VN Saroja has more than 25 years of business experience in senior management positions. Saroja has founded new businesses and consulted with leading Indian companies and several States and the Central Government of India.
She currently mentors startups, helps them strategize, develop business plans and raise funding
In 1997, she co-founded Naukri.com, which has grown to be India’s leading website on careers. As its Chief Operating Officer, she played crucial role in setting up operations, inviting venture capital and expanding the company.
In 2003, she set up Interbase Consulting focussing on areas of strategy, operations and planning. Clients included transnational corporations, multilateral agencies and startups.
In 2007, she co-founded Movico Technologies which focusses on the digital media industry.
She , as the CEO of Indian Agribusiness Systems, an agri-commodities market information, analysis and consulting organization ( Agriwatch.com) executed on key projects like :
- Advising MACP on introduction of e-auctions in APMC mandis in the state and preparing the roadmap for same (2012-13) The study involved studying all existing systems, identifying the most appropriate one for Maharashtra, identifying best pilot locations and commodities and defining the contours of the online system to be used.
- Member of the Empowered Committee on Wheat Exports, Government of India chaired by the Commerce Secretary and Food Secretary on prospects and pricing of wheat exports from FCI stocks. (2012-15). Attended all the meetings, made presentations on the near and medium term global outlook and gave recommendations on whether or not to accept the bids received from global participants for the tenders issued given the outlook. FCI exported approximately 5.8 million Tons of wheat in that period. The endeavour was audited by the CAG and no lacunae were found in the manner of deciding the sale price
- Member of the PK Jha Committee on Managing Prices of Pulses in India – 2016 A short term committee headed by Mr. PK Jha, IAS was set up in early 2016 to understand the rise in pulses prices and to recommend some quick measures to manage the same. The final report was submitted to the Minister of Food, GOI in May 2016
Saroja earned her Masters in Business Administration degree from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and her graduate degree in Mathematical Statistics from the Delhi University