Upali Nag Kumar: Driving strategic growth and innovation at Wavemaker India

Upali Nag Kumar brings a wealth of expertise in strategy, client leadership, and business transformation, currently serving as the Chief Strategy Officer at Wavemaker India and Motivator (GroupM Media India Pvt. Ltd.). With a career built on steering high-impact strategic direction, Upali plays a key role in ensuring that clients' marketing investments deliver both efficiency and long-term growth, anchored in data, insights, and measurable outcomes.

At Wavemaker, Upali leads strategic thinking for a diverse portfolio of brands, blending innovative communication frameworks with rigorous consumer insights. Her focus remains on unlocking value for businesses by aligning strategies with market needs and driving measurable business impact across categories.

Beyond her current leadership at Wavemaker, Upali also extends her expertise to academic circles as a member of the Academic Advisory Board at MICA, contributing her industry knowledge to shape future talent. Her career trajectory spans significant leadership roles, including Vice President – Sales and Marketing at Titan Company Limited, where she managed customer relations and brand development, and Business Director at Starcom MediaVest Group, driving key accounts and operations.

Upali’s career has been marked by diverse experiences, from sales production and media consulting to content strategy and analytics. Her past roles include positions at Times Television, UTV, and Lowe Lintas, among others, where she worked on brand strategy, media planning, and business development across multiple sectors.

With a foundation in Communications from MICA and a career that blends analytical precision with creative thinking, Upali remains a vital force in shaping strategic excellence and innovation within the media and advertising industry