I'm Karthik Hosavaranchi Puttaraju, a skilled professional with a strong blend of strategic thinking, product development, leadership, and management expertise.

With a solid background in business strategy and more than a decade of experience in supporting leaders to transform organizations through technology, I excel at developing and implementing strategies to drive business growth and enhance product performance.

With an MBA in Strategy Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Georgia Tech and a solid understanding of market opportunities, customer needs, and competitive landscape, I have a solid ability to drive successful product launches and implement strategies.

In addition, I have a strong acumen for technical understanding and am skilled in leading cross-functional teams, managing complex projects, and achieving high-quality driven customer satisfaction.

I have also earned PMP and Management of Technology certifications, as well as a specialization in strategy execution from Harvard. My ability to understand team dynamics in both start innovation mindset and Larger organization execution tensions makes me a valuable asset to my team.

Currently leading Transformation in Koch-engineered solutions as a Business transformation leader to holistically transform business capabilities and functions in all aspects of transformation, including people, process, data, and technology.

I'm a Business Transformation Leader at Koch Engineered Solutions, but my submission is in reference to my role as Sr. Manager, Innovation Projects and Portfolio.

Koch Industries is a leading maker of natural resource-based products, including gasoline, chemicals, polymers, fibers, building products, packaging, tissue, and process equipment. The company also trades a wide range of products from commodities to financial instruments.

Koch Industries has a strong record of long-term performance and is widely recognized as one of the world’s largest and most successful private companies.

Koch Engineered Solutions (KES), a subsidiary of Koch Industries, is a global solutions provider that encompasses products, services, and expertise across various industries. KES companies design, manufacture, and install process, pollution control, and sustainability solutions for industries and cities around the world.

Some of the key areas of expertise include combustion, heat transfer, mass transfer, separation, automation, asset integrity, and other key process areas.

Our family of companies includes John Zink Hamworthy Combustion, Koch-Glitsch, Koch Heat Transfer, Koch Knight, DarkVision, Koch Specialty Plant Services, OnPoint, Koch Separation Solutions, Optimized Process Designs, Koch Technology Solutions, Sentient Energy, Genesis Motion Solutions, and Koch Project Solutions.

This collaboration maximizes resources and capabilities to meet additional customer needs, expand offerings and services, and rapidly commercialize new solution, GP PRO, a division of Georgia-Pacific- A Koch Subsidiary, is a leading manufacturer and marketer of well-known brands and products for businesses and organizations across various industries. Here are some key aspects of GP PRO.

GP PRO specializes in providing innovative and high-quality products that cater to the needs of businesses in sectors such as foodservice, healthcare, education, office buildings, and industrial facilities. The division is committed to enhancing the customer experience by offering a wide range of products, including paper towels, tissues, napkins, soaps, sanitizers, and dispensers.

GP PRO also emphasizes digital transformation and customer engagement. The division leverages advanced technologies and data analytics to drive demand generation, improve customer interactions, and enhance operational efficiency.

Thank you! Winning the TITAN Business Awards for best innovation and transformation management strategy is an incredible honor and a significant milestone in my career. This recognition means a lot to me for several reasons.

Firstly, it validates the hard work, dedication, and innovative thinking that I have put into my role. It shows that my efforts to drive innovation and transformation and create value have been recognized on a prestigious platform. This award is a testament to my commitment to excellence and my ability to make a meaningful impact.

Secondly, it boosts my confidence and motivation. Knowing that my contributions are being acknowledged inspires me to continue pushing the boundaries of what I can achieve.

It reinforces my belief in the importance of innovation and transformation of an organization, and encourages me to keep striving for new and better ways to solve problems and create value.

Lastly, this distinction enhances my professional reputation and credibility. It signals to my colleagues, clients, and industry peers that I am a leader in innovation management.

This recognition opens up new opportunities for collaboration and growth, as more people become aware of my capabilities and achievements.

Overall, winning the TITAN Business Awards for best innovation and transformation management strategy is a significant achievement that celebrates my past successes and sets the stage for even greater accomplishments in the future.

I am incredibly proud of this recognition and grateful for the support and encouragement of my team and colleagues.

Winning in the category of Best Innovation Management Strategy significantly elevated both my personal brand and our organizational reputation. This award enhanced my visibility within the industry, validating the impact of my work.

It positioned me as a thought leader, creating opportunities to participate in high-profile industry panels and networking events. Within the organization, the recognition brought confidence to my team and upper management, reinforcing our shared commitment to innovation.

It also fostered an internal culture of excellence and innovation, attracting more top-tier talent who were inspired to be part of a winning team.

Developing the winning entry involved gathering detailed data and showcasing measurable outcomes, which can be challenging, especially when innovation is involved. The process required a narrative that was both technical and accessible, demonstrating how our strategy led to concrete results while being scalable and adaptable.

Marketing this entry further required balancing transparency with competitive edge, as certain proprietary aspects couldn’t be shared in detail. But the recognition validated the extensive effort put into the submission.

A successful team or organization is one that combines agility, innovation, and purpose. For me, success is about building a team that is aligned with a shared vision, adaptable to changing market demands, considers comparative advantages in responsibilities and committed to continuous improvement.

A strong organization fosters collaboration, encourages creative thinking, and is resilient in the face of challenges. Beyond financial success, a successful business makes a positive impact on society, contributing to sustainable growth and setting benchmarks in ethical practices and social responsibility.

My success in the industry stems from a combination of a passion for innovation, resilience, and a continuous pursuit of learning. Starting with foundational roles in engineering, I gradually built expertise in combining technical prowess with strategic insight, which helped me drive meaningful projects.

A willingness to embrace challenges, coupled with mentorship from industry leaders, allowed me to hone skills in both innovation management and business strategy. Staying curious, agile, and adaptive to technological advancements was crucial, as was my commitment to developing and nurturing teams that prioritize impact-driven results.

I have benefited from an environment that prioritizes research, innovation, and development. The U.S. offers a robust ecosystem that combines a deep talent pool, cutting-edge technology, and strong investment in R&D. Policies encouraging tech development and tax incentives for innovation have catalyzed industry growth, especially in innovation management.

Collaborative ecosystems with access to leading universities, tech hubs, and supportive regulatory frameworks enable accelerated development and adoption of new solutions, pushing industries forward and creating globally competitive innovations.

I’m excited about the advancements in AI, automation, and sustainability-driven strategies. AI and machine learning have transformed how businesses make data-driven decisions and innovate products, while automation is reshaping operational efficiency.

There’s a strong focus on sustainability, which is encouraging companies to develop eco-friendly practices and products, aligning with consumer expectations and regulatory standards.

I recommend leveraging a combination of strategic frameworks like McKinsey's Three Horizons Model for balancing core business while pursuing innovation, and the OKR (Objectives and Key Results) methodology for goal setting and alignment.

Using Simon's JDOT to design jobs sets the roles to be successful. Industry publications such as Harvard Business Review and resources like LinkedIn Learning provide actionable insights from business leaders. Attending industry conferences, continuous learning, and participating in professional networks can also broaden perspectives and offer mentorship opportunities.

In the next decade, I see the business industry increasingly integrating AI and data-driven decision-making across all levels. Sustainability will become non-negotiable, as organizations face growing pressures to meet environmental standards. There will also be a shift towards decentralized business models, with remote work continuing to shape organizational structures.

Additionally, cross-sector collaborations and open innovation will likely play a larger role in driving breakthrough developments, especially in tech-heavy industries like healthcare and energy.

I am deeply inspired by 2 leaders. Ratan Tata for his business and social responsibility and Charles Koch for his economic thinking and business value and frameworks.

Both have strong business vision and resilience have consistently redefined industry boundaries and social impact of an organization.

My key to success is an unwavering commitment to growth, both personally and professionally. Constant learning, embracing calculated risks, and staying adaptable are essential.

My advice to aspiring professionals is to seek alignment between personal values and career goals, as this synergy fuels sustainable success. Believe in the power of innovation, stay open to feedback, and invest in building resilient, continuous learning, collaborative teams.