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ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST · EXECUTIVE COACH · DOCTORAL RESEARCHER

Hi, I'm Nilima. 

I'm an Organizational Psychologist, Executive Coach and Doctoral Researcher at Columbia University. My current research examines growth through adversity in high-pressure professions.

Before this, I spent over a decade in consulting and advisory roles across various industries. I have a non-traditional path that's been guided by my curiosity and drive to make an impact.

Right now, my focus is on bridging research and practice to improve mental health at work. 

 
Connecting the dots across business, psychology and social impact.

WORK HIGHLIGHTS

My work has spanned consulting, coaching and advisory roles across industries:

  • Management Consulting. At PwC, I worked across M&A, Strategy and Operations, Technology, and People & Organization, supporting large-scale, organization-wide transformations.

  • Internal Advisory. At Google and Brookfield Properties, I led a diverse portfolio of projects across organizational design and effectiveness, change management, talent management strategy, and people analytics.​

  • Startup Building & Coaching. At Deeper Signals, I joined as the startup's first employee and helped build its analytics, research, product innovation, and marketing functions. I currently work there as an Executive Coach.

  • Social Impact. Earlier in my career, I worked with non-profits across the globe, including Médecins Sans Frontières, United Way, Cancer Research UK and the Terry Fox Foundation . I also launched a social enterprise helping rehabilitate underprivileged women at the Regional Cancer Center in India.

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D. Social-Organizational Psychology, Columbia University, New York, USA (in progress)

  • Master's, Social-Organizational Psychology, Columbia University, New York, USA 

  • Master’s, International Business (with distinction), Grenoble Ecole de Management, France

  • BSc (Hons), Mathematics, University of Bath, England

CERTIFICATIONS

  • Executive and Organizational Coaching, Columbia University/Columbia Business School

  • Change Management, PROSCI

  • Intercultural Studies, University of British Columbia

LOCATION

I'm based in New York and previously lived in the UK, France, Canada, UAE and India. 

Based in New York

© 2026 Nilima Ajaikumar. All rights reserved.

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