Learning & Development Specialist

Crafting
impactful
learning journeys.

Most organisations treat learning as an event. I build it as a culture, continuous, practical, and built around the people doing the work.

Nirav Patel

7+

Years in L&D

30+

Live Masterclasses

12+

Years Industry & Academia

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My Approach

Learning should change what you do, not just what you know.

Behaviour-firstStory-drivenPractical always
About Me

An academician at heart, a storyteller by practice.

I've spent 12 years in classrooms, boardrooms, and Zoom calls figuring out what actually makes people learn. Not just sit through a session, but genuinely change how they work.

I've built an L&D function from the ground up inside a growing organisation, starting with 30 new hires. That organisation now has close to 400 people, and the learning function has grown with it, expanding into leadership, communication, peer learning, and support for people pursuing certifications and higher education. The goal was never a programme. It was to give every person the right support at the right time, and let that add up to something bigger for the organisation.

Instructional DesignCommunication CoachingL&D StrategyToastmastersWorkshop FacilitationStorytelling
What I Believe

01

Learning is a journey, not an event.

A single session can spark something. But real change happens over time, through repetition, reflection, and practice, not a one-day workshop.

02

It has to live inside real work, not beside it.

The best learning doesn't feel like learning. It's woven into the work people are already doing, so the transfer happens naturally, not as an afterthought.

03

Growth is personal. Make space for it.

Every person on a team is at a different point in their journey. Good L&D meets people where they are, not where the curriculum says they should be.

What I Do

Where I make a real difference.

Practical, applied work, not just theory.

L&D Strategy

Helping teams figure out what their people actually need to learn, and building a practical plan to get there, without overcomplicating it.

  • Training Needs Analysis
  • Skill Gap Assessment
  • Learning Roadmaps

Storytelling for Professionals

Teaching people how to tell stories that land, in presentations, pitches, and day-to-day conversations at work.

  • Narrative Structure
  • Public Speaking
  • Storytelling Workshops

Instructional Design

Designing learning content that people actually remember. Built around how adults learn, not just how information gets presented.

  • Course Design
  • Curriculum Building
  • Blended Learning

Communication Skills

Helping people speak more clearly, in meetings, presentations, and everyday conversations at work. Less jargon, more clarity.

  • Active Listening
  • Presentation Skills
  • Feedback Conversations

Workshop Facilitation

Running workshops where people leave with something useful. Every session has a clear outcome, not just a good vibe.

  • Workshop Design
  • Group Facilitation
  • Facilitation Coaching

Corporate Training

Training delivery for teams, from onboarding new hires to developing managers and building better habits across the organisation.

  • Leadership Development
  • Onboarding
  • Manager Training
Track Record

A quick look at the work.

Over a decade of designing and running learning programmes. The focus has always been the same, does it change how people work?

7+

Years in L&D

30+

Live Masterclasses

12+

Years Industry & Academia

2

KPMG Certifications

Experience

A career built on learning.

Apr 2019 – Present

Senior L&D Specialist

Contentstack | Raw Engineering · Mumbai

  • Led company-wide learning programmes, onboarding, communication skills, manager development, and peer-learning via KnowledgeX (internal brown bag series).
  • Launched the company's Toastmasters Club to create a safe space for public speaking and peer-driven growth.
  • Partnered with Engineering, Product, and HR teams to co-create tailored learning paths.
  • Facilitated 10+ live masterclasses on public speaking, technical demos, and workplace communication.

Jun 2015 – Apr 2019

Assistant Professor

St. John College & VIVA Institute of Technology · Mumbai

  • Delivered lectures on Communication Networks and Wireless Technologies.
  • Mentored students on research and industry-relevant projects.
  • Integrated tech-enabled learning practices to drive deeper understanding.

Sep 2010 – Aug 2012

Systems Engineer

Infosys Technologies · Pune

  • Handled network management for U.S.-based clients.
  • Collaborated with global teams to ensure seamless technical support and issue resolution.
Skills & Certifications

Tools of the trade.

Core Areas

Learning StrategyInstructional DesignProgramme FacilitationStorytellingLeadership Enablement

Delivery

Live WorkshopsSelf-paced ContentBlended LearningCoaching & Feedback

Operations

Training Needs AnalysisSkill Gap AssessmentPolicy ImplementationVendor Management

Soft Skills

CommunicationEmpathyCreative ThinkingStakeholder Collaboration
Certifications

Future Learning & Development Leader Programme (FLDLP)

KPMG · 2024

Certified Instructional Design Practitioner (CIDPC)

KPMG · 2025

M.E., Electronics & Communication

Sardar Patel Institute of Technology, University of Mumbai · 2014

Let's Connect

Want to work together?

Whether it's a workshop for your team or a conversation about working together, drop me a message and we'll figure out what makes sense.