Rohit Kulkarni

Rohit Kulkarni: Achievements and Impact

Current Role: Product Manager, Merck (2023 - Present)

In his role as a Product Manager at Merck, Rohit drives the development of advanced data products critical to AI/ML-based drug discovery. His primary mission is to reduce data silos, empowering data scientists and researchers to access high-quality, structured data that fast-tracks research and development. Rohit has led initiatives that apply AI/ML capabilities to refine target identification and candidate selection, which is pivotal to Merck’s leadership in digital transformation within pharmaceuticals. His efforts streamline decision-making processes and enhance scientific outcomes, positioning Merck at the forefront of data-driven drug discovery.

Previous Experience: Senior Product Manager, McKinsey & Company (2021 - 2023)

Rohit previously worked at McKinsey & Company, where he spearheaded a massive cloud migration project, transitioning over 500 applications from data centers to AWS. This transformation enabled McKinsey to achieve greater scalability and cost efficiency. Rohit’s strategic foresight led to the creation of AWS infrastructure products that seamlessly integrated with existing applications, ensuring business continuity and minimizing disruptions. His cross-functional collaboration with IT and business units aligned the migration process with McKinsey’s long-term goals, resulting in substantial cost savings and greater technological agility.

Product Manager, Clarivate (2017 - 2021)

At Clarivate, Rohit managed a suite of SaaS products for research institutions and universities, enabling them to benchmark academic publications and evaluate research performance. A key accomplishment was the successful launch of a new SaaS module, which expanded Clarivate’s customer base and significantly grew revenue. Additionally, Rohit led a comprehensive UX redesign to modernize the user experience, making the products more intuitive and attractive to customers. This strategic update reinforced Clarivate’s competitive edge, contributing to a stronghold in the academic and research market.

Senior Project Manager, Thomson Reuters (2014 - 2017)

During his tenure at Thomson Reuters, Rohit managed Converis software implementations, enhancing research processes across institutions. His role involved not only managing project timelines and budgets but also providing domain expertise that improved the user experience. By reducing support calls and expediting issue resolution through AWS-based testing environments, Rohit improved project efficiency and customer satisfaction. His work enabled clients to streamline their research management processes, contributing to faster, data-backed decision-making.

Trading Technology Specialist, Thomson Reuters (2009 - 2014)

Starting his career as a Trading Technology Specialist, Rohit developed strong technical foundations in financial trading technology. His ability to troubleshoot, manage databases, and develop automated testing suites was instrumental in reducing cycle times by 40% and improving product reliability. His contributions also included training clients for seamless product adoption, a critical factor in lowering project costs and enhancing user experience.

Key Achievements and Leadership Highlights

Merck: Developed and launched data products that streamline AI/ML-based research, contributing to a robust pipeline in early-stage drug discovery.

McKinsey & Company: Successfully led the migration of 500+ applications to AWS, aligning with McKinsey’s strategic shift towards agile and cloud-native infrastructure.

Clarivate: Launched a new SaaS module and led a UX overhaul, both of which increased customer satisfaction, revenue, and market penetration.

Thomson Reuters: Enhanced research workflows for academic institutions and universities through seamless software implementations, enabling faster R&D processes.

Leadership and Vision

Rohit has consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to balance strategic vision with technical acumen. His leadership in product development has transformed how data is leveraged across organizations, from streamlining cloud migrations at McKinsey to delivering data products that impact Merck’s core business. His career is marked by a commitment to innovation, efficiency, and cross-functional alignment, with each role building on his ability to translate business needs into data-driven solutions.

As a Fellow, Rohit’s extensive experience in aligning data products with enterprise goals would serve as an invaluable asset. His contributions have reshaped organizational approaches to technology, driving both innovation and measurable business outcomes.