Komal Malik

Brand Communications and Executive Communications professional with 10+ years of experience building institutional brands, executive visibility, and thought leadership across science, technology, innovation, education, and public policy ecosystems. Proven expertise in partnering with senior leaders to transform complex ideas into influential communication assets including keynote speeches, LinkedIn thought leadership, newsletters, executive articles, reports, podcasts, presentations, and strategic publications. Experienced in reputation management, stakeholder engagement, editorial strategy, podcast production, AI-enabled content workflows, and multi-channel communications.

Manager – Communications & Branding at Pune Knowledge Cluster (2025-02 – Present)

Partner with executive leadership to develop strategic messaging, keynote presentations, executive narratives, LinkedIn thought leadership, newsletters, institutional publications, and presentations.

• Translate leadership discussions into executive articles, podcast episodes, reports, speeches, campaign narratives, and multi-channel communication assets.
• Position institutional leaders, scientists, and subject matter experts as trusted voices through executive storytelling and strategic communications.
• Conceptualized and produced KINETICS, an executive podcast series featuring influential leaders across science, innovation, sustainability, mobility, and policy.
• Produced five executive podcast episodes from concept to publication, including guest research, interview design, editorial planning, production, and promotion.
• Conduct structured interviews with scientists, policymakers, innovators, and institutional leaders to create high-impact thought leadership content.
• Lead editorial planning and production of PEAKS quarterly newsletter (6 editions), six quarterly institutional reports, Innovation in Action newsletter, and strategic communication campaigns.
• Designed and managed communication for three national/international reports launched by the Government of India and the Royal Norwegian Embassy.
• Produced 150+ strategic communication assets including reports, newsletters, presentations, publications, campaign toolkits, executive content, and branding collateral.
• Collaborate with researchers, programme managers, government agencies, CSR partners, universities, startups, and industry stakeholders.
• Grew PKC LinkedIn community to 5,000+ followers through structured thought leadership and content strategy.
• Use ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, NotebookLM, Perplexity, and Canva AI for research, editorial planning, content ideation, and AI-assisted communication workflows.
• Author of Systems & Stakeholders newsletter with 10 original long-form articles on science policy, innovation ecosystems, and strategic communications.
• Editorial lead for Innovation in Action LinkedIn newsletter.
• Editor of six quarterly PEAKS newsletters.
• Produced six quarterly institutional reports, annual publications, impact reports, and strategic communication documents.
• Develop executive presentations, opinion pieces, keynote content, and institutional narratives.

STEM Educator, Faculty Trainer & Communications Lead at iRISE – IISER Pune (2023-01 – 2025-01)

• Led communications for national STEM programmes across six Indian states.
• Trained 700+ teachers and engaged 1,000+ students.
• Grew LinkedIn by 2,000+ followers and launched Instagram presence.
• Produced 30+ STEM education videos and programme communication assets.

Assistant Professor – Zoology (2017-01 – 2023-01)

Head of Department – Biology (2015-01 – 2017-01)

Diploma in International Relations & Diplomacy

MBA in Project Management

B.Ed.

M.Sc. in Zoology (Oceanography)

B.Sc. in Zoology (Fishery Science)