% 100% left
 Home

About

Eighteen years in, still curious.

Hi there,

My name is Atulesh Kumar, and I am a UX Research & Design Principal at PepsiCo, leading as UX Design Manager. In my present role, I drive end-to-end design strategy across Supply Chain, Procurement, and PFNA ecosystems—simplifying complex, data-heavy workflows for thousands of users across one of the world’s largest consumer goods businesses.

Before PepsiCo, I spent seven years as Lead Designer at Nurturey, a parenting and child health platform, where I owned the full product design. I partnered with early-stage startups like Money Uncle, where I was responsible for transforming raw product ideas into scalable business capabilities.

Before diving into enterprise leadership, I earned my PG Diploma in Design & Multimedia from CDAC and started my career at Net Solutions as a graphic and web designer, where I spent three and a half years learning the production craft that still informs how I evaluate work today.

Throughout my 18+ year career, I have provided strategic leadership across various FinTech, HealthTech, EdTech, and AI initiatives. My core focus areas have been design governance, product strategy, and organisational capability.

  • Hyderabad, India
  • 18+ years
  • 100+ products
  • 4 global regions
  • Atulesh Kumar smiling, in a pink polo shirt

The long way up

From Photoshop layers to global product teams

  1. Now

    UX Research & Design Principal, PepsiCo Global UXD

    Leading as UX Design Manager: six portfolios, four regions, 70K+ frontline users.

  2. Associate Design Manager, PepsiCo

    I moved from making products to building the team that makes them.

  3. Lead UX & UI Designer, Nurturey (UK)

    Seven years, 30+ tools for parents, and an NHS Login flow that lifted sign-ups by about 50%. Read the case study

  4. Sr UX & UI Designer, Navix LLC (contract)

    Prototypes and visual design for a US health-tech startup.

  5. Lead UI Designer, Koru UX, Pune

    Healthcare products for major US providers, built to AAA accessibility.

  6. Creative Lead, Illuminz, Mohali

    My first time sitting across from clients and running design end to end.

  7. Senior Web Designer, Net Solutions, Chandigarh

    First websites I owned, and first junior designers I mentored.

  8. Graphic Designer, Net Solutions, Chandigarh

    Where I learned Adobe inside out, and that deadlines are real.

Before all this: a BA in Mass Communication & Journalism and a PG Diploma in Design & Multimedia (CDAC). The journalism still shows. I interview users the way I was taught to interview sources.

The paper trail

Proof I keep doing my homework

Recognition

  • Certification of Appreciation – Act as Owner

    PepsiCo CTO

    2023

  • CIO 100 Award for SalesPro+

    Team I designed for

    2024

Certifications

  • AI for Designers

    Interaction Design Foundation

    2024

  • Certified Usability Analyst (CUA)

    Human Factors International

    2023

  • Mobile UX

    Interaction Design Foundation

    2022

Education

  • PG Diploma in Design & Multimedia

    CDAC

    2006–07

  • BA, Mass Communication & Journalism

    Bundelkhand University

    2003–06

Off the clock

When I’m not designing, I’m building something

  • 3D printing
  • Motorcycling
  • DIY projects
  • Music
  • Travel
  • Learning new tech

Same itch as design: take something apart, understand it, make it better.

I also write about design, AI and learning: Thoughts . And I’ve mentored 20+ designers.

Résumé

Prefer it on one page?

Everything above, on a single page you can forward.

No strings attached, except maybe a few well-placed design grids.

View LinkedIn

Let’s talk design, strategy, and maybe even coffee.

Inquire LinkedIn