Our Leadership Team

Deepa Soman
TOP STRENGTHS
Input | Intellection | Strategic | Learner| Activator
Deepa has been an entrepreneur for over two decades now. Continuous improvement, design thinking, balanced development, and sustainability are her areas of interest. A people collector and connector keep her fascinated by the ideas of purpose and the interconnectedness of things, along with the love to read and write.
Deepa’s vision is to be a tool to collaborate and connect, unlocking potential towards building a better world.
Deepa Soman
Managing Director
Milind Soman
TOP STRENGTHS
Responsibility | Individualization | Strategic | Learner | Achiever
Meet our Director, a seasoned professional with a Mechanical Engineering and Marketing background. He is a certified Gallup Strengths coach and consultant with over 35 years of experience in technology and business. He specialises in organisational change and is passionate about helping individuals and startups find the right path and unlock their potential. Beyond work, he enjoys golf, swimming, and nature trails, is dedicated to teaching and learning and firmly believes in the principles of positive psychology
Milind Soman
Executive Director – Leadership Coach
Smita Arora
TOP STRENGTHS
Analytical | Relator | Maximiser | Responsibility | Arranger
Meet our Chief Operating Officer with 21 years of deep experience in Market Research & Consulting. Prior to Market Research, Smita has spent time in the Pharma & Healthcare industry managing brands. At Lumiere, Smita is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations and ensuring that the company’s business processes run smoothly and efficiently. Works closely with other senior management to implement the company’s strategic goals, manage resources, and improve overall operational performance. She has been a part of creating a curriculum in Qualitative research and a visiting faculty at a leading management school in Mumbai. Outside work she enjoys music, media and is a sports enthusiast.
Smita Arora
Chief Operating OfficerOur Core Team

Anuja Patankar
TOP STRENGTHS
Activator | Harmony | Empathy | Learner | Communication
Meet our Manager of Projects & Relationships with an MCom in HRM. Her main responsibilities revolve around HR functions and creating a productive work environment. She is committed to upholding Lumèire values, making her a valuable asset to the Lumèire team. She excels at connecting with stakeholders and clients, building strong relationships through effective communication and understanding of their needs. Additionally, she’s skilled at managing research projects, thriving in challenges, and as a leader, guiding teams toward common goals and fostering creativity and unity. She enjoys cooking and travelling in her free time.
Anuja Patankar
Manager of Projects & Relationships
Tanvee Dixit
TOP STRENGTHS
Learner | Intellection | Achiever | Relator | Responsibility
Meet our Research Director with experience of 4 years in the Healthcare Industry and 14 years in Market Research. Tanvee likes to explore new places and learn new things and in her free time she listens to old music.
Tanvee Dixit
Project Director
Sonali Salvi
TOP STRENGTHS
Deliberative | Learner | Discipline | Achiever | Significance
Meet our Project Director, who has over ten years of experience in consumer research and a background in IT engineering. With her unique blend of technical skills and consumer insights, she is a valuable asset to our team. Her expertise in quantitative analysis and passion for numbers make her an essential resource in helping clients make strategic decisions. When she is not at work, she enjoys humming tunes, reading, and honing her culinary skills.
Sonali Salvi
Project Director
Shilpa Raichurkar
TOP STRENGTHS
Analytical | Relator | Restorative | Learner | Context
Meet our Research Analyst with over 6+ years of experience in the market research industry. Prior to Market research, Shilpa has spent 1.5 years in IT as well, holding a Master’s degree in Computer Management (MCM). She is proficient in qualitative and quantitative market research, Power BI, data visualization, and prompt engineering, she excels with analytical prowess and a passion for continual learning. Outside of work. She finds enjoyment in collecting unique coins.
Shilpa Raichurkar
Research Analyst
Nisheel Shetty
TOP STRENGTHS
Input | Ideation | Connectedness | Restorative | Individualization
Meet our Senior Design Researcher with a B.Des in Industrial Design. With six years of experience, he specialises in Product Design and has collaborated with various lifestyle design brands. Nisheel is not just a product designer; he’s a dedicated environmentalist advocating for sustainable design. In his free time, he’s an illustrator, runs a video game review channel, and explores the world of cinema as a cinephile.
Nisheel Shetty
Senior Design Researcher
Juili Dharmadhikari
TOP STRENGTHS
Strategic | Input | Individualization | Learner | Achiever
Meet our Design Researcher with a background in BTech production engineering from VJTI. She’s known for her cheerful demeanour, adept problem-solving abilities, goal-oriented nature, and active participation in Lumiere’s content creation team. She possesses a keen ability to envision the broader perspective and craft effective plans effortlessly. In her leisure, she enjoys music, sports and has a deep passion for food. You’ll frequently spot her engrossed in a game of chess.
Juili Dharmadhikari
Design Researcher
Pallavi Gadre
TOP STRENGTHS
Deliberative I Discipline I Responsibility I Maximizer I Developer
Meet our Project Director, an MBA in Marketing with 8 years of experience in brand management, consumer research, sales, and corporate training. She has a strong track record in developing consumer insights, innovation initiatives, and market activations. After corporate roles, she ventured into entrepreneurship, curating team-building workshops for IT companies. She describes herself as passionate about order and structure, a patient listener, and a performance-oriented individual. Outside work, she enjoys baking and cooking.
Pallavi Gadre
Project Director
Shalini Uppoor
TOP STRENGTHS
Achiever | Relator | Self Assurance | Strategic | Positivity
Meet our Insight Consultant with 15 years of marketing experience and a PG DBM in Marketing. Her career spans large media companies, launching her own fashion and lifestyle experience venture and later consulting emerging startups. She excels at crafting impactful marketing strategies, is a lifelong learner, and enjoys sketching and exploring diverse cuisines in her free time.
Shalini Uppoor
Insight Consultant
Reshma Kamble
TOP STRENGTHS
Harmony | Deliberative | Consistency | Empathy | Adaptability
Meet our Accounts Executive with 11 years of experience and a B.Com in Accounts and Finance. She brings a responsible and loyal approach to their work. Outside the office, she enjoy traveling.
Reshma Kamble
Accounts Executive
Saba Modak
TOP STRENGTHS
Developer | Empathy | Responsibility | Connectedness | Harmony
I am working as a research executive at Lumiere for the past 3 months. I like the positive atmosphere at Lumiere. It’s a place where I get to learn new things every day. It’s an inclusive setup where each person is respected and valued. I am thankful to Lumiere for giving me an opportunity.
Saba Modak
Research Executive
Smita Pawar
TOP STRENGTHS
Consistency | Arranger | Responsibility | Communication | Harmony
Meet our Executive of Operations and Administration with 16 years of experience in roles such as service and account executive, holding a B.Com degree. She is known for her transparency, optimism, and loyalty. With her extensive experience and commendable qualities, she plays a pivotal role in ensuring smooth operation and administration. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music.
Smita Pawar
Executive - Operation & Admin
Smita Khadpe
TOP STRENGTHS
Futuristic | Consistency | Communication | Positivity | Focus
Meet our Executive of Operations and Administration has 9 years of experience as an Account Assistant and in Back Office Management. She is a positive and focused individual, which helps to ensure smooth operation and administration. Smita loves to travel, and during her free time, she enjoys bike riding and listening to old songs.
Smita Khadpe
Executive - Operation & Admin
Vanessa Fernandes
TOP STRENGTHS
Discipline | Responsibility | Restorative | Relator | Analytical
Meet our Research consultant with DMTC from Sasmira and experience as a merchandiser in garment and home furnishing export houses. She is a result-oriented team player. Vanessa enjoys reading and traveling as her hobbies.
Vanessa Fernandes
Research Consultant
Muskan Shaikh
TOP STRENGTHS
Individualization | Developer | Connectedness | Learner | Responsibility
Meet our Research Tutor, a recent BSc graduate in Biotechnology. She’s a unique and caring individual, passionate about helping others grow and develop. With a love for learning, building strong relationships, and a strong sense of responsibility, she is committed to her work. In her free time, she enjoys learning, teaching, singing, and sketching.
Muskan Shaikh
Research Tutor
Sukruthi Sheri
TOP STRENGTHS
Individualization | Context | Ideation | Connectedness | Arranger