Indipendent Director
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Here's a tailored response for the Agri-Tech Independent Director interview:
"Tell us about yourself"
Thank you for the opportunity. I'm Sunil Phatak, based in Pune, and I bring close to 40 years of cross-functional experience spanning supply chain operations, enterprise transformation, and corporate governance.
My career has two distinct chapters. The first 22 years were entirely operational — I worked on the ground in procurement, production planning, and supply chain management with companies like Procter & Gamble, Gillette, and Sony. That gave me a deep, hands-on understanding of how value chains actually work — sourcing, supplier relationships, distribution, and the last mile. Much of what I did then mirrors what an Agri-Tech company deals with today.
The second chapter has been 17 years as a senior SAP consultant and solution architect, where I've led large-scale digital transformation programmes for Fortune 500 companies across India, UAE, Canada, and Europe. More relevant to this role, I spent six years embedded at ADNOC and Borouge in Abu Dhabi, where I worked closely with governance, risk, and compliance frameworks in an organisation that takes its ESG commitments seriously.
On the governance side, I have passed the Independent Director Proficiency Test conducted by IICA and am a registered member, which means I'm formally qualified to serve on Indian company boards under the Companies Act.
What draws me to this role specifically is the intersection of sustainable agriculture, community impact, and responsible governance — areas where I believe my supply chain background, ESG exposure, and board qualifications can genuinely add value rather than just tick a box.
Here's how to present your work experience for this specific role — structured to land the most relevant points first:
"Walk us through your work experience"
I'll structure this in a way that's most relevant to what you're looking for.
Supply Chain & Operations — 22 years
I started my career on the production floor at Kansai Nerolac Paints, which gave me a solid grounding in manufacturing and quality processes. I then moved into procurement and supply chain, eventually spending six years at Procter & Gamble as Supply Chain Manager, followed by two years at Sony Dubai in procurement and logistics, and then eight years at Gillette as Supply Chain Manager.
Across these roles I managed multi-tier supplier networks, demand planning, distribution, and vendor relationships for large FMCG brands. This is directly relevant to an Agri-Tech board — because what you're ultimately solving — sustainable sourcing, supplier empowerment, traceability, and last-mile delivery — is the same problem set I navigated at scale.
SAP Consulting & Governance — 17 years
I then transitioned into enterprise technology consulting, advising Fortune 500 companies on large-scale SAP transformations across India, the UAE, Canada, and Europe.
The most board-relevant chapter here was six years embedded at ADNOC and Borouge in Abu Dhabi — one of the Gulf's largest petrochemical groups. I led governance, risk, and compliance frameworks there, including export controls, sanctions screening, and internal audit readiness. That experience gave me direct exposure to how a large organisation structures its ESG accountability, reporting, and board-level oversight.
I also worked with IBM on transformation programmes for companies like Estee Lauder, Pall Corporation, and Mondi Packaging — which sharpened my ability to advise senior leadership on strategy, risk, and technology-driven change.
Most recently, I completed the Independent Director Proficiency Test through IICA and am a registered member, which formally qualifies me to serve on Indian company boards. This role is a natural convergence of everything I've built — operational credibility, governance experience, and a genuine belief in the mission of sustainable, impact-driven business.
Don't recite every job — the structure above groups them meaningfully so the panel sees a narrative, not a CV readout
When you mention P&G and Gillette, briefly say "which is essentially the agri-value chain problem in FMCG form" — it draws the connection instantly The ADNOC/Borouge mention is your strongest ESG credential — give it a full sentence, don't rush past it
Here's how to present your education confidently and connect it to the role:
"Tell us about your educational background"
My educational journey is perhaps a little unconventional, but I think it reflects the kind of multi-dimensional thinking that a board benefits from.
I started with a Diploma in Chemical Engineering, which grounded me in process thinking, systems, and the science of how things are made. That foundation proved invaluable when I later worked in manufacturing and production at Kansai Nerolac Paints — I wasn't just managing processes, I understood them.
I then pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration, which broadened my perspective significantly. It gave me an understanding of governance structures, public policy, institutional accountability, and how organisations — both public and private — are held responsible to their stakeholders. Looking back, it was almost a precursor to the corporate governance work I do today.
I followed that with an MBA in Materials Management, which brought everything together — procurement strategy, supply chain economics, vendor management, and operational finance. It gave me the analytical and strategic framework to move into senior leadership roles at Procter & Gamble, Gillette, and Sony.
More recently, I have added certifications in Generative AI, SAP S/4HANA, Transportation Management, and data migration — keeping myself current in a rapidly evolving technology landscape.
And the qualification most directly relevant to this appointment — I have passed the Independent Director Proficiency Test conducted by the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, making me formally eligible to serve on Indian company boards under the Companies Act, 2013.
So taken together, my education spans engineering, public governance, supply chain management, and now corporate law and directorship — which I believe gives me a well-rounded foundation for a board role in an impact-driven, technology-forward company like yours.
