Leaders

As global markets shift and innovation reshapes every industry, a distinctive league of leaders steering the future - visionaries, strategists, and architects of change who turn ideas into lasting impact. From boardrooms to entrepreneurial frontiers, these women aren’t simply part of the transformation; they are its driving force. Bishaka Prasad is one such leader.

With over 25 years of experience, including 21 in senior global leadership roles at IBM, Cisco, Accenture, and EY, Bishaka has built a reputation as a sharp Talent strategist with expertise in business consulting and building brands.

Her trajectory defies the well-worn corporate script. Beginning her career in Talent Function in 2000, Bishaka gradually expanded her focus beyond people strategy, moving into business and consulting with a natural aptitude for client engagement and market development.

In 2020, she began her Talent Consulting journey with Virtusa, with a global footprint across 25 countries which was acquired by private equity firms — an experience that quietly laid the groundwork for her next chapter.

In 2024, Bishaka started Upstrat Strategy Consulting & Services, a consultancy designed to push the boundaries of conventional business strategy and talent consulting. With the name Upstrat, meaning

“Up Your Strategy”, her firm reflects her commitment to reshaping industries and empowering organizations to scale through innovative, AI tech-driven solutions.

While rooted in people strategy, Bishaka’s career has always embraced a business-first approach, marked by her ability to seamlessly blend operational expertise with strategic vision. As the Founder and CEO of Upstrat, she is in the process of establishing her second venture—Future of Work, a cutting-edge, AI-powered initiative set to transform workplace productivity and redefine the future of work.

What were some crucial turning points throughout your professional journey?

Early in my career, I was hired for a core HR role, but my business head saw potential beyond that and nominated me for a stretch assignment to manage consulting for APAC and Germany, working closely with the sales team.

That opportunity was a game-changer, as it introduced me to the convergence of business and HR. From that moment, roles with a strong business and sales component became a core part of my career, alongside my HR responsibilities.

Driven by an innate curiosity and a passion for continuous learning, I accepted a role in Tech Sales while at IBM, overseeing APAC for which I won the “Shining Star Award” in a completely new domain to me, encouraging me to constantly be curious and pursue non-conventional roles.

What inspired you to establish Upstrat? What are its key areas of expertise?

Upstrat is an AI-driven talent and strategy advisory firm. It was conceptualized from years of observing repetitive patterns, entrenched biases, and outdated frameworks in the industry. Too often, solutions were merely repackaged without questioning their true impact. I founded Upstrat to offer a fresh, design-relevant approach, for frameworks that are not only aligned with the evolving needs of organizations but are also built to drive impact.

We specialize in AI-enabled talent transformation and strategic consulting, helping organizations reduce burnout, eliminate workplace biases, and drive productivity. We go beyond internal processes, ensuring our clients’ brands grow stronger and their leaders are recognized as credible, forward-thinking authorities in their fields.

Our service offerings include AI-enabled Talent Transformation and Productivity tools, HR advisory, GCC and ICC Setup and Scale-up, Enterprise and CxO branding, Purpose-driven CSR and Fractional CxO services. Upstrat delivers meaningful impact which is rooted in thinking differently and placing people at the heart of strategy.

What key roles do you shoulder as the Founder of Upstrat?

As the Founder, I focus on crafting design-relevant solutions for clients, shaping compelling brand pitches for investors and PE firms, and expanding Upstrat’s footprint across geographies.

I also invest in coaching CxOs, engaging in industry forums, and leading purpose-driven CSR initiatives—an unconventional approach thoughtfully aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

What is your modus operandi while working with a new client? How do you facilitate positive outcomes for them?

When engaging with a new client, I begin with discovery sessions to understand their unique needs and long-term vision. Together, we co-create a tailored roadmap that blends data-driven insights, AI-enabled productivity tools, and design-relevant frameworks, built for both efficiency and scalability.

Transparency, continuous feedback, and adaptability guide every step, ensuring solutions address immediate challenges while building the foundation for sustainable growth. This collaborative, insight-led approach consistently drives transformative results, positioning clients for long-term success in an ever-evolving business landscape.

What business challenges do you encounter? How do you navigate through these roadblocks?

Since inception, we’ve faced relatively few roadblocks, thanks to a meticulous preparatory process that assesses domains, technology, markets, and operating ecosystems before we take on any assignment. The key challenge we encounter is helping leaders adapt to new ways of working, guiding them through change management, building alignment, and ensuring adoption of innovative processes.

By combining careful planning, thoughtful coaching, and hands-on support, we turn potential obstacles into opportunities for transformation and long-term impact.

What is your success mantra?

Our success mantra is built on three pillars: Integrity, Innovation, and Impact. We lead with integrity, ensuring our ethics guide every decision. Innovation drives us—it’s in our DNA, inspiring disruption and fresh approaches. Every solution we deliver is measured by tangible, meaningful impact. At the heart of our philosophy are design-relevance for clients and FIB—Fire in the Belly— reflected in teams driven by ambition, shared values, and relentless work ethic. Simply put, our clients’ success defines ours.

Bishaka Prasad, Founder, Upstrat Strategy Consulting & Services

Bishaka Prasad is the visionary Founder of Upstrat Strategy Consulting & Services, a Boutique consulting firm dedicated to “Up your Strategy”. With over 25 years of experience, Bishaka has transformed organizational landscapes with a focus on people-first strategies. Under her leadership, Upstrat has redefined operational excellence, addressing critical issues like burnout, workplace biases while driving culture transformation, and enhancing productivity. The firm’s mission is to empower businesses through talent transformation and AI innovation, guided by the belief that clarity of purpose leads to sustainable success.