Ambika Sharma

Ambika Sharma is a global business strategist with over three-decade career in public affairs and international relations in India’s apex industry body as well as in a bilateral international organization. A business economist by education, Ambika has dedicated her professional career towards building extensive international economic networks for business & industry, driving economic growth, job creation, innovation, inclusion, and entrepreneurship. With 37 years of diverse experience, Ambika was the first lady Director General - International at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). She went on to lead the U.S. Chamber’s U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) as Managing Director, India. She joined USIBC in 2018, making it one of the most sought-after names as a policy advocacy organization in U.S.-India business relations. She has now moved into a strategic role as Advisor to USISPF. Over the years, Ambika has nurtured wide-ranging and robust relationships with the Government of India at the highest level, building a wide range of global network with businesses, including the diplomatic community, bureaucracy, reputed Chambers of Commerce and think tanks. She has led policy advocacy across sectors like healthcare, defense, digital economy, financial services, agri/food, supply chain management, to name a few. As the Director General of India’s national industry association FICCI, Ambika was the principal architect of Indian industry’s international outreach and partnership with industry associations and employers’ federations worldwide. Her contribution towards Indian industry’s endeavour in building an equitable business partnership in competitive international environments is acknowledged far and wide. She led FICCI’s global strategy for a wide base of membership comprising India’s established large business houses, conglomerates and newer technology-based entrants. Ambika also designed and organized business interactions with visiting Heads of State to India and abroad. A holder of Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Master’s degree in Business Economics from India’s prestigious Delhi University, Ambika graduated summa cum laude with a gold medal. She is also a certified MCA approved Independent Director. She has participated in several executive programmes including those conducted by EU and XLRI, Jamshedpur. She has worked extensively with the FICCI Women on Corporate Boards (WCB) initiative as well. Ambika is currently serving as Independent Director on several boards.