New Product & Product Management Awards Judging Committee

Vivian Gomes is an internationally respected design and product leader who has been at the forefront of creating, building, scaling, and judging new products that make an impact in the real world. With over two decades of experience across product design, management, human-centered design, and large-scale innovation, he is widely regarded for his ability to assess and vision not just what is new, but what is viable, durable, and well-executed at scale. Vivian’s professional journey reflects a deep invention mindset, one rooted in identifying unmet needs, framing the right problems, and translating insight into products that can scale across markets and cultures. He has led the creation and evolution of products and platforms used by millions, spanning consumer electronics, e commerce, healthcare, telecom, fintech, media, energy, smart infrastructure, and enterprise systems. His work consistently sits at the intersection of customer value, operational feasibility, and business value.

Filtration Technologies, a publicly listed global filtration technology company serving the transportation, industrial, and related markets. In this role, he provides executive leadership across a complex, multi-site manufacturing and supply chain network, with a focus on shaping operations strategy, building scalable operating systems, developing high-performing teams, and delivering sustainable, customer-centric performance across the business.

Arif has nearly two decades of experience across manufacturing, supply chain, operations leadership, enterprise transformation, and program management. His career has been defined by leading large-scale operational transformations, strengthening global operating networks, and building organizations capable of delivering measurable business results. He has held progressively broader leadership roles, including Plant Director, Executive Director of Global Operations, and Vice President.

In recent executive roles, Arif has played a central role in shaping the Atmus supply chain following Atmus’ transition as an independent public company. He led the establishment of multiple independent distribution centers, strengthened Atmus’ manufacturing operating system, and advanced lean transformation across plants and distribution operations. His work has focused on enterprise performance, manufacturing and supply chain effectiveness, working capital discipline, customer delivery, operational resilience, and profitable growth.

As a former Plant Director, Arif led one of the company’s major U.S. manufacturing facilities, where he strengthened labor relations, advanced operational discipline, and built a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. His broader leadership experience spans manufacturing strategy, global supply chain planning, logistics and distribution network development, operational excellence, productivity improvement, and cross-functional business transformation. He is recognized for combining strategic thinking with practical execution in complex, enterprise-wide environments.

Arif also brings significant experience in new product launch execution, operational readiness, and the manufacturing capabilities required to bring products to market reliably and at scale — giving him a practical understanding of how product strategy, supply chain readiness, engineering, and business performance come together to create successful product outcomes.

Arif holds a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. He has also completed executive development programs focused on enterprise leadership and business transformation.

Arif was invited to serve as Chair of the New Product & Product Management Judging Committee for the 2026 International Business Awards®, following two prior years of service as a Stevie Awards judge. This committee leadership role reflects the continued relevance of his executive experience in manufacturing, supply chain, operational excellence, product launch execution, and global enterprise leadership. His background enables him to evaluate product innovation, operational scalability, customer value, and measurable business and financial impact across industries.

With 12+ years in software, Pulkit specializes in AI, machine learning, and platform product management. Pulkit led enterprise AI initiatives and evaluated innovation through both technical depth and business impact.

Rishabh Animesh is an engineering leader with 13 years of experience in cloud computing and distributed systems. He holds multiple granted U.S. patents in areas such as scalable request handling, structured archival, and intelligent data placement. He has led high-impact engineering organizations, delivering innovations that power mission-critical workloads.

Kameswaran is a seasoned wireless technology professional with recognized and consistent contributions in the field of telecommunications and wireless industry expertise with 17+ years of industry experience, including but not limited to Telco Architecture, Design, Technical requirement Analysis, Implementation, Integration, Validation, Proof of Concepts and Innovation with multiple USPTO patents awarded.

Esha is a Technical DevOps Leader with nearly two decades of extensive experience, specialized in DevOps practices on prem and on cloud. Esha's expertise lies in engineering, scaling, and stabilizing DevOps tools.

Kaushik is a strategic IT architect and Technology leader with over 20+ years of software development experience in the telecommunications industry. He oversees the Spectrum Mobile & Connectivity Platform architecture at Charter Communications. He has an MS in Computer Science from CSU, Fort Collins, and holds several US patents.

Principal Supply Chain Manager at Amazon, driving delivery experience transformation for Amazon's new shipping business. Sushil has 13+ years of experience in Supply Chain, e-Commerce and Operations across three market-leading companies. MBA graduate from Kellogg School of Management and previously led significant operational improvements at Bosch and Tata Power.

Senior Sourcing & Supply Chain Leader with 20+ years of experience driving strategic sourcing, supplier development, cost optimization, and risk management across global automotive and manufacturing organizations. Proven track record in leading high-performing teams, executing complex negotiations, and delivering sustainable business results.

Zhongqi Fu is an award-winning creative designer who excelled across healthcare, AI, renewable energy, and B2B SaaS. Now a Senior Product Designer at Reveleer, she previously led high-impact design initiatives for multiple unicorn startups. She is not only an outstanding designer but also a devoted mentor who guides junior designers in developing their craft and career paths.

Ananti Gupta is a Product Manager Lead at DoorDash with 10+ years in payments, fraud prevention, and data privacy. She builds and scales ML- and analytics-driven fraud solutions using behavioral signals and real-time monitoring to strengthen trust and improve consumer experiences. She holds an MBA and a B.E. in Electronics & Communication and stays active via events and webinars.

Ashi Aziz is a Supply Chain Manager at Amazon with 4+ years of experience in procurement, logistics, and inventory management. He is passionate about optimizing retail operations through data-driven planning, automation, and sustainable practices. His focus is on using analytics to enhance efficiency, customer experience, and global supply chain performance.

Alison Higgins-Miller is a global C-Suite executive and strategic advisor with over 20 years’ experience driving growth, transformation and commercial performance. She partners with boards and C-Suite to unlock enterprise value and build resilient organizations. A respected thought leader, Alison has proudly served as a multi-year judge for the Stevie Awards.

With over 20 years in software development, Narinder has expertise in Storage Area Networking, Data Security, Embedded Systems, and Telecom. His strong interpersonal skills, quick learning abilities, and effective project management consistently lead to successful outcomes. Narinder excels in problem-solving, swiftly mastering new concepts and technologies, and adapting seamlessly to different environments.

Sherone Hubbard is the Owner and Principal Consultant of OSH Consulting, LLC. She has been a pharmacist for more than twenty years and has worked in various healthcare environments. She is a wife and mother to a four-year-old daughter. Sherone loves to spend time with family and friends, love outdoors and traveling.

Akash is a product leader at Intuit focused on building financial technology products for small businesses. Previously at Deserve, he helped develop credit and payments platforms used by banks, fintech companies, and technology partners. He brings expertise in fintech innovation, digital platforms, and scalable financial infrastructure.

Ramprasad is an experienced new product development process engineer working in oil & gas and specialty chemical industry. He is also Secretary at AiCHE STS, and Fellow at IICHE.

Rebecca holds a Master's in Computer Science from the New York Institute of Technology, and has over a decade of experience in software and AI. She has worked at award-winning digital agencies, develops impactful digital solutions, and mentors and empowers women to succeed and thrive in technology.

Technology executive and system architect focused on designing scalable mobile learning platforms for complex domains. Through Yapp Sailing Course, he integrates product design, UX, and AI into a clear, structured, decision-driven learning system. 2x Gold Stevie® Award Winner (2025). Invited Judge, 2026 American Business Awards.

Mallesh is a Software developer and technology leader with 15 years of full-cycle experience, currently working as a Salesforce Technical Lead. At the University of California, Mallesh designs and builds AI-enabled, resilient systems that support business continuity, ITDR, and emergency management across multiple campuses and health systems, with a focus on automation and practical, human-centered digital solutions.

Chiranjive is a trailblazer in innovation and disrupting industries, with a 15+ years of distinguished career focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Privacy and Fraud Detection, and Product Management. At Amazon, he has spearheaded supply chain optimization using cutting-edge AI/ML algorithms leading to multimillion-dollar cost savings.

Currently, Nishant spearheads strategic partnerships across Connected TV and Automotive at YouTube, negotiating with Fortune 100s, launching in-car media experiences, pushing YouTube’s reach across devices with cutting-edge innovations, and generating billions in revenue. Crafting new opportunities, steering strategic vision, and driving innovation are at the core of passion.

Sushrut Naik is a senior technology and implementation leader with expertise in enterprise data platforms, analytics, and large-scale program delivery. He has led cross-functional initiatives aligning technology execution with business strategy to deliver measurable outcomes. As a Stevie Awards judge, he wishes to evaluate innovation based on clarity, execution excellence, and real-world impact.

Data‑driven analyst with 3+ years of experience innovating systems in the food‑banking industry. Skilled in data engineering, analytics, and workflow optimization, delivering solutions that strengthen operations and expand community impact. Known for turning complex data into clear insights and driving mission‑focused improvements.

Annie Phan is a data and AI leader driving enterprise impact through AI/ML innovation and digital transformation. She is Staff AI Solution Architect at Diligent, previously led AI/ML programs at Fanatics Collectibles and McKinsey, and is a Founding Member of the AI Think Tank, Forbes Business Council member, and published author and judge in data and AI.

Sundara is a Tech Lead at LinkedIn specializing in large-scale LLM inference and AI infrastructure. Sundara builds high-performance systems for real-time ranking and recommendation workloads, driving efficiency, throughput, and scalability. Passionate about translating cutting-edge AI research into production-ready solutions with measurable impact.

Akash has 16+ years of experience, specializing in Product Management, Engineering, & Operations in Consumer Electronics. He holds a Wharton MBA & UC Berkeley Masters. Passionate about solving real user problems through technology, he has successfully led multi-million dollar consumer hardware products from concept to launch with mass media acclaim.

Pabitra is a globally recognized technology executive with over two decades of experience leading Software Engineering Projects, Agile implementation of digital initiatives, Enterprise Change Management, E-commerce, and Data Governance across global enterprises. He currently serves as Senior Change Delivery Lead within the Enterprise AI and Data team at Truist Bank.

Sandeep excels at transforming complex data into actionable strategy. He spearheaded Google’s global retail measurement framework, driving significant efficiency and competitive edge through advanced analytical systems. With an MBA from UChicago Booth and 15+ years of experience, he is a recognized expert in marketing innovation and product analytics.

Anand is an Industrial Engineer with over 10 years of experience in strategic business planning and technical project management. Proven expertise in leading large-scale technical programs, optimizing supply chain operations, and developing AI/ML cloud infrastructure. Recognized for driving process improvements, enhancing operational efficiency, and delivering measurable business outcomes.

Sharad Sharma is a Senior Manager at Deloitte Consulting. He is a seasoned IT professional and has over 19 years of experience in developing, managing, and advising clients on security, technology, and risk management programs. He is a Senior Member IEEE, CISSP and is an alumni of the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IITK).

Mohnish is an accomplished product management leader with over 17 years of global experience in computer software, insurance technology and financial services industry. Recognized for driving value innovation and customer satisfaction through strategic initiatives, particularly in AI and analytics-based products, shaping industry evolution.

Vandana is a senior technology leader with over 20 years of experience leading large-scale digital transformation and modernization initiatives across enterprise systems. She has successfully guided complex programs that modernize legacy platforms, streamline operations, and implement scalable, data driven solutions that improve efficiency, and long term organizational performance.

Bharat Thakre is a senior operations and supply chain leader with 15+ years of experience driving AI-enabled logistics, fulfillment optimization, and digital transformation at Amazon. He specializes in intelligent automation, warehouse systems, and data-driven operations, delivering large-scale efficiency and cost improvements while evaluating innovation, strategy, and business performance.

Viswanathan is a highly experienced technical leader, adept in delivering large-scale, mission-critical platforms across FinTech, payments, Product engineering & Telecom with leadership roles in high-growth, AI driven, consumer-facing companies. And has delivered enterprise solutions for Visa, AMEX, First Data, BofA, RBS, Deloitte, and Verizon partnering with c-level execs.

Sreeja Vallamulla is a San Francisco–based Founding Engineer at Zams, building reliable agentic AI systems. Former CTO of VedaVerse, she previously worked on enterprise software at Accenture and holds an M.S. in IT. She has published with IEEE, reviews IEEE conferences, and served as a 2025 Stevie Awards for Women in Business judge.

With over 20 years of experience in IT, Narasimha specializes in Agile project implementation, project management, team leadership, and incident management. He possesses deep expertise in Agile and SDLC methodologies, along with a strong understanding of associated frameworks, and has a proven track record of successfully delivering large-scale, complex projects within budget.