Farrukh Lalani, Management Consultant in Toronto, ON, Canada
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Farrukh Lalani

Change Management Expert

Toronto, ON, Canada

Toptal member since December 29, 2021

Expertise
Business Analysis ConsultingFundraisingBudgeting ConsultingFractional COOsSmall Business OperationsCFO Consultant
Bio

Farrukh has 10+ years of experience leading organizations through large change initiatives, including business, digital, and cultural transformation. She has worked for global consulting firms and enterprises, including KPMG, Accenture, Bombardier, Pfizer, Bell Canada, and Vale. With a Prosci certification in change management, Farrukh focuses on the people side of the change and guides leaders through changes in organizational structure, business processes, culture, and talent development.

Career Highlights

Change Manager
Cadillac Fairview
Management Consultant
Accenture
Management Consultant
KPMG

Certification Highlights

Certified Change Management Practitioner
Prosci

Case Studies

Expertise

  • Change Leadership
  • Change Management
  • Communication
  • Impact Assessment
  • Stakeholder Analysis
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Stakeholder Management
  • Training & Training Content Development

Work Experience

Change Management Lead

2024 - 2025
Enbridge Gas
  • Executed the change strategy for SAP S/4HANA transformation, impacting 500+ employees; achieved 90% stakeholder engagement and readiness through targeted communication, training, and leadership alignment.
  • Built and led a 20-member Change Ambassador network that increased adoption by 40%, improved feedback loops, and reduced end-user resistance across key business functions.
  • Delivered a Business Readiness and Training plan covering 12 departments; trained 400+ users and mitigated transition risks, enabling a seamless go-live with minimal operational disruption.
Focus areas: Business Processes, Communication, Training & Training Content Development

Change Manager

2023 - 2024
Cadillac Fairview
  • Led end-to-end change management for finance transformation initiatives impacting 2,000+ employees and partners; achieved 85%+ project success through strong leadership engagement, readiness, and adoption strategies.
  • Implemented enterprise-wide change frameworks integrating people, process, and technology; improved organizational agility and reduced transition risk across multiple business functions.
  • Designed and executed readiness and communication programs—including microsites, newsletters, and focus groups—that boosted adoption by 45% and ensured leadership alignment throughout implementation.
Focus areas: Change Leadership, ADKAR Change Model, Communication Strategy, Training & Training Content Development

Change Manager

2021 - 2023
City of Toronto
  • Led change management for a new cloud-based recreation management system impacting 2,000+ staff; developed and executed strategy, training, and communications, achieving a 90% adoption rate across the organization.
  • Directed a 5-member change team and collaborated with the finance, technology, and customer experience divisions to integrate new processes, improving cross-functional alignment and operational efficiency.
  • Prepared executive briefings for senior leadership and council on change progress and business transformation outcomes; recognized with the Cause for Applause award by the deputy city manager for outstanding leadership.
Focus areas: Change Leadership, Communications Management, Training & Training Content Development, Business Processes

Management Consultant

2017 - 2019
Accenture
  • Led organizational transformation and change management projects, using the Prosci ADKAR Model to translate strategic direction and business objectives into agile, human-centered strategies for change.
  • Achieved a 90% adoption rate by developing a training strategy and plans for a $20 million divesture project involving an ERP update, Salesforce implementation, and lift and shift of seven other systems impacting 2,000+ employees in 14 locations.
  • Led end-to-end creation and implementation of change management, communications, training, and stakeholder engagement plans to maximize employee adoption of a complex SAP Ariba implementation impacting 100,000 employees globally.
  • Consulted to a range of industries, including aerospace, consumer. packaged goods, crown corporations, financial services, and resources/mining.
Focus areas: Change Management, Change Leadership, Training & Training Content Development, Communication Strategy, Employee Engagement, Client Presentations, Impact Assessment, Management Consulting, Organizational Transformation

VP Communications & Corporate Social Responsibility

2014 - 2016
Aria Gems
  • Built a marketing and communications strategy from the ground up using market research, competitive analysis, market segmentation, and client feedback. Drove a 150% increase in website traffic over six weeks.
  • Directed a company rebranding initiative that led to new account conversions worth $3 million+. The rebranding included a legal name change and a new logo, tagline, and design.
  • Led capture management to develop $2 million in capacity building and training projects for government officials in the extractive sector.
  • Delivered a presentation entitled "Digital Marketing Strategies for Luxury Brands" at the Digital Innovation Summit in New York.
Focus areas: Startups, Publicity

Head of Programs

2012 - 2014
Focus Humanitarian Assistance
  • Established the PMO to track project progress and manage deliverables through timelines, budgets, and reporting.
  • Secured $4 million in funding in 16 months from European, Swiss, British, and Japanese Embassies and the Canadian Government for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation projects.
  • Won second prize for my presentation and workshop entitled "Climate Change in Tajikistan" at the Global Risk Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Focus areas: Program Management

Senior Manager, Corporate Strategy

2011 - 2012
Roshan
  • Oversaw the company-wide process for managing a $200 million+ annual budget.
  • Built key stakeholder relationships with the board, shareholders, and banks and ran quarterly meetings involving high-level documentation, strategic positioning, logistics, and security.
  • Directed data collection for competitive market analysis.
  • Oversaw monthly and quarterly reporting to shareholders, strategic partners, and senior leaders, including confidential risk reporting on Afghanistan's security situation.
Focus areas: Strategy, Marketing

Program Support Officer

2008 - 2010
Aga Khan Development Network
  • Organized high-level French government and UN missions to AKDN program sites, enabling policymakers to better understand the challenges in Syria.
  • Developed presentations and communication materials to highlight AKDN program interests for various levels of governments and the diplomatic community.
  • Ensured alignment with country strategy by monitoring and tracking agency activities and preparing program update reports for the Paris-based Secretariat.
  • Facilitated incorporation of AKDN agencies and resolution of other legal issues in a support role for the Secretariat legal department.
Focus areas: Fundraising

Management Consultant

1998 - 2004
KPMG
  • Led a billing system implementation: managed business process redesign, configuration, and deployment for the program in customer service, billing, and finance; managed cutover, site readiness, and post-go-live support.
  • Initiated, negotiated, and implemented SLAs for Orange TA, a startup in Thailand, which reduced startup costs by 25%.
  • Led the QA team at Pfizer for the largest Pan European data warehouse for life sciences.
Focus areas: Change Management, Business Analysis, Training & Training Content Development, Business Processes, Management Consulting

Education

2006 - 2008

Master of Arts Degree in Law, Diplomacy, and International Relations

Tufts University - Boston, MA, USA

1996 - 1997

Master of Science Degree in Information Systems

London School of Economics - London, England, UK

1991 - 1996

Bachelor's Degree in Advertising and Marketing

McGill University - Montreal, Canada

Certifications

SEPTEMBER 2021 - PRESENT

Certified Change Management Practitioner

Prosci

Skills

Finance

Fundraising, Budgeting

Data & Analysis Software

Tableau

Other

Microsoft, Apple, Microsoft Visio, Change Management, Training & Training Content Development, Training Materials, Training Workshops, Communication, Impact Assessment, Stakeholder Analysis, Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Client Presentations, Change Leadership, Windows, Camtasia, Research, Politics, Public Policy, Information Systems, Marketing Mix, Communication Strategy, Employee Engagement, Startups, Publicity, Program Management, Strategy, Marketing, Business Analysis, Business Processes, Training, Climate Change, Management Consulting, Organizational Transformation, ADKAR Change Model, Communications Management

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