Experience

• 

  PickMe (Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka (PVT) Ltd)

  • Sri Lanka
  • Information Technology & Services
  • 400 - 500 Employee

  • Head of International Business

    • Jun 2023 - Present

    I am leading PickMe's international business with a team of 20 individuals across functions. Currently responsible for the organization's international market entry activities. PickMe is one of the largest mid-market, digital mobility companies in South Asia funded by IFC and a consortium of VCs. 🚀 Key highlights so far:1. Succesfully structured a multimillion-dollar tech transfer collaboration between PickMe and F1Soft (the largest Nepali Fintech) and launched the ride-hailing business in 7 months; from ideation to execution.2. Completed venture budgeting, and go-to-market strategy and created a funding runway for the new entity.3. Facilitated an end-to-end 4-month product revamp of PickMe's existing platform to prepare for internationalization (eg-scoping multitalented product environments, payments, prep for local integration such as local wallets, maps, etc.).4. Consulted to launch the business in Kathmandu achieving a 600%+ topline growth (MoM) and onboarding over 1000 drivers in the first 4 weeks.5. Supported legal aspects, procedures, and operational administration of the technology extension within the scope of the JV for a launch in line with the timelines. 6. Operational R&D on the introduction of new verticals ranging from new cities to sustainable mobility.

  • Product Owner - Head of BI and MI

    • Aug 2020 - Jun 2023

    I established and managed the Analytics (Business Intelligence - Bi, and Market Intelligence - Mi) unit for PickMe. The business unit kicked off in 2020 with 1 resource and grew to a team of 9 Analysts and Engineers within 2.5 years. The Bi unit has contributed to the organization's growth by executing over 100+ key projects, research, and deploying 250 operational metrics.🚀 Key career highlights for this stint:1. Established the Business Intelligence unit of PickMe as the org. wide unit responsible for analytics.2. Built the food delivery trip lifecycle events model together with the data science team and identified key growth limiters based on a 6-month trend analysis of the model which recommended a complete change of operational incentive strategy. As a result, PickMe's food and groceries business experienced a 2x growth in orders delivered with a 60% reduction in cost per incremental order.3. Scoped and deployed 230 automated key operational dashboards and deprecated 70+ manual and automated redundant dashboards as a part of a business transformation program to adopt analytics. 4. As a part of building cross-functional leadership experience, beta launched and scaled cycle delivery (both operations and product re-engineering) and PickMe Bikes to over 1K trips a week. 5. Rolled out a churn prediction model driven by RFM which brought down driver churn by 63% over 6 months.6. I was part of the steering committee for multiple strategic projects for the business including the launch of the subscription program, acquisition of a fuel shed, launch of grocery delivery, and carpooling.7. Participated and was part of multiple key outside engagements with the government, parliament, UN, diplomatic missions, and other multilateral agencies.8. Carried out mobility sectoral research for internal use as well as supporting external parties including policymakers and multilateral organizations such as the World Bank and the UN.8. Won the PickMe Value Award

• 

  LILAC KUKÜNS

  • Co Founder - Equity Mentor

    • Jun 2020 - Nov 2023

    I am a co-founder and built an eCommerce marketplace selling experiences and products specifically targeted towards couples to enhance their relationships and keep the spark alive!🚀 Key milestones achieved building this startup1. Worked with the web developer in scoping, building, and deploying the eCommerce marketplace via Shopify after multiple iterations.2. Oversaw the finance function and support the founding team to successfully complete pre-seed financing with the UNDP's Startup Incubator3. Discovered the suppliers providing products and services to the platform and operationalized the supply chain by minimizing inventory days turnover to 5 days from 30 days.4. Built the pitch deck which was presented with successful outcomes to UNDP, Cherrie Blair Foundation, NUS Singapore, and in various other conferences5. Led the initiative to introduce hotel experiences and scaled the product to achieve 100 room nights sold within the first month of launch

• 

  PwC

  • Entrepreneur Innovator

    • Jul 2019 - Jun 2020

    As the entrepreneur in residence, my primary focus was on getting startups investor-ready and facilitating capital-raising exercises leveraging the PwC network. In addition, I was leading projects to build and manage corporate incubators, startup research, and working alongside entrepreneurs to scale their businesses.🚀 Key highlights during this journey1. Led capital raising exercises of over USD 3 Million in Ag-tech, HR-Tech, and Mar-tech.2. Built and managed a 1-year incubator for the UN which included owning end-to-end execution of startup screening to fund disbursement, monitoring and ensuring successful completion of the program for the selected startups.3. Led a project that conducted a diagnostic study for a multilateral agency about the startup ecosystem in Sri Lanka as well as the region with extensive on-ground research.4. Consulted with over 25 startups on early-stage business validation, scaling, and pivoting.5. Responsible for completing PwC’s global AML process before onboarding investors and startup clients.5. Participated in over 15 local and international startup programs including DisruptAsia and Seedstars.

• 

  Uber

  • Product Associate

    • Dec 2018 - Jun 2019

    I was the Product Associate of the Low-Cost Products (LCPs) in Sri Lanka that included 2-wheeler and 3-wheeler vehicles. As the lead for both products, my primary responsibility was to ensure that the top-line targets were met together with the profitability objectives. In addition, A/B testing, and running marketplace ops leveraging on high-level analytics were part of my key day-to-day work. 🚀 Key career highlights1. Launched Uber Moto in Colombo as the Launch Manager and achieved an avg. 42% WoW growth for the first 8 weeks from launch and gain adoption of the critical mass required for successful scaling2. Managed the Tuks product and grew it to the top 20 best-performing cities for Tuks in India SA region.3. Roled out a unique driver acquisition program based on an MLM strategy that was recognized to be the best-performing campaign in the region for the specific month.4. Operaionalized Uber global workflows to optimize driver incentive programs and achieve the relevant spending targets.

• 

  Moody's Analytics Knowledge Services

  • Analyst

    • Mar 2017 - Dec 2018

    I worked as a Financial Analyst for Moody's Analytics servicing a European bulge bracket Investment Bank in Europe. I created presentations for investor roadshows, product pitches, and stakeholders of respective organizations. My work scope also involved analysis of European Equity Markets, trading analysis, and Investment Research.🚀 Key career highlights1. Built a successful research proposal for the client to expand their services into Belgium.2. Circulated 2 daily publications on stock liquidity and FX movements amongst 30 top-tier capital market analysts in Europe.3. Supported in organizing one of the largest roadshows for European equities in the Netherlands.4. Compiled a list of key quarterly updates (trading updates, investor overviews, etc.) for 100+ clients of the bank.5. I researched the antitrust environment in the European communications and American beverage industries. Additionally, I analyzed the impact of MiFID II regulations on research publications.

• 

  Sampath Bank

  • Colombo

  • Corporate Finance Intern

    • Dec 2014 - Feb 2015
    • Colombo

    I was placed in the bank’s Investments and Corporate Finance Division, which managed a range of investment services including foreign currency syndications, bond offerings, stock market services, and investment advisory. I was tasked with operations in custodial services. Additionally, my job scope comprised of liaising with clients on daily operations and advice, in-depth review of bank’s lending policies, and liaising with other divisions of the organization for other banking activities.

• 

  One Text Initiative Guarantee Ltd

  • Colombo

  • Research Intern

    • Nov 2012 - Jan 2013
    • Colombo

    I performed duties as a full time Intern for One Text Initiative, a leading political research agency in Sri Lanka. My main duty was to conduct research for many projects with local nuances. It included extensive research for various legislative acts and policy reforms, in the areas of Social Justice and Cultural Integration. Moreover, I assisted in organizing various forums in Colombo as well as in rural areas.