souls in many ways – workplaces, bars, stores, streets – were all replaced with endless hours at home. Endless that could extend up to 18 hours a day. And just like that, the distinct line between work and home not only blurred, but completely disappeared! A constant, always curious, student of changing consumer behavior, I took a much-needed pause to reflect on our continued, evolving relationship with our homes and what it means.
Reimagining Experiences at Scale for the New-Age Customer: Connected, Customized, Contactless
https://consumerservices.isg-one.com/home/1979412
July 12, 2022
Anika Sharma is a Global Client Partner with Mindtree, leading a portfolio of Marquee Consumer Goods, Retail and Luxury clients as part of the Retail, Consumer Goods and Manufacturing Business. In this role, some of the largest companies and brands in the world lean on Anika to help transform their business to be "consumer-next" ready. She is a digital thought leader and a professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business, consistently named as one of the top digital global leaders to follow in 2020, 2021 and 2022. She was also recently recognized #17 on the list of CRM Global Digital Thought Leaders and Influencers. When she is not helping clients navigate the world of end-to-end customer journeys, digital strategy, customer experience and digital transformation, you will find her planting herbs in her garden, meditating with her friends, swimming long laps, training for triathlons or filling rooms with her resounding laughter. Find her on LinkedIn @digitalanikasharma, twitter @TheAnikaSharma and instagram @theanikasharma
Tags: CRM, Customer Loyalty, Digital Transformation
6 Media Interviews
Donald Trump's presidency and its impact on students in the US
Channel 9 News
January 20, 2025
No matter who you speak to, the phrase “American dream” has come to be associated with upward mobility and enough economic success to lead a comfortable life. It’s no different for international students (including students from India) who accounted for 6% of the total U.S. higher education population and, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, contributed more than $50 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023.
It was absolutely delightful to discuss this and more, live, with Sandeep Unnithan and Associated Broadcasting Co. Pvt Ltd (TV9), India’s No. 1 News Network, during President Donald Trump’s swearing-in ceremony this week, especially given his change of heart, in support of the H1B program.
As immigration policies evolve and India’s tech industry continues to grow, the future of the dynamic relationship between Indian students and the H1B program, will likely see new opportunities and evolution. For now, the Indian student community is heaving a sigh of relief as their commitment to the promise of an American education and of course, the American Dream, becomes even stronger under our new president. Read more about it here: https://lnkd.in/dn3EwpCY
Secrets for an effective LinkedIn profile
The Washington Square News
December 10, 2024
“Be mindful that LinkedIn is a public place,” Stern professor Anika Sharma said in an interview with WSN. “It is out there. Whether you like it or not, people will judge you, so be your authentic self. Don’t worry about how many people like your posts or how many followers you have. Stay true to making your profile the way you would like to come across to the world.”
Makeup and the Metaverse: Elevating Luxury Brands’ Customer Experience
ISG Technology Advisory Group
June 01, 2023
When you’re looking to buy a luxury product, how do you choose which product you buy? Today, consumers are faced with an unprecedented abundance of choices, and their expectations are in a perpetual flux. This constantly shifting consumer landscape presents a formidable challenge for retail and consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands seeking to build a devoted following. Digital technologies, such as the metaverse, force brands to reevaluate their business strategies to ensure they stay relevant in a multi-brand-loyal world. This rings especially true for some of the long-established luxury brands whose consumers have distinct and often demanding expectations of their retail experiences. What strategies can these brands employ to consistently raise the bar, thereby ensuring they secure loyalty and the largest share of their purchasing choices?
Join us for this episode as we explore how digital is impacting the world of luxury brands. Our guest Anika Sharma, General Manager & Global Client Partner at LTIMindtree, who works with large-scale CPG and retail clients. She has a deep passion for elevating cherished brands that evoke a sense of well-being in their customers. Our discussion revolves around the pivotal role played by digital technology and human-centric approaches in enabling brands to adapt and thrive within the ever-evolving consumer landscape. How can the metaverse emerge as a transformative catalyst for brands and consumers, altering the dynamics of their interactions in profound ways?
Impact of Digital Transformation in the CPG and Retail industry
Singular HQ
October 05, 2022
Singular XQ #podcast to have another sparkling conversation with Anika Sharma of NYU Stern and Mindtree Consulting. Anika’s experience is vast and varied and the force of it comes through everything she says.
You can get a taste of her #fiercepointofview on this latest episode of Singular XQ.
Listen to Singular XQ podcast episode# 8:
On Medium
https://medium.com/@jenniferpierce/singular-xq-ep-8-anika-sharma-and-her-fierce-pov-on-cx-4c0e6bbaba35
On Anchor
https://anchor.fm/jennifer-pierce28/episodes/Ep-8-Anika-Sharma-and-Her-Fierce-Point-of-View-e1orlh5
Tags: Customer Loyalty, Digital Transformation, Retail
Lucky Me, A Woman
LinkedIn
March 14, 2021
Another International Woman's Day is over. Is the world for women any different? Read all about it in my latest #linkedin article as the world continues to realize how important representation is. As of 1st quarter of 2021, 41 women will lead Fortune 500 companies. That’s just 8.2%, but an improvement from the 33 companies in 2019 and 24 in 2018. Going back 20 years, there were just two companies on the list that were run by women, according to Fortune. #internationalwomansday2021 #iwd2021 #iwd21 #womenleaders #genderequality #diversity #womeninbusiness #women #anikasharma
Tags: Future of Work, Change Management, Retail, Diversity and Inclusion
The Rapidly Changing Consumer
Orion Innovation
March 08, 2021
Everything today is tech-oriented. Even industries that are not inherently the definition of ‘tech,’ are playing in the space. The consumer is rapidly changing, and tech has to keep up. That’s what I love most about it. It’s evolving, it’s exciting, it’s ever-changing and it’s disruptive. By being in this space, I get to have front row seats to this amazing phenomenon. How many industries can claim that? Every day, there is a new problem to solve and every day there is a new solution to understand.
The Power of Hyper-Personalization
https://mission.org
May 18, 2022
Just because two customers fit the same profile doesn’t mean they should be treated identically. Brands that take the time to personalize their approach in a way that makes them seem more like a friend than a business will succeed long term. Hear more about this from Anika Sharma on #UpNextinCommerce sponsored by Salesforce Commerce Cloud
Location: Across the US and other countr Fees: On request
Service Type: Service Offered
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 amongst 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 amongst 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 repositioned 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 Professor of Marketing, Digital Marketing, Digital Strategy, Social Media and Mobile-first Marketing 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, 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.
Anika can be reached at: anikadas@gmail.com
Anika’s Adage column can be accessed here: http://www.adageindia.in/tagsearchlist/tag-key,query-mobile-watch.cms
Connect with Anika on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/digitalanikasharma/
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