Sharad is available for hire
Hire SharadSharad Agarwal
Verified Expert in Management Consulting
Growth Expert
Westminster, United States
Toptal member since March 15, 2022
Bio
Sharad is a strategic and operational executive with multiple successes in accelerating growth, developing new revenue models, improving operations, and restructuring startups and FTSE 250 businesses, mainly in the transportation sector. He has created and implemented numerous business strategies and delivered on sales and marketing objectives, including closing $150 million+ in sales. Sharad provides enterprise value as an executive and consultant with deep cross-functional expertise.
Career Highlights
Senior Vice President
EasyMile
Senior Vice President - Strategy and Growth
First Transit | First Group
Vice President - Strategy and Innovation
First Transit | First Group
Education Highlights
Bachelor's Degree
University of Minnesota
Certification Highlights
Sales and Strategy Course
Harvard Business School – Executive Education
Case Studies
Analysis of Fixed Route Low Ridership
AnalysisData
School Bond Financing
BondsRefinancingSchoolFinance
Evaluation of Opportunity for Company Spinoff
Capital StructuringEarly-stage Venture CapitalStructure
Expertise
- Finance
- Leadership
- Management
- Operations
- Operations Management
- Sales Growth
- Sales Strategy
- Strategy
Work Experience
Consultant
2021 - 2022
TESIAC
- Recruited by the CEO on a 3-month consulting engagement to develop a business model for integrating fleets, energy, communication, and technology into a sustainable opportunity for cities, airports, private developers, and universities.
- Led the reconfiguration of the vision into marketable solutions and the organization of the pipeline.
- Designed and prepared materials for investor and external commercial pitches.
Focus areas: Operations, Strategy, Leadership, Management, Operations Management, Human Resources (HR), Early-stage Venture Capital, Structure, Analysis, People Management, Business Operations, Customer Service, Process Improvement, Fundraising, Economics, Accounting, Microsoft Office, Sales Operations, Sales Funnel, Sales Planning, Sales Analysis, Operations Strategy, Operations Analytics, Customer Experience, Customer Experience Management, Pitch Decks
Senior Vice President
2018 - 2021
EasyMile
- Delivered 300% YoY growth in my first full year as SVP for a driverless vehicle software company. The CEO recruited me to lead the company's entrance into the North American market.
- Served as an executive with complete P&L responsibility for the Americas region, including strategy, financials, sales, operations, team management, and customer support for the leading commercial autonomous vehicle software company.
- Created unique business models to identify commercialization opportunities and improve utilization of existing assets. Regularly adapted the financial strategy to the immature market of autonomous shuttle technology and achieved continued success.
- Led the preparation of $1.8 million in government grant proposals to fund the new autonomous bus in the United States that will drive 90% of the division’s revenue.
Focus areas: Sales, Operations, Strategy, Leadership, Management, Operations Management, Growth, Human Resources (HR), Early-stage Venture Capital, Structure, Analysis, Data, People Management, People Development, Global Operations, Business Operations, Regulations, Fundraising, Networks, Economics, Politics, Science, Accounting, Microsoft Office, Sales Operations, Sales Funnel, Tech Sales, Product Sales, Sales Planning, Sales Analysis, Operations Strategy, Operations Analytics, Customer Experience, Customer Experience Management
Group Director of Innovation
2017 - 2018
First Group
- Recruited into a new role created for me by the board of directors and CEO to accelerate innovation across all five divisions based on my proven success in the $1.3 billion transit division.
- Evaluated the impact of autonomous driving, ridesharing, microtransit, and IoT; identified key strengths of each division that would be less affected by transportation disruptions, and recommended ways to remain competitive.
- Fostered important relationships with CEOs of the hottest mobility startups, including Passport, Swiftly, Optibus, Bishop Peak, Remix, SPARE, and dozens of others, to demonstrate immediate efficiencies these companies could bring to First Group.
- Developed multiple financial models to project the cost savings created by reductions in driver wages, lower management and dispatch costs, improved safety, and increased capacity at depots.
Focus areas: Innovation, Strategy, Leadership, Management, Structure, Analysis, Data, Process Improvement, Accounting, Microsoft Office, Salesforce, Contact Centers, Customer Experience, Customer Experience Management, Contact
Senior Vice President - Strategy and Growth
2016 - 2017
First Transit | First Group
- Selected by the division president to lead and reorganize the 19-person sales organization tasked with closing $80 million in new sales annually and building a consistent pipeline of over $500 million.
- Led multiple executive-level presentations to the board of directors, group CEO, CFO, and potential clients, showcasing new sales strategies and updating the progress on goals and the value proposition. Supported the preparation of 5-year plans.
- Developed a strategy to increase top-line revenue for a $1.3 billion company on a budget representing only .23% of the total budget. The strategy focused on increasing the win rate % and pipeline and reducing losses in existing contracts.
Focus areas: Sales, Strategy, Innovation, Sales Growth, Sales Strategy, Leadership, Management, Human Resources (HR), Structure, Analysis, Data, People Management, People Development, Regulations, Customer Service, Process Improvement, Accounting, Microsoft Office, Sales Operations, Salesforce, Sales Support, Sales Funnel, Sales Planning, Sales Analysis, Contact Centers, Customer Experience, Customer Experience Management, Contact
Vice President - Strategy and Innovation
2015 - 2016
First Transit | First Group
- Directed the company to compete in the changing expectations of transportation by identifying new service lines and markets to enter by 2018.
- Focused innovation on data collection, data analysis, and revenue management as core drivers of future success, which were significantly outside the company’s current competencies.
- Prepared the company for disruption caused by ridesharing companies and added $1 million+ in high-margin revenue: formed partnerships with Uber and Lyft to deliver ADA transport, created new employment models, and embraced advances made by startups.
- Identified ten innovations to improve the company’s value proposition as part of the 2018 strategy. These included augmented reality solutions for maintenance, SaaS scheduling tools, and advanced driver automation systems (ADAS).
- Created the Innovate First database to log and make all the solutions available to the entire company.
Focus areas: Operations, Innovation, Sales, Strategy, Sales Growth, Sales Strategy, Management, Reorganization, Leadership, Operations Management, Growth, Human Resources (HR), Structure, Analysis, Data, People Management, People Development, Business Operations, Regulations, Customer Service, Process Improvement, Accounting, Microsoft Office, Sales Operations, Salesforce, Sales Funnel, Sales Planning, Sales Analysis, Operations Strategy, Operations Analytics, Contact Centers, Customer Experience Management, Contact
Vice President - Call Centers
2014 - 2016
First Transit | First Group
- Led the reorganization and strategic overhaul of a previously disorganized division of 485 employees with $42 million in revenue and $5 million in EBIT. I was promoted to this executive board role after one year with the company.
- Expanded Medicaid transportation revenue by 200% in my first full year as vice president, accounting for $14 million in annual revenue across seven contracts and leading directly to exceeding EBIT targets by 8%.
- Requested ownership of a failing division of 50 vehicles in New Mexico and Arizona and saved $600,000 by strategically closing most operations to make way for new ideas and streamlined processes.
- Introduced technology to improve processes, including scheduling software and an IVR solution to reduce staffing costs. Renegotiated contracts with local governments to turn unprofitable contracts into profitable successes.
- Received an exceptional rating for supervisory style and management support from 80% of my direct reports.
Focus areas: Sales, Operations, Reorganization, Sales Growth, Sales Strategy, Management, Acquisitions, Leadership, Operations Management, Growth, Human Resources (HR), Structure, Analysis, Data, People Management, People Development, Business Operations, Regulations, Process Improvement, Networks, Accounting, Microsoft Office, Sales Operations, Salesforce, Sales Funnel, Sales Planning, Sales Analysis, Operations Strategy, Operations Analytics, Contact Centers, Customer Experience, Customer Experience Management, Contact
Director of Business Development
2014 - 2015
First Transit | First Group
- Accepted a director-level position after interviewing for a general manager role and impressing two senior vice presidents with my thought process, maturity, and ability to solve problems.
- Closed $121 million in new procurements across all core businesses in 14 months, leading to an executive-level promotion.
- Led the procurement process to include new client relations, RFP searches and responses, management recruiting, strategic development, and pricing analysis, totaling $500 million in year one.
- Improved the long government procurement process for a division by developing standards and a centralized ToolBox.
- Prepared and delivered presentations to top executives for multimillion-dollar contracts, including a $1 billion pitch to the largest oil company in the world.
Focus areas: Sales, Sales Growth, Sales Strategy, Leadership, Management, Growth, Human Resources (HR), Analysis, Data, People Management, Regulations, Customer Service, Process Improvement, Economics, Accounting, Microsoft Office, Sales Operations, Salesforce, Sales Support, Sales Funnel, Sales Planning, Sales Analysis, Contact Centers, Customer Experience, Customer Experience Management, Contact
Executive Vice President | Venture Capital Associate
2008 - 2012
Bus and Coach International
- Led the operations of a new motorcoach manufacturing business with a unique model of building buses in China and distributing them at 40% of the cost in the United States. I was recruited by the CEO and received four promotions in four years.
- Managed a 35-member, cross-functional team, including dispatch, facilities, customer service, parts, HR, IT, and quality, dispersed across two countries and five cities. Immediate success led to placement with the company’s investment firm.
- Developed vehicle dispatch systems and implemented enterprise-wide tracking programs, improving inventory management and strengthening inspections and quality control procedures.
- Presented $150 million in new client pitches and negotiated with a supplier to collect $30,000 in warranty failures. Closed a purchase order of 20 units worth $8 million+ with a single prototype unit to propel early brand success.
- Reviewed potential investments, determining the viability of the business and validity of requests for funds. Completed diligence on several investment opportunities to determine if IRR aligned with portfolio goals.
- Jumpstarted a market entrance strategy by working with top players in the industry and gaining third-party dealer purchase commitments totaling $5 million before starting production.
Focus areas: Operations, Sales, Reorganization, Management, Capital Structuring, Leadership, Operations Management, Growth, Early-stage Venture Capital, Analysis, Data, Global Operations, Customer Service, Process Improvement, Fundraising, Accounting, Microsoft Office, Sales Operations, Sales Funnel, Product Sales, Sales Planning, Sales Analysis, Operations Analytics, Customer Experience, Customer Experience Management
Education
1995 - 2000
Bachelor's Degree in Finance
University of Minnesota - Minneapolis, MN, US
Certifications
DECEMBER 2012 - PRESENT
Sales and Strategy Course
Harvard Business School – Executive Education
Skills
Finance
Fundraising, Accounting, Capital Structuring, Refinancing
Data & Analysis Software
Salesforce
Other
Microsoft Office, Leadership, Strategy, Management, Sales Strategy, Operations, Reorganization, Sales, Process Improvement, Innovation, Growth, Human Resources (HR), Structure, Analysis, People Management, People Development, Business Operations, Operations Management, Sales Operations, Sales Planning, Sales Analysis, Operations Strategy, Operations Analytics, Contact Centers, Customer Experience, Customer Experience Management, Contact, Sales Pitches, Finance, Data, Global Operations, Sales Support, Sales Funnel, Tech Sales, Product Sales, Pitch Decks, Science, History, Politics, Economics, Networks, Sales Growth, Regulations, Customer Service, Acquisitions, Early-stage Venture Capital, Bonds, School
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