🏆 #3 Global Top Thought Leader Kaggle Legacy Grandmaster 3× Published Author Ex‑Director · Novartis (Data, Digital & IT) GCC · Quality Engineering · Agentic AI

Kalilur Rahman Global IT Executive & AI Leader

Global IT Executive & Author shaping the future of Quality Engineering, Agentic AI, and GCC Leadership. Nearly three decades turning enterprise complexity into measurable value — from scaling Global Capability Centers to building AI‑driven quality frameworks and a digital ecosystem of 80+ apps.

29+
Years Experience
Pharma, Tech & GCCs
#3
Global Thought Leader
Thinkers360
Grandmaster
Kaggle
Legacy Grandmaster
482
Certifications
AI, Cloud, QE & more
80+
Apps & Repos
Digital ecosystem
33
Recommendations
From global leaders

📚 Knowledge Hub

A comprehensive, searchable record of professional knowledge — certifications, publications, learning paths, projects, awards and recommendations, all in one place.

482
Certifications
293
Learning
16
Publications
16
Projects
13
Awards
33
Recommendations
Executive Summary

A strategic technology leader with a full‑stack view of business, engineering, and delivery

Strategy meets execution — from whiteboard to production.

For nearly three decades, I've been at the intersection of technology and business strategy, driven by a single mission: transforming enterprise complexity into measurable value. My experience spans global consulting, GCC advisory, and executive leadership, with a deep focus on Quality Engineering, Digital Transformation, and AI/Data Strategy.

Most recently as a Director at Novartis, I spearheaded the Data, Digital & IT strategy for the Global Capability Center, scaling operations from inception to a high‑performing ecosystem of 400+ professionals with 500% volume growth. I bridge the worlds of strategy and execution — partnering with C‑level stakeholders to shape roadmaps and guiding globally distributed teams to deliver. Today I also advise GCC, MedTech and life‑sciences leaders — including Zinnov and NovintiX — on digital transformation, go‑to‑market and operational excellence.

Recognized as a #3 Global Top Thought Leader (Thinkers360) and a Kaggle Legacy Grandmaster, I evangelize best practices through published works, international speaking, and the development of open‑source frameworks like ACUITAS and VERITAS.

Signature Strengths

  • Strategic scaling of Global Capability Centers (GCCs) from inception to scale.
  • Architecting AI‑driven Quality Engineering frameworks (ACUITAS, VERITAS).
  • Leading cross‑functional digital transformation for GxP/regulated environments.
  • Multi‑channel knowledge evangelism (3 books, 16 publications, global keynotes).
Enterprise TransformationQuality Engineering GCC LeadershipData & AI Cloud & DevOps
Career Journey

29+ years across global Pharma, Telecom, and Technology

A path from hands‑on engineering and telecom transformation to executive GCC leadership — spanning consulting, advisory, and enterprise roles across five continents.

2025 → Present · Advisory
Advisory Engagements — GCC, GTM & Digital Transformation
Zinnov · NovintiX
Zinnov — Senior GCC Advisor for Pharma Digital Transformation & Operational Excellence (advisory board). NovintiX — GTM & GCC‑penetration strategy advisor to a MedTech / life‑sciences engineering firm. Plus ongoing mentoring & leadership‑development roles (see Mentorship).
2016 → 2025 · Novartis
Director — Data, Digital & IT (DDIT) · Global Head of Software Testing
Novartis · Hyderabad, India
Led Data, Digital & IT shared services for the GCC — application, platform & data services, testing & archival, PMaaS and ALM — scaling from inception to a 400+ person organisation with 500% volume growth. Co‑founded Novartis Biome India and drove quality‑engineering CoEs across GxP‑regulated environments.
2007 → 2016 · Accenture
Vice President — Technology / Testing · Client Delivery Executive
Accenture
Led large‑scale end‑to‑end testing and delivery programmes for global Telecom, Retail and Pharma clients — including the Vodafone Retail Logistics programme — building Testing Centers of Excellence and turning around operating margins. Multiple excellence awards (ACE, Addo Agnitio).
2005 → 2007 · Cognizant
Manager — Projects
Cognizant Technology Solutions
Software delivery and project management across complex telecom and enterprise engagements.
1996 → 2005 · TCS
Software Engineering → Consulting & Delivery
Tata Consultancy Services
Early‑career software development, solution architecture and delivery across North America and Europe (telecom, media, OSS/BSS) — including TM Forum Catalyst programmes and integration (webMethods B2B). The technical bedrock behind later executive leadership.
Education

MBA — Edinburgh Business School, Heriot‑Watt University · B.E. Computer Science & Engineering · Ongoing research interests in AI, analytics & digital transformation (reflected in the PhD Research Companion tool).

Organizations I've worked with & served

Roles and client engagements across:

Novartis Accenture Cognizant Tata Consultancy Services Vodafone Aviva GSK McKesson Arm TM Forum

Full role history, dates and 33 detailed recommendations are on my LinkedIn profile ↗.

Career‑Defining Programmes

2016 → 2025 · Novartis
GCC Scale‑Up — Global Pharma
Architected a multi‑function Pharmaceutical Services GCC, scaling ~16‑fold to a 400+ person operation with 500% volume growth and ~40% cost arbitrage.
2016 → 2021 · Novartis
Service Leader — Shared Services (Data, Digital & IT)
Delivered global shared services across Testing / Quality Engineering, Application Archival, and Project Management as a Service (PMaaS), among others. Also co‑founded Novartis Biome India (pharma digital innovation hub) and led hackathons with outcomes presented to the CEO and executive leadership.
2013 → 2014 · Global Telco
TCoE Operational Turnaround
Led a 220+ member organisation, improving operating margin ~35 points — from ‑5% to a sustained 30%+ profitability.
2015 · India's Largest Telco
Test CoE Setup + 4G / Apps / MNP Launches
Established a structured Test Delivery Practice for a 220M+ subscriber operator; led 4G, mobile‑app, website and Mobile Number Portability launch testing.
2007 → 2010 · UK Telecom
Strategic Test Delivery Factory
Architected and operationalised a strategic test delivery factory for a premier UK telecom retailer, driving enterprise‑scale QA across multiple programmes.
Open Source
Quality Engineering Book by LLMs
An experimental book on Quality Engineering generated entirely by large language models.
Leadership & GCC

Building capability at scale across global organisations

Aligning technology with business outcomes.

Enterprise & GCC Leadership

  • Recognized as a Top‑10 Global Thought Leader (Thinkers360) in Technology and Digital Transformation.
  • Led enterprise transformation mandates in Pharma and Tech sectors, bridging C‑suite strategy with globally distributed execution.
  • Built and scaled Quality Engineering Centers of Excellence (CoEs) for complex, GxP‑regulated environments.
  • Direct experience scaling the Novartis GCC from scratch to a 400+ person operation with 500% volume growth.
  • Managed globally distributed teams across 5 continents, shaping culture, talent strategy, and succession planning.

How stakeholders describe my leadership

Colleagues frequently highlight my ability to:

  • Set a clear vision and translate it into actionable plans.
  • Balance strategic thinking with hands‑on execution.
  • Remove roadblocks proactively and foster a culture of trust, accountability, and learning.
  • Mentor and grow talent, especially in emerging areas like data, AI, and advanced test automation.

Read detailed recommendations in Peer Voices ↓ or on LinkedIn ↗.

Signature Frameworks

Open frameworks bridging traditional QE and the age of AI

Reusable, standards‑aligned methodologies born from real enterprise delivery.

ACUITAS
AI Quality Engineering Framework
A 7‑pillar AI Quality Engineering framework aligned with ISO 42001, the NIST AI RMF and the EU AI Act — bridging traditional testing and the assurance requirements of modern AI systems.
ISO 42001NIST AI RMFEU AI Act7 Pillars
Explore ACUITAS ↗
VERITAS
Quality Engineering Framework
A comprehensive Quality Engineering framework — Verification, Evaluation, Risk, Integrity, Testing, Assurance & Standards — for building quality into complex delivery at scale.
StrategyAutomationMetricsRisk
Explore VERITAS ↗
Data, AI & Kaggle

From global competitions to enterprise‑grade AI frameworks

Using data and AI to inform decisions, de‑risk change, and improve quality.

Kaggle Legacy Grandmaster

I hold the distinction of being a Kaggle Legacy Grandmaster, encompassing roles as a Competitions Expert, Datasets Expert, and Notebooks Master. With 1,265+ discussion contributions, I'm active in the global data science community.

Beyond competitions, I developed the ACUITAS AI Quality Engineering Framework, bridging traditional testing and the requirements of the EU AI Act and NIST AI RMF. My technical portfolio spans 73+ GitHub repositories focused on scaling automation and data‑driven delivery.

Open Source & Profiles

GitHub Profile
73+ repos · QE artefacts & LLMs
Kaggle Profile
Legacy Grandmaster · 1,265+ discussions
Agentic AI Library
350+ agents across 28 categories
The Digital Ecosystem

55+ live apps, tools & frameworks — built and shipped

A hands‑on portfolio spanning Agentic AI, Enterprise & GCC, Quality Engineering, Data & Knowledge, and everyday tools. Most are live Lovable apps; explore by category below.

Full app launcher on Lovable ↗  ·  All repositories on GitHub ↗  ·  Projects in Knowledge Hub →

Also on this site

2026 · Live
The Apps — 59 working tools
Fifty-nine self‑contained tools shipped one a week: QE tooling and test-framework scaffolding, GCC cost modelling, GxP validation drafting, certification roadmaps and HL7→FHIR mapping. Every one runs entirely in the browser with a genuinely useful free tier. Browse all →
2026 · New
Solopreneur Revenue Playbook
The 50‑app year — a full operating plan: 50 launchable products, a 52‑week calendar, channel flywheel (Substack · Skool · YouTube · Instagram) and an honest passive‑revenue model. Open →
2026 · Live
GTM Intelligence Platform
Browser‑based GTM operating system — five AI‑assisted workspaces for GCC market penetration, executive outreach, SaaS launch, service‑to‑product expansion & capability translation. Open →
2026 · Blueprint
MarketPulse — Signal → Order Engine
Build‑ready spec detecting 50+ chart patterns, fanning alerts across web/mobile/email/WhatsApp/Telegram, and routing paper or live orders. Open →
2026 · Live
FutureScore — Cross-Border Financial Destimate™
A 100% in‑browser cross-border financial valuation engine for US & India households: retirement Monte Carlo range, education, tax, FX and resilience calculators with ranked next moves. Open →
Reference
Agentic AI Library & Knowledge Hub
350+ agent definitions and a fully searchable record of certifications, publications and awards. Agents → · Hub →
Published Works

Translating experience into frameworks, stories, and reference material

For engineers, leaders, and learners. See all 16 publications in the Knowledge Hub →

Python Data Visualisation Essentials Guide
BPB Publications · 2021
A practical guide to storytelling with data using Python — turning complex datasets into clear, compelling visual narratives with Matplotlib, Seaborn, Pandas, Plotly and Bokeh.
Get the book ↗
Science of Selenium
BPB Publications · 2019
A comprehensive, hands‑on guide to Selenium automation strategy, resilient frameworks, multi‑language usage and the core principles of quality engineering.
Get the book ↗
Innovations in Testing
Amazon Kindle Direct · 2017
A curated collection of testing‑focused blogs and reflections — modern testing methodologies, delivery models, and future‑ready leadership perspectives.
Get the book ↗
Selected white‑papers & articles: Implementing Contracts on NGN OSS (TM Forum, 2007) · Model‑Based Testing for the Communications Industry (2012) · Intelligent Testing Skills & Test Data Masking (Testing Experience / EuroSTAR, 2013) · Impact of the Digital Revolution on Testing (2014) · Impacts of DevOps on Testing (DevOps.com, 2015) — part of 200+ articles across LinkedIn, DevOps.com and industry magazines.
Amazon Author ↗  ·  Full publications list ↗  ·  Google Scholar ↗
Awards & Recognition

Independent validation of leadership, innovation, and community impact

🏆 #3 Global Top Thought Leader
Thinkers360 · 2025
Recognized for global contributions in Technology, Digital Transformation, and Quality Engineering.
🏅 Innovative CIO Award 2023
CIOAXIS & CISOCONNECT · 2023
Recognized in the 8th edition among top IT leaders and CIOs in India for innovative practices and leadership.
⭐ IT NEXT100 Future CIO Award
CIO&Leader / 9.9 Group · 2022
Selected through a rigorous, multi‑stage evaluation of technical and leadership expertise.
💊 Pharma Leadership Award of Excellence
eLets eHealth Media · 2021
Recognized as Global Head of Software Testing at Novartis for pioneering digital initiatives in pharma.
☁️ Google Cloud Tech Premier League — Winner
Google Cloud · 2021
Winner of the Tech Premier League for corporates on Google Cloud Platform.
🎖️ Organizational Excellence
Accenture (ACE, Addo Agnitio) & Vodafone
Multiple awards for outstanding delivery, knowledge sharing, and operational excellence.
🧠 Corporate Quiz & Knowledge
TATA Crucible & AMUL · 2016–2019
Multiple regional finalist and runner‑up finishes, reflecting a commitment to continuous learning.

See all 13 awards & honours in the Knowledge Hub →

Licences & Certifications

482 certifications across 13 categories

The verified breakdown below — plus 293 learning completions — all searchable in the Knowledge Hub.

Leadership & Strategy — 206  ·  Data & Analytics — 51  ·  Quality Engineering — 45
AI & Machine Learning — 39  ·  Academic & University — 32  ·  Cloud & AWS — 31
Professional — 21  ·  Programming & Dev — 16  ·  Other — 12  ·  Security & Risk — 10
AI & Deep Learning — 8  ·  Cloud & IBM — 7  ·  Cloud & GCP — 4
Issuers include AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft, IBM, DeepLearning.AI, Coursera, DataCamp, Toastmasters & Accenture
Browse all 482 certifications →

Verified badge‑based certifications: Credly profile ↗

Mentorship & Leadership Development

Shaping the next generation of leaders

Through coaching, community and purposeful knowledge transfer.

With 29+ years in global IT leadership, I believe the most enduring form of impact is multiplying talent. I actively mentor junior professionals, emerging leaders and PhD researchers — helping them navigate complexity, build confidence and accelerate their careers with clarity and purpose.

💡 AI & Digital Transformation Coaching

Guiding mid‑career professionals and emerging leaders through the adoption of AI, automation and digital‑first thinking — prompt engineering, LLM workflows and data‑driven decision‑making.

📘 Quality Engineering Leadership

Mentoring QE practitioners into leadership roles — from test architects to quality directors. Strategy, team building, automation frameworks, and executive stakeholder communication.

👥 Career Acceleration

One‑on‑one guidance for senior IC or management tracks — resume strategy, interview prep, personal branding (LinkedIn, GitHub, Kaggle), and navigating global job markets.

⭐ Academic & Research Mentorship

Supporting PhD scholars with structured prompting, academic writing, publication planning and dissertation architecture — reflected in the PhD Research Assistant tool (v7.0, 236 prompts).

GLEAC Mentor
Independent Consultant · Lead SME · GCC Advisor
Helping professionals and organisations navigate digital transformation and AI adoption. Rated among top‑performing mentors.
Della Leaders Club
Global Chapter Member · Leader Network
A global community of entrepreneurs, professionals and young leaders creating positive impact through business, knowledge and collaboration.
Toastmasters International
Competent Communicator (CC) · Competent Leader (CL)
Public speaking, facilitation and leadership‑coaching skills — applied directly in executive coaching and mentoring engagements.
Peer Voices

What colleagues say

A selection from 33 recommendations received from leaders across Novartis, Accenture, TCS, Vodafone, GSK and beyond.

Omni‑Channel Presence

A single hub to reach me across platforms

Professional, technical, and community.

Primary
LinkedIn
Professional profile ↗
Portfolio
Lovable Portfolio
Full app launcher ↗
Visual
Framer Portfolio
Visual storytelling ↗
Data Science
Kaggle
Legacy Grandmaster ↗
Code
GitHub
Open‑source work ↗
Author
Amazon
Books & publications ↗
Academic
Google Scholar
Academic citations ↗
Research
PublicationsList
White‑papers ↗
Credentials
Credly
Verified certs ↗
Social
X (Twitter)
Short‑form thoughts ↗
Directory
Linktree
All links ↗
📚 Knowledge
Knowledge Hub
482 certs & more →
Contact & Collaboration

Open to advisory conversations, board‑level discussions, and speaking engagements

Open to advisory conversations, board‑level discussions, speaking engagements, and thought‑leadership collaborations. Please include a brief context (organisation, topic, and timeline) and I'll respond as soon as possible.

Location
India‑based, global remit
Email
LinkedIn
GitHub
Email me ↗ Connect on LinkedIn ↗