Thoughtworks, the global technology consultancy recognised as a Leader in Modern Application Development Services, has appointed Pradnya Kulkarni as Head of People for its India operations. She joins the leadership team with responsibility for shaping the company’s people strategy, culture initiatives, and talent development across its Indian offices.
Kulkarni brings more than two decades of experience in human resources and organisational transformation to the role. Her career spans senior leadership positions at major global financial services and technology firms, where she has built a reputation for driving inclusive workplace cultures and aligning people strategy with business outcomes.
She joins Thoughtworks from Telstra, Australia’s leading telecommunications company, where she served as Principal – Business Strategy and Operations and Site Lead for Telstra India. In this capacity, she worked closely with senior leadership on strategic and operational priorities across the company’s Indian operations.
Prior to Telstra, Kulkarni held the position of Regional Head – Talent and Learning at Western Union, overseeing talent management and learning initiatives across the APAC region. At the financial services giant, she developed employee listening strategies and implemented pulse survey programmes that strengthened manager-employee connections.
Her earlier career includes substantial experience in global financial services. At UBS, she served as Director of Technology Change Management, leading organisational transformation programmes at the company’s Technology Business Solution Centre in Pune. She drove global diversity projects and contributed to large-scale change initiatives across multiple regions. Kulkarni also held HR leadership roles at ANZ and HSBC, gaining extensive exposure to international banking environments and cross-cultural team management.
Her professional journey began in the Indian technology sector with positions at Tech Mahindra and KPIT Cummins, providing foundational experience in large-scale technology and engineering environments.
Kulkarni holds a Master’s degree from Savitribai Phule Pune University. She has received recognition for her contributions to internal communications, including Fellowship from the Institute of Internal Communication, the UK-based professional body for the sector.
Thoughtworks operates across seven Indian cities – Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Gurugram, Coimbatore and Whitefield – employing approximately 4,000 professionals in the country. India serves as a major delivery hub for the consultancy’s global client base.
The appointment comes as Thoughtworks continues its focus on technology-led innovation and AI-powered solutions. The company was named a Leader and Customer Favourite in The Forrester Wave: Modern Application Development Services evaluation in January 2025, achieving the highest possible scores in AI-related criteria including AI-infused applications development and data governance. The consultancy recently released the 33rd edition of its Technology Radar, a biannual publication tracking emerging technologies and industry trends.
Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Chicago, Thoughtworks employs over 10,000 professionals across 48 offices in 19 countries. The company integrates strategy, design and engineering to deliver digital transformation solutions for enterprise clients worldwide. It was taken private by Apax Partners in November 2024 following its initial public offering on NASDAQ in 2021.
