Nikhil is available for hire
Hire NikhilNikhil Raghu
Verified Expert in Management Consulting
Management Consulting Expert
Houston, TX, United States
Toptal member since July 9, 2026
Bio
Nikhil is the founder of Alterra Cognitive, transforming business operations through the implementation of agentic AI. He previously founded a VC-backed AI robotics company and has led global transformation programs at EY for Fortune 500 manufacturers. Nikhil bridges enterprise-grade rigor with hands-on implementation experience, redesigning operating models around AI to unlock measurable, lasting impact.
Career Highlights
AI Transformation Consultant
Alterra Cognitive
Digital Transformation Lead
MGYA Media
Expertise
- Agentic AI
- AI Strategy
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Management Consulting
- Organizational Change Management (OCM)
- Program Management
- Solution Architecture
- Workflow Automation
Work Experience
AI Transformation Consultant
2025 - PRESENT
Alterra Cognitive
- Founded and operated an independent AI transformation consultancy, originating client relationships through business development and referrals and managing full-cycle delivery with subcontractor teams.
- Architected and deployed an agentic AI solution for manufacturing R&D workflows spanning a 600,000+ document technical knowledge base, cutting initial research time by 75%.
- Designed an agentic AI solution architecture and implementation roadmap for enterprise fixed asset management, covering work order management, maintenance planning, and a real-time co-pilot.
- Scoped and led an AI-enabled content operations engagement for a multi-entity client, architecting a full-stack agentic workflow spanning strategy, production, and scheduling.
- Redesigned workflow operating models around agentic AI, redefining human-AI handoffs and exception-handling protocols to shift teams to AI-augmented oversight.
Focus areas: Agentic AI, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cross-functional Team Collaboration, Management Consulting, AI Strategy, Target Operating Model Design, Solution Architecture, Business Cases, Program Management, Organizational Change Management (OCM), Project Scoping, Stakeholder Engagement, Implementation Roadmaps, Business Processes, Claude, ChatGPT, Anthropic, OpenAI, n8n, Python, Microsoft Dynamics 365, AI Agents, Workflow Automation, Operations, Business Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing Operations, Business Process Improvement (BPI), Business Process Automation, Change Management, Project Management, Process Mapping, Business Analysis, Business Transformation, Business & Digital Transformation, Business Transformation Program Management, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Operational Transformation (OT), Supply Chain Operations, Supply Chain Management (SCM), Business Planning, Process Transformation, Technology Transformation, Digital Transformation, Consulting, Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel Expert, Presentations, Agentic AI Systems, Prompt Engineering, AI Adoption, AI Tools, Claude Code, Solutioning, Manufacturing, STEM, Data Analysis, Data Visualization
Digital Transformation Lead
2024 - 2025
MGYA Media
- Managed a concurrent portfolio of digital transformation engagements for a boutique consultancy, owning AI-led e-learning LMS, eCommerce, and content management platform implementations.
- Delivered digital platform implementations end-to-end, spanning client discovery, architecture, build, content migration, go-live, and adoption.
- Designed and deployed AI automation for a client's L&D function, reducing content creation time by 50% and embedding the tooling into workflows for sustained post-engagement use.
- Designed and deployed an end-to-end AI automation workflow covering project scoping, design, architecture, coding, testing, and SEO-optimized content production, cutting client project delivery times by 60%.
Focus areas: Agentic AI, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cross-functional Team Collaboration, Management Consulting, AI Strategy, Solution Architecture, Business Cases, Program Management, Organizational Change Management (OCM), Project Scoping, Stakeholder Engagement, Implementation Roadmaps, Business Processes, Claude, ChatGPT, Anthropic, OpenAI, n8n, AI Agents, Workflow Automation, Operations, Business Operations, Business Process Improvement (BPI), Change Management, Project Management, Process Mapping, Business Analysis, Business Transformation, Business & Digital Transformation, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Operational Transformation (OT), Technology Transformation, Digital Transformation, Consulting, Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel Expert, Presentations, Agentic AI Systems, Prompt Engineering, AI Adoption, AI Tools, Claude Code, Solutioning, Data Analysis
CEO
2020 - 2023
Alterra Robotics
- Founded and led a VC-backed B2B SaaS AI robotics startup from concept to commercial delivery, owning fundraising, investor relations, product strategy, and go-to-market.
- Owned the commercial interface for enterprise customers across scoping, deployment, and ongoing operations, managing competing priorities across investor, engineering, and customer stakeholders.
- Architected and deployed a cognitive AI agent across cloud and edge infrastructure, enabling autonomous asset inspection and real-time condition monitoring and eliminating dependency on manual inspection workflows.
Focus areas: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cross-functional Team Collaboration, AI Strategy, Solution Architecture, Business Cases, Program Management, Project Scoping, Stakeholder Engagement, Implementation Roadmaps, Business Processes, Startups, Python, Workflow Automation, Operations, Business Operations, Project Management, Business Analysis, Business Planning, Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel Expert, Presentations, Engineering, Prompt Engineering, AI Tools, Solutioning, Manufacturing, STEM, Data Analysis, Data Visualization
COO
2019 - 2019
Washe
- Served as COO of a venture-backed on-demand B2C services platform, owning workforce management and customer support operations end-to-end.
- Redesigned the workforce management operating model across processes, technology, and performance management.
- Implemented a new customer support operating model, reducing average handle time while improving service quality.
Focus areas: Startups, Operations, Business Operations, Business Process Improvement (BPI), Project Management, Business Analysis, Operational Transformation (OT), Supply Chain Operations, Business Planning, Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel Expert, Presentations, Data Analysis
Senior Manager
2010 - 2018
EY
- Led client-facing proposals, scoping, and SOW development, personally leading and supporting pitches that won 20+ large-scale engagements.
- Designed program governance, workstream structure, and PMO operating models for $100+ million transformation programs, establishing steering committee cadence and executive reporting protocols.
- Led operating model redesign for Fortune 500 manufacturing and supply chain operations, implementing org structure, processes, and KPI frameworks that delivered $100+ million in measured business results.
- Served as primary executive interface for C-suite and VP-level program sponsors, facilitating alignment on scope, investment trade-offs, and organizational change decisions.
- Led organizational change management for multiple transformation programs, designing training and adoption programs for workforces of 1,000-5,000+ employees.
- Applied P&G-trained supply chain transformation methodology in capability-building programs, embedding operating models that sustained $50+ million in business results.
- Managed and developed 6-20-person delivery teams across engagements, with 3 direct reports promoted during tenure.
Focus areas: Cross-functional Team Collaboration, Management Consulting, Target Operating Model Design, Solution Architecture, Business Cases, Program Management, Organizational Change Management (OCM), Project Scoping, Stakeholder Engagement, Implementation Roadmaps, Business Processes, SAP ERP, Workflow Automation, Operations, Business Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing Operations, Business Process Improvement (BPI), Business Process Automation, Change Management, Project Management, Process Mapping, Business Analysis, Business Transformation, Business & Digital Transformation, Business Transformation Program Management, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Operational Transformation (OT), Supply Chain Operations, Supply Chain Management (SCM), ERP Implementation, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Supply Chain Optimization, Post-merger Integration, Process Transformation, Technology Transformation, Digital Transformation, Consulting, Food Manufacturing, Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel Expert, Presentations, Solutioning, Manufacturing, Data Analysis, Data Visualization
Education
2006 - 2008
Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering
University of Auckland - Auckland, New Zealand
2002 - 2005
Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering
University of Auckland - Auckland, New Zealand
Skills
Finance
Data Analysis
Output Software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Other
Cross-functional Team Collaboration, Agentic AI, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), Management Consulting, Business Cases, AI Strategy, Target Operating Model Design, Program Management, Organizational Change Management (OCM), Project Scoping, Stakeholder Engagement, Implementation Roadmaps, Business Processes, Startups, AI Agents, Workflow Automation, Operations, Business Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing Operations, Business Process Improvement (BPI), Business Process Automation, Change Management, Project Management, Process Mapping, Business Analysis, Business Transformation, Business & Digital Transformation, Business Transformation Program Management, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Operational Transformation (OT), Supply Chain Operations, Supply Chain Management (SCM), Supply Chain Optimization, Process Transformation, Technology Transformation, Digital Transformation, Consulting, Excel Expert, Presentations, Engineering, Prompt Engineering, Manufacturing, STEM, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Solution Architecture, Claude, ChatGPT, Anthropic, OpenAI, ERP Implementation, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Post-merger Integration, Business Planning, Food Manufacturing, Agentic AI Systems, AI Adoption, AI Tools, Claude Code, Solutioning, Data Visualization, n8n, Python, SAP ERP, Microsoft Dynamics 365
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