Microsoft Project
Swetha Raghuraman
Senior Program Manager
Vettuvankeni
Summary
Dynamic and strategic Program Management and Corporate Communications leader with over 15 years of experience in driving large-scale technology transformations, enterprise governance, and stakeholder engagement within the financial services sector. Expertise in translating complex business strategies into actionable roadmaps that deliver measurable results. Proven track record of managing multi-million dollar programs while crafting clear, compelling narratives that accelerate adoption, facilitate change, and influence senior leadership decision-making. Committed to fostering collaboration and innovation to achieve organizational goals and enhance overall performance.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
4
4
Certifications
Work History
Associate Vice President, Program Management
Standard Chartered Technology & Operations
03.2025 - Current
- Oversee Technology Enterprise workstreams ensuring timely delivery of critical milestones across Risk Technology domain.
- Drive Program Governance, budget tracking and financial forecasting for multimillion-dollar technology initiatives reducing financial variance by 15% YoY.
- Collaborate with CIO, CTO and business leaders to align with the technology investments with long term strategic goals, maximising ROI and internal tool utilization.
- Work on Big Room Planning sessions quarterly with senior stakeholders, defining execution priorities and streamlining cross-functional planning.
- Champion data-driven decision making by implementing dashboards and performance metrics that enhance visibility across delivery streams.
- Act as a Product Owner proxy for select Risk Data & Reporting initiatives, translating complex business requirements into actional product backlogs and prioritisation frameworks.
- Strengthen governance on vendor and third-party partnerships, ensuring delivery excellence, cost control, and contract compliance.
- Mentor cross-functional delivery teams (engineering, data analytics, and business SMEs) to promote Agile maturity and improve sprint efficiency.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on automation, data quality, and tool integration, achieving measurable improvements in operational resilience.
- Represent Risk Technology in strategic leadership forums, presenting update on delivery health, financials and program impact to executive leadership.
Lead Program Manager and Business Analyst
Standard Chartered, Technology & Innovation
07.2023 - 03.2025
- Supported and managed the Risk Tech organisation (400+ staff across locations), covering headcount management and required approvals, performance management and reporting, compliance on essentials (timesheet, mandatory e-learning, etc..)
- Worked with the team on vendor resources SOW review, approvals, invoice processing and accruals accounting to ensure there are no non-compliance.
- Provided hands-on support on business management activities, working directly with the Risk Tech Management Team, including adhoc requirements.
- Extensively collaborate on a regular basis, with multiple teams and internal stakeholders at various levels both within/ outside, across locations, to deliver on outcomes.
- Drive Dept Business Continuity Plan/Business Impact Analysis exercise for Chennai/Bangalore to ensure business continuity.
- Liaise with the team on budget submission, review the supporting documents as required, application finance key allocation submissions, etc., are submitted within the stipulated timelines.
- Conducted comprehensive analysis of business client requirements, meticulously documented the needs and intricacies while evaluating emerging technologies to formulate precise test cases.
Lead, Communications and Culture
Standard Chartered, Technology & Innovation
06.2021 - 07.2023
- Created high-quality, engaging content to support the technology strategy of the CIO office and pitches, including customer stories, webinars, whitepapers, e-books, emails, web pageLed organization-level internal communications, messaging and events including all-hands, town halls, video and org-wide emails and newsletters.
- Driven social media narratives during FinTech festivals and created a strong story on the products we are developing.
- Built positive relationships of senior leaders with the employees via leader connect series.
- Moderated events/sessions, expert talks, hackathons – that has strategic importance.
- Driven end-to-end communication campaigns and tailored communication approach across various audiences. including internal team, senior leaders, internal partners, and stakeholders.
- Created buzz about AI/ML adoption and our progress via various mediums & channels.
- Worked closely with Corporate Affairs and Brand & Marketing, providing subject matter expertise and project insights, to of the Bank-wide D&I activity including campaigns for internationally recognised key dates like International Women's Day to maximise impact.
Manager, Internal Communications
Standard Chartered, Technology & Innovation
09.2019 - 06.2021
- Developed an integrated global communication strategy that aligns with the business objectives – along with budgeting and forecasting.
- Restructured the communications team and formulated a framework supporting the vision and mission of the Technology and Innovation (T&I) function.
- Re-invented the SheReturns program to attract women on career break to re-enter the corporate workspace. The campaign was successful with an increased sourcing of women by 25% and reached out to the target group via multiple external channels.
- Strategised for the CIO to pitch in the FinTech forum in Singapore and advised on key potential partnership deals by collaborating with multiple senior stakeholders across the group.
- Supported in driving the CIOs narrative of the brand to the employees reinforcing valued behaviours to promote inclusive culture.
- Measured the reach of employee communications through surveys and actionable analytics using the tool Populo.
- Nominated to be a part of Global Diversity and Inclusion council to lead communications across technology function to lead the D&I agenda.
Senior Associate
Standard Chartered, Global Business Services (GBS)
07.2016 - 08.2019
- Managed internal communication programs designed to inform and inspire over 1500 target population which increased the brand visibility of the MD, Global Finance Services (GFS). The campaign was successful with an increase of blog readership by 100% (from 2016) and town hall audience by 50%.
- Worked with a team of 4 and crafted an engaging communications plan, 'Humans of GFS' that highlighted the success stories of employees. This campaign played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between employees and senior management.
- Delivered a detailed data driven financial business plan of GFS to internal stakeholders in Singapore and Thailand, thereby garnered wider support and international exposure for GFS.
Associate, Corporate Communications
AGS Health
07.2014 - 01.2016
- Developed and launched an array of employer branding campaigns that contributed to 20% retention of existing employees and propelled a 30% increase in walk-in crowd.
- Led the in-house design team to create corporate videos and used innovative storyboard techniques for visual impact
- Orchestrated communications plans syncing with the strategic line of vision thereby influencing employees towards better organizational understanding.
- Provided direction to departments on the best practices in communication that helped greater team bonding and better appreciation of the corporate objectives.
Executive, Site Communications
Michelin Tires
11.2011 - 11.2012
- Generated powerful and innovative content via various messaging forums leading to a 70% understanding of the company culture and values in APAC center.
- Mentored the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) team to create visible communication strategy that led in targeting 55% external stakeholders to maintain favorable reputations and enhance the brand image of Michelin factory.
- Managed and developed internal corporate publication process including editorial writing, publishing, design, and distribution – enhanced readership from 30% to 80%.
Communications Consultant
NEST Education and Technologies
08.2009 - 11.2011
- Provided leadership to the web designing group and managed the web content team to ensure effective communications via the website thereby enhancing the brand image.
- Collaborated with departments in planning for public engagement opportunities - 45 trade shows,25 job fairs
- Business development - collaborated with 70 university directors (within Tamil Nadu) and marketed NEST as a niche consultant in the business, leading to an increase in revenue by 45% in 2010.
Executive, Internal Communications
HCL Technologies
11.2007 - 07.2009
- Devised and implemented communication strategy for an identified client problem leading to a successful CSAT score in communication parameter from 3.75 to 4.25 within a quarter at HCL Technologies
- Collaborated with business heads and assimilated novel communication strategies aligning with the core values and corporate objectives. This diversity of thought led to an engagement increase of 15%
Education
Master of Arts - Mass Communication
Alagappa University Karaikudi
India06.2014
Bachelor of Arts - Mass Communication
MOP Vaishnav College for Women, Madras University
Chennai, India06.2007
Skills
- Program & Portfolio Management
- Financial Forecast
- Marketing Research
- User Experience
- Business Story Telling
Software
JIRA
Microsoft Power BI
Tableau
Trello
Certification
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), 2025-07-01, Scrum Alliance
Timeline
Associate Vice President, Program Management
Standard Chartered Technology & Operations
03.2025 - Current
Lead Program Manager and Business Analyst
Standard Chartered, Technology & Innovation
07.2023 - 03.2025
Lead, Communications and Culture
Standard Chartered, Technology & Innovation
06.2021 - 07.2023
Manager, Internal Communications
Standard Chartered, Technology & Innovation
09.2019 - 06.2021
Senior Associate
Standard Chartered, Global Business Services (GBS)
07.2016 - 08.2019
Associate, Corporate Communications
AGS Health
07.2014 - 01.2016
Executive, Site Communications
Michelin Tires
11.2011 - 11.2012
Communications Consultant
NEST Education and Technologies
08.2009 - 11.2011
Executive, Internal Communications
HCL Technologies
11.2007 - 07.2009
Bachelor of Arts - Mass Communication
MOP Vaishnav College for Women, Madras University
Master of Arts - Mass Communication
Alagappa University Karaikudi