Swati Ponnala
Director – Business & Strategy
Leading high-impact digital campaigns, public-sector scale governance, and AI-enabled media communications. Over 12 years of experience managing 100+ member cross-functional teams and accelerating growth.
2.9M+
Followers Scaled
Across Government of Bihar channels
153M+
Campaign Reach
Driven through targeted digital strategy
100+
Professionals Led
Cross-functional teams managed
12+ Yrs
Experience
Brand, strategy & communication
About Me
I am a strategic communications and social media leader with over 12 years of experience, including 7+ years in brand communications and campaign strategy, now focused on building AI-enabled workflows to enhance content strategy, campaign management, reporting, and team productivity.
My expertise lies in driving public engagement and enhancing digital visibility across various sectors, including government and social impact. I excel in translating business priorities into effective social media roadmaps and content strategies that foster stakeholder trust and improve overall business performance.
Throughout my career, I have successfully led high-visibility campaigns across multiple platforms, utilizing audience insights to refine communication strategies and manage public perception. I have a proven track record of managing large cross-functional teams and delivering quality execution in high-accountability environments.
Featured Work & Impact
Key digital campaigns and strategic milestones.
AI-Driven News Anchor 'Suchita'
Pioneered digital innovation in governance by launching the AI anchor 'Suchita'. Enabled the production and delivery of over 175 AI-generated news reels across multiple departments, earning wide cross-departmental recognition.
Bihar Women's Asian Hockey Champions Trophy Campaign
Designed and executed the promotion strategy for the tournament on behalf of the IPRD Bihar Social Media Team. Honored and recognized personally by the Chief Minister of Bihar for exceptional public engagement.
Bihar Social Media Influencer Portal & Policy
Spearheaded the design and execution of Bihar's first influencer management portal. Successfully empaneled 657 digital creators, generating over 10.5 million views through structured outreach mandates.
#SkillUpByMeta Governance Summit
Partnered directly with Meta to organize and run a Patna-based digital scaling workshop. Trained 45+ Public Relations Officers and official social media team members to elevate governance standards.
Samaj Sudhar Abhiyan Campaign Storytelling
Re-engineered public communication by introducing citizen-led stories in regional languages. Created campaigns like Samaj Sudhar Abhiyan and Covid-19 Tika Suraksha to build citizen-government trust.
Model TTD Temple Promotion at Mahakumbh
Established the social media team for Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). Created and produced a bilingual documentary capturing devotee narratives on the ground at Mahakumbh, Prayagraj.
Professional Journey
12+ years of strategy, growth, and team leadership.
Director Business Strategy
AGL - Hakuhodo
- Managed a portfolio of 10+ clients, leading a 100-member cross-functional team across social media, content, design, video, and delivery.
- Acquired 10+ institutional clients (IPRD Bihar, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, BPSC, etc.).
- Formally welcomed Shri Vijay Kumar Chaudhari, Hon'ble Minister of IPRD, contributing to high-level strategic discussions.
- Led AI-driven innovation with AI anchor 'Suchita', and launched targeted state election ad campaigns producing 10 high-impact ads.
Associate Director
AGL - Hakuhodo
- Scaled digital governance ecosystem to 2.9M+ followers, driving 22M+ engagements and 153M+ reach.
- Drove IPRD platform growth: YouTube (+226%), Instagram (+197.83%), and X (+93.39%).
- Operationalized Bihar's Influencer Portal executing 391 work orders and generating 10.5M+ views.
Group Head - Business & Strategy
AGL - Hakuhodo
- Screened 1,000+ Bihar Police personnel and established the Bihar Police Social Media Department in 2023.
- Streamlined operational workflows across social media, creative design, and strategic client reporting.
Account Manager - Business & Strategy
AGL - Hakuhodo
- Led end-to-end setup and transition for the newly acquired IPRD Bihar account, training 60 professionals.
- Spearheaded launch of Samaj Sudhar Abhiyan, introducing regional citizen-led storytelling.
Social Media Manager
Stone Age Pvt Ltd & ORVI
- Drove organic follower growth for ORVI (LinkedIn +142%, YouTube +104%) and Stone Age (LinkedIn +82%).
- Conducted global brand research, created marketing review decks, and oversaw hootsuite calendar scheduling.
Training and Development Lead
Jaipur Rugs
- Led leadership branding and training in partnership with Bain & Company & Presencing Institute.
- Delivered mental health, leadership, and ownership training to 1,500+ artisans and grassroots teams.
- Built facilitation capabilities of 30+ master trainers.
Project Manager
Jaipur Rugs Foundation
- Trained 5,000+ rural artisans across Gujarat, Rajasthan, and UP on global trends, teamwork, and timely delivery.
- Collaborated with global partners (British Council, Diageo) to run artisan empowerment programs.
- Produced branding and impact documentaries highlighting award-winning Artisan Originals initiatives.
Strategic Competencies
Core capabilities and systems built over a decade.
Strategic Strategy
Digital & Campaigns
Innovation & Workflow
Team & Operations
Education & Honors
Academic Qualifications
IBS Hyderabad
2011 - 2013Master of Business Administration (MBA) · Finance
BRCM College of Business Administration
2006 - 2009Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) · Marketing · Surat, Gujarat
Honors & Campaigns
- Chief Minister's Recognition (2 Dec 2024): Recognized by Shri Nitish Kumar for the successful Bihar Women’s Asian Hockey Champions Trophy digital promotion.
- Essay Competition Winner: Awarded 1st Prize in essay competition on 'India of My Dreams'.
Get in Touch
Have a strategic project, team training requirement, or brand campaign mandate? Feel free to reach out directly through email, phone, or LinkedIn.