Deepa Pardasani
Business Development & Creative Strategist
Deepa is an innovation and strategy champion with more than 20 years of international experience in increasing revenue, achieving cost reductions and improving client satisfaction working with large diverse organisations. Her extensive experience includes developing strategies for the interaction of business and technology, understanding the implications of technology on business strategy and identifying opportunities to use change to enable new business opportunities and improving business processes and models. Deepa has worked with some of the most successful companies and their clients in Cyprus, UK, Europe and America. Today, Deepa works with Cognizant as service line specialist within robotics, artificial intelligence, quality engineering, intelligent automation, virtual reality, future of work and business development strategy. Recognised as an expert in existing and emerging technologies and their impact on business strategies, Deepa has a particular focus on FinTech, InsurTech, EdTech, RetailTech, Management, RegTech, EdTech GameTech and Regulation and Compliance space.
How did you get to become an expert in your key topics?
I started my career with TSYS Payment Solution in Nicosia, Cyprus, and was lucky enough to join the company at a very early stage back in 2001. This really shaped the first part of my career which was focused on payment system solution’s business analysis, managing conversion projects, their development and implementation at some of the large banks across UK and Europe. During my six years of career with TSYS I also had the opportunity to work with companies such as Visa and MasterCard. Later in my career and after moving to London from Cyprus in 2006, I had the opportunity to work with several FinTech, PayTech and RetailTech companies.
What topic areas are you most passionate about?
I love robotics, new technologies and innovation, artificial intelligence, Intelligent Automation within FinTech, InsurTech, RegTech, EdTech and GameTech space. My passion is to help businesses grow and achieve its objectives. I enjoy “thinking outside the box”.
Which influencers influence you within those key topics?
I follow quite a few influencers on Twitter and LinkedIn as well as attend events to make new contacts and exchange options. I have also learnt a lot from my colleagues and ex-colleagues.
Outside of key topics, who else influences you?
I follow number of influencers on social media, have lots of favourites. I enjoy Ted Talks. And anyone who can take a complex or niche topic and make it understandable, engaging and fun.
How would you describe your offline influence?
I am involved with schools and universities, I usually attend events which gives me the opportunity to talk to students about the future of technology & work. I enjoy answering their queries and give career advice. Cognizant is a top graduate employer in the technology sector, as part of the program I get to mentor graduates and juniors at work. I am also an active member of Propel program – Cognizant’s new leadership development program for women.
What’s your best source of information for getting ahead of a story? What resource do you use to stay ahead of the trend?
I read business news, articles, keep up with the technology & trend in the relevant industry, I also invest a lot of my time doing research and development. At Cognizant we have dedicated centre of excellence for R&D within automation and robotics space, I work very closely with the team.
If a brand wanted to work with you, which activities would you be most interested in collaborating on?
What brands have you worked with?
Barclaycard, CapitalOne, Cyprus Popular Bank, Hellenic Bank, Virgin Money, Royal London Asset Management, Schroders, Investec, Mondrian, British Standard Institute, Ladbrokes, Coral, BSkyB, Microsoft, Apple, General Motors, Procter & Gamble, Virgin Money, Royal Bank of Scotland, ING, Deutsche Bank, Lloyds Banking Group, Bank of America, Bank of Montreal , Vanquis Bank Limited, PayPal, Scottish and Southern Energy, Oxford University Press, British Standard Institute and Tesco Bank to name a few.
Which non-paid activities would you be keen to take part in if the opportunity raised your profile or delivered value to your audience?
I am happy to provide a quote for content or news article, share or create a social post, speak at an event, podcast, online chat or a webinar. I am also interested in creating video content as well writing a product review or co-creating long form content.
What are your passions outside of work?
What would be the best way for a brand to contact you?
By email, Twitter or LinkedIn.