Management Team

Shounak Deshmukh, our CEO, is at the helm of the affairs. A commerce graduate, a post-graduate MBA (university gold medalist )followed by a law degree - Shounak has had a strong academic foundation prior to starting off his corporate stint. He has played varied roles managing the entire gamut of HR functions with some of the biggest and well-know industry leaders. He started off with a solid grounding in corporate values with the Tatas (Tata Motors), followed with a long stint with J&J where he picked up the nuts and bolts of managing the grass root workers. Then began a long and successful stint, with American Express (across multiple locations) – a great initiation to the world of high-finance and the resultant HR complexities. Finally for over half a decade, Shounak has played various HR leadership roles at J P Morgan Chase as they set-shop and then went to establish a very large corporate presence in India – a blazing beacon for the multi-billion Dollar wall-street financial outsourcing industry. Today Shounak truly believes that a strong academic background and an accomplished corporate career is not an end in itself but simply a means to an end! Talent Networks has been formed with a tremendous passion to simply ‘make a contribution’ and help companies solve complex business problems. Thought leadership, strong industry knowledge and a sharp analytical mind to drive appropriate interpretation, analysis, and solutioning – that’s what Talent Networks truly stands for.

Asha Bhikale, with a Master’s in Literature and a PG Diploma in Personnel Management, has two decades of HR consulting experience. As VP – Talent Acquisition at Talent Networks since 2016, she leads IT hiring for the Financial Services Industry. Known for her leadership, strategic approach, and IT recruitment expertise, she has supported banking captives in establishing IT COEs/GSCs across India. Asha focuses on delivering excellent candidate experiences and building Talent Networks' employer brand. She was a HerRising2022 Top 10 Women Winners in HR/D&I by JobsForHer.

Poonam Desai has over 12 years of experience in banking, financial services operations, and finance hiring. Joining Talent Networks as a graduate, she has grown within the organization, excelling in stakeholder management and understanding banking, finance, analytics, and consulting. Her expertise includes sourcing strategies, industry mapping, and headhunting, enabling her to close senior leadership mandates. Beyond work, she is a passionate consumerist and epicure.

Sandra John has over 30 years of HR experience, with 20+ years in Talent Acquisition. A certified Talent Acquisition Specialist, she is known for fostering a “People First” culture. She holds a Master’s in HR Development Management from SVKM’s NMIMS and an HR Management and Analytics Certificate from IIM Kozhikode. Her global recruitment expertise spans across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Israel, with a focus on the manufacturing sector, including Oil & Gas, Civil Construction, and Engineering. She has led recruitment for multinationals and previously held key HR roles at the Godrej Group and General Mills, contributing to organizational development and HR strategies globally.

Shibu Singha, a seasoned professional with 19+ years in US Staffing and Consulting, specializes in IT staffing, business operations, and onsite-offshore delivery. Renowned for delivering quality results, Shibu excels in client farming, business growth, and leadership across start-ups and large corporations. He is a US staffing and delivery excellence expert.

Zainab Fakhri is a seasoned HR professional with a Master's in Industrial & Organizational Psychology. Specializing in Talent Acquisition for the Non-IT sector, she has expertise in manufacturing, chemicals, packaging, automotive, and construction industries. Heading the Non-IT vertical, Zainab excels in interpersonal communication and stakeholder management, earning numerous accolades. She is also an avid traveller and reader.

Priya Dulam with over 15 years of experience in IT recruitment, excels in managing end-to-end recruitment cycle, fostering strong client relationships. She leads her team to achieve clients’ hiring goals, specializing in IT Products, BFSI and the GCC sectors. Priya possesses a strong proficiency in talent mapping, candidate engagement, and leadership hiring. She is recognized for her ability to thrive under pressure, meet deadlines and maintain a positive workplace culture. Priya’s key strengths include stakeholder management, team leadership and relationship building, which makes her a valuable asset.