Shikha Soni

Senior Director, People @ FranConnect

About

Experienced HR Leader | Driving People Strategy, Culture, & Business Growth With 20+ years of experience in Human Resources & Operational Support, passionate about creating people-centric workplaces that drive business success. Strongly believe in managed change, human capital, and technology advancements as key drivers of organizational growth and value creation in the evolving workplace. Successfully led and managed all facets of HR, including: • HR Strategy & Business Partnering – Aligning HR with business goals to drive performance. • Talent Acquisition & Onboarding – Building high-performing teams through strategic hiring. • Learning & Development (L&D) – Cultivating a culture of continuous learning. • Compensation & Benefits (C&B) – Designing competitive, equitable reward structures. • Compliance & HR Operations – Ensuring legal and regulatory adherence while optimizing HR With a strong ability to analyze business needs and implement clear, impactful strategies, I thrive in fast-paced, transformational environments where people, culture, and innovation intersect.

Country

India

City

Noida

Industry

Computer Software

Skill

HR Transformation, Recruiting, Team Management, Employee Engagement, Operations Management, Human Resources, Vendor Management, Business Development, Performance Management, Strategy, Succession Planning, MIS, HRIS, Team Building, Talent Management, Employee Relations, Training, Sourcing, Organizational Development, Employee Training

Experience

Senior Director, People

FranConnect

2023-1 - Present · 3 yrs 9 mos

Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

• Strategic HR Leadership: Leading FranConnect’s People function in India, driving HR strategy, employee engagement, culture transformation, and talent management. • Employee Experience & Retention: Implementing high-impact programs for workforce planning, performance management, and L&D to attract, develop, and retain top talent. • Compliance & Workforce Analytics: Ensuring HR policies align with legal requirements while leveraging data-driven insights for decision-making. • HR Digital Transformation: Spearheading the adoption of HR tech solutions to enhance operational efficiency and employee satisfaction.

Director, Human Resources

FranConnect

2020-3 - 2022-12 · 2 yrs 10 mos

India

• Built a strong HR foundation by developing policies, streamlining recruitment processes, and enhancing employee engagement. • Introduced leadership development programs that improved succession planning and internal career growth. • Optimized compensation & benefits structures, ensuring market competitiveness while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

Regional Manager

Pearson

2017-9 - 2019-7 · 1 yr 11 mos

Noida Area, India

• Managed the largest team overseeing test center operations across the region, ensuring high-quality exam delivery and customer service. • Led major operational improvements, including policy enhancements, budgetary controls, and facility upgrades. • Expanded test center operations, successfully identifying and setting up new testing locations to meet growing demand.

HR Manager Business Partner, APAC

Pearson

2006-1 - 2017-8 · 11 yrs 8 mos

Noida Area, India

• Drove HR business partnering across APAC, aligning HR strategies with business objectives. • Led large-scale change management initiatives, ensuring smooth transitions during organizational restructuring and policy updates. • Designed and implemented employee engagement, L&D, and performance management frameworks that enhanced workplace culture.

Academic Relationship Manager

Savant India Infocomm

2002-9 - 2005-2 · 2 yrs 6 mos

• Managed academic partnerships, fostering strong relationships with institutions. • Led business development and training initiatives, expanding the company’s education sector footprint.