About Pooja B.Vijayakumar

Pooja Vijayakumar, Ph.D. is an entrepreneur, strategic partnerships and organizational growth consultant, researcher, and people analytics leader dedicated to helping organizations, communities, and emerging industries thrive. Over the past decade, she has advised Fortune 500 companies and global nonprofits including Cisco Systems, Dell SecureWorks, Papa Johns, Habitat for Humanity International, GoHealth Urgent Care, and American Family Insurance on organizational strategy, leadership development, workforce transformation, talent management, and AI-enabled people analytics. Her work focuses on aligning people, culture, and business strategy to drive measurable organizational performance, innovation, and sustainable growth.

Pooja's professional journey began in the technology sector, supporting global clients at Cisco Systems and Dell SecureWorks. Her passion for learning and innovation first brought her to the United States to pursue a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering. While studying and later working in multicultural environments, she became increasingly fascinated by the human side of organizations how culture, leadership, and workplace experiences influence individual performance and organizational success.

As an Indian expatriate navigating different cultural and professional environments, Pooja experienced firsthand the opportunities and challenges of adapting to new workplaces and societies. These experiences inspired her to transition into the field of organizational psychology and management. She earned a Master of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga before completing her Ph.D. in International Management and Marketing at the University of Limerick, Ireland. Her doctoral research focused on global leadership, cross-cultural management, international mobility, organizational culture, and workforce development.

Throughout her academic and professional career, Pooja has collaborated with internationally recognized scholars in industrial-organizational psychology and international business, producing research that has advanced the understanding of global leadership, expatriate experiences, and high-skilled immigration. Her first-author research on high-skilled immigration in the United States has been featured by leading media outlets including Bloomberg, The Economist, Press Trust of India, BloombergQuint, and The Mercury News. Her research has been cited in amicus briefs submitted to the Supreme Court of the United States, reflecting its impact on national legal and policy discussions related to high-skilled immigration. The FWD.us Immigration advocacy organization founded by technology leaders in Silicon Valley, and the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation known for its contributions to immigration and workforce policy discussions have also referenced Pooja’s work.

Pooja's research has received international recognition, including the Best Paper Award in International Business from the Irish Academy of Management and recognition from the Academy of Management. She has presented her research at leading international conferences, including the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP), the Academy of Management, the Irish Academy of Management, and the Work, Stress, and Health Conference. In addition to presenting her research, she has served as an invited panelist at SIOP, contributing to discussions on global leadership, international careers, and workforce issues, and has volunteered as a leader with SIOP's International Affairs Committee.

Passionate about developing future leaders, Pooja has taught People Analytics, Statistics, and Research Methods at both the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and the University of Limerick. She values creating engaging learning experiences that equip students with analytical thinking, research skills, and practical tools for solving complex organizational challenges.

Today, Pooja is combining her expertise in organizational strategy, partnership development, and business transformation with her passion for sports and community engagement. As an entrepreneur, she is building a platform focused on strategic partnerships, corporate sponsorships, and brand activation to help accelerate the growth of cricket and other emerging sports in the United States. Her vision is to create meaningful collaborations that connect brands, sports organizations, and communities while expanding participation, strengthening fan engagement, and generating lasting economic and social impact.

Pooja lives in the Atlanta metropolitan area with her husband, two children, and their beloved dog. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, cycling, traveling, and creating memorable experiences with her family.

EDUCATION