HR Individual, Team, & Thought Leadership Awards Judging Committee
Chair: 
Chris Litherland, Founder & Principal Consultant, Mariposa Consulting International, Heinsberg, Nord-Rhein Westphalia, Germany
Chris Litherland is a multifaceted professional with a rich background in organizational effectiveness, executive coaching, and business advisory. As the founder of Mariposa Consulting International, he has dedicated his career to driving excellence within organizations and maximizing team impact. His strategic focus encompasses a broad range of initiatives, from enterprise strategy implementation and leadership development to culture and capability projects, and effective change implementation.
With a history of senior HR and business roles in prominent companies like SAS, Fujitsu, and Intermec by Honeywell, Chris brings a wealth of experience to his consulting practice. His commitment to professional growth is evident in his status as a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and his active participation in various advisory boards across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific. Chris's influence extends to his role as a thought leader, where he addresses critical topics such as the future of work and corporate social responsibility. His insights are sought after at global conferences and corporate events, and his written work on subjects like employer branding, team excellence, and organisational culture contributes to the discourse on modern business practices. In 2019 he was the Chair of Judges for the Great Employers Awards, and Chair of the HR Judging Committee for the International Business Awards in 2018.
His dedication to social causes, as demonstrated by his support for organizations like Save the Children and the International Red Cross (German Red Cross), reflects a deep commitment to societal betterment globally and locally. Chris's career is a testament to the impact one individual can have on both the corporate and social spheres, embodying the very essence of leadership and change. Residing in Germany for over two decades, Chris's international experience and British roots provide him with a unique vantage point, allowing him to bridge diverse business cultures and practices. His hashtag #learn2live #live2learn encapsulates his philosophy of lifelong learning and adaptability, principles that are increasingly vital in today's dynamic world.
On being invited to Chair this year, Chris commented: “Great leadership leaves a legacy—and it starts with your people. The Stevie Awards for Great Employers honour those that dare to lead with purpose, build with heart, and shape workplaces where excellence thrives.”
Committee:
Chirag Agrawal, Global Head, Data Science
Novelis, Cumming, Georgia, United States
Chirag has nearly 20 years of experience in the fields of IT, Strategy Consulting, and Manufacturing. Chirag is skilled in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Machine Vision, Generative AI, Agentic AI, Simulations, and Cloud Solutions. With over 15 years of experience in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, including Cloud Transformation, Generative AI.
Ahmed Al Mahmood, Strategy Planning Advisor & Government Assessor
Sharjah Finance Department - Sharjah Government Sharjah City, Sharjah Emirate, United Arab Emirates
Ahmad is an outstanding advisor, excellence assessor, and trainer with managerial experience in strategic planning, policy design, corporate governance, and training organization leaders. He succeeded in determining and positioning himself among top instructors by developing his level in career growth, coaching and mentoring people, and contributing to major government strategic projects & assessments.
Dr. Srikanth Ambatipudi, Corporate Internal Audit Consultant
Erie Insurance, Erie, Pennsylvania, United States
Dr. Srikanth is a seasoned professional with more than 25 years of experience. As an IT Audit leader, he is entrusted with the responsibility to ensure adherence to standards and best practices like NIST CSF, NYDFS and insurance industry-specific regulations, along with the identification of vulnerabilities that could expose IT systems and networks.
Ignazio Arces, Chief of Operations
Versalis, Milan, Italy
Ignazio Arces is Chief of Operations at Versalis, Enia’s chemical company, and a leading voice in humanistic leadership for the energy transition. With a background in engineering, management, and geopolitics, he bridges science and philosophy to guide sustainable industrial transformation.
Belinda Jane Dolan, CEO
The World Happiness Project, London, Queensland, Australia
Belinda-Jane, CEO of the Clariti Clinic, an integrative therapy center, and the World Happiness Project, a not-for-profit company leading global initiatives to boost happiness and mental wellbeing. Her 23-time award-winning therapy and education programs goal is to impact the lives of 785 million people. An ultramarathon runner is currently completing the Explorers Grand Slam.
Swechcha Gurram, Senior Financial Data Analyst
Amtex Systems, New York City, New York, United States
Swechcha Gurram is a data expert with more than 17 years of professional experience in the government, financial services, technology, healthcare, and energy sectors. She has a strong background in data visualization, predictive analysis, statistical analysis, and machine learning and is skilled in ETL processes, reporting, and data modeling. Swechcha also completed the artificial intelligence and machine learning post-graduate program at the University of Texas at Austin.
Mahesh Hari, VP, HR and Payroll Operations
RWE Clean Energy, Austin, Texas, United States
An HR executive for over 25 years, Mahesh is focused on value-added business-driven initiatives with a strategic mindset. He embraces HR thought leadership and is keen on bringing value to the business and continuous operational efficiencies. He believes in building a high-performance team with a strategic mindset, converting every opportunity into a seamless HR function.
Nidhi Mahajan, Director, Program Management
VISA, Austin, Texas, United States
Seasoned fintech leader with 17+ years in program and portfolio management, specializing in AI-driven transformation, strategic delivery, and enterprise PMO governance. Recognized for driving innovation and operational excellence. Actively engaged in the tech ecosystem through mentorship and judging global hackathons focused on emerging technologies, digital innovation, and real-world impact.
Jay Mehta, COO
Seldon Capital , San Francisco, California, United States
Jay Mehta is a COO consultant for hedge funds & ex-BofA exec advising hedge funds on capital raise, ops, hiring & trading. Deep equity markets expertise.
Muzeeb Mohammad, Senior Manager, Software Engineering
JPMorgan Chase and Co, Newark, Delaware, United States
Muzeeb Mohammad is a Senior Software Engineering Manager at JPMorgan Chase and an IEEE Senior Member. With over 15 years of experience in distributed systems, secure APIs, and event-driven architecture, he actively contributes to technical innovation through publications, patents, and judging global awards in technology and leadership.
Benjamin Sisima Ofuru, Head, Corporate Planning Division
National Bureau of Statistics, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria
Benjamin is a product and service specialist, and multiple ward winner: Gold prize for Best Partner for exceptional customer service delivery/quality compliance in 2011 & 2012, Best walk-in centre customer service delivery in 2011, as well as Highest revenue/turnover, Outstanding award on innovation, Distinguished award for leadership, integrity and team building.
Pratik Panchal, Lead Scheduler
Dragados USA, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Pratik Panchal is a senior leader in project controls, recognized for steering mission-critical infrastructure and defense projects exceeding $3B. With over 13 years of global experience, he drives schedule optimization, risk strategy, and operational excellence, delivering measurable impact across North America, the Middle East, and U.S. Navy and national security initiatives.
Pallishree Panigrahi, Head of Data & Insights
Amazon Key, Santa Clara, California, United States
Pallishree Panigrahi is Head of Data at Amazon Key, where she leads global data strategy at the intersection of technology, operations, and marketing. With 15+ years of experience across Amazon, Meta, and other industry leaders, she builds intelligent, ethical data systems that drive innovation, business performance, and customer trust at scale.
Edward Ponmadhuri Madhuri, Head - Strategic Business Operations - Cloud
Tata Consultancy Services, Edison, New Jersey, United States
Ponmadhuri Edward has 15+ years of experience in HR and business strategy. She heads Strategic Business Operations for the Cloud Business Unit at TCS. An avid reader and tech enthusiast, she's passionate about AI, emerging technologies, and leveraging human skills to drive innovation and customer success.
Latha Ramamoorthy, Vice President
JPMorgan Chase, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Latha Ramamoorthy is a seasoned Technical Product and Program Leader with 20+ years in driving innovation across financial and retail sectors. She specializes in AI-driven transformation, cross-functional execution, and enterprise modernization. A mentor, speaker, and award-winning strategist, Latha is passionate about building inclusive, future-ready tech solutions.
Astrid Sanchez, Senior Manager, Total Rewards GSC & GTC
Colgate Palmolive, Union Township, New Jersey, United States
Strategic HR leader with 17+ years of experience in roles across corporate and manufacturing. Currently Sr. Manager, Total Rewards at Colgate-Palmolive, supporting Global Supply Chain and Global Technology teams. Expertise in Compensation, Talent Strategy, and Labor Relations. Passionate about data-driven decisions, equity, and people-centered practices.
Jyostna Seelam, Senior Manager, Engineering Lead
Capital One, Henrico, Virginia, United States
Senior Manager and Architect at Capital One with 17+ years of experience in cloud platforms, DevOps, and system optimization. Recognized speaker, mentor, and award judge with a passion for innovation, platform resilience, and empowering future leaders through education, community programs, and technology-driven solutions.
Bhavin Surela, Senior Director of Engineering
Twilio Inc, Fremont, California, United States
Bhavin Surela is a senior engineering leader with over 15 years of experience scaling global messaging platforms, including WhatsApp and RCS at Twilio. Bhavin is also an active mentor and industry speaker.
Thangam Vaiyapuri, Resident Solutions Architect
Databricks Inc, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, United States
Thangam Vaiyapuri is a seasoned technology leader and Data/AI architect with over 22 years of experience in Banking and Financial Services. His expertise spans Investment, Consumer, and Retail Banking, and Wealth Management. He is currently a Senior Data/AI Solutions Architect at Databricks Inc., driving innovation and operational efficiency.
Dr. Shiladitya Verma, Lecturer-Business
Higher Colleges of Technology, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates
Dr. Shiladitya Verma is a Business Faculty with around 24 years of combined teaching and corporate industry experience and a Ph.D. in Applied Economics and Business Management, specializing in human resource management, marketing strategy, and retail management. He has expertise in both academia and corporate management and roles in retail.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zeki Yuksekbilgili, Founder
Yuksekbilgili Egitim & Danismanlik, Istanbul, Turkey
Zeki Yuksekbilgili, an accomplished individual, holds a doctorate degree in Business Management. He is widely recognized as the visionary behind Yuksekbilgili Training Co., one of Turkey's largest training companies. He serves as a distinguished lecturer at Istanbul Gelisim University. His teachings primarily revolve around Marketing Management, Sales Management, and Research Methodology.
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