It can be hard to set yourself apart as a software developer, but Hardik Ghelani has been able to do it. With a reputation for being highly collaborative and a strategic partner, Hardik is known to bridge the gap between business, product, and engineering. My approach to leadership is rooted in collaboration and strategic alignment,” says Hardik, reflecting on his journey.
While Hardik may have launched his career in India, his track record shows an impressive work history sprawling across boundaries and borders. While working for Larsen & Toubro Infotech (LTI) in India on a project specific to Radiometer Inc., Hardik was approached by a Radiometer representative from Denmark. The company was facing a challenge in monitoring the near-real-time status of medical equipment used for cancer. My collaboration with Radiometer Inc. underscored the importance of innovative solutions in addressing real-world challenges,” Hardik explains. He was able to use SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) to develop a solution to help get the real-time status of their analyzer. Hardik’s talents did not go unnoticed, and this thought leader was later invited to Denmark by Radiometer Inc. for the implementation of this solution between 2009-2010.
Throughout his career, Hardik has collaborated and led various high-profile projects. “Each project presents unique challenges and opportunities for growth,” he notes. In October 2007, he refined his skills and furthered his knowledge while working on a project for Carrier Inc. in Syracuse, NY. Moving on from Orange city, after his Denmark journey, Hardik began working in the U.S. in July of 2011, where he has further honed his skills with LTI at HBO.
image of Hardik Ghelani
Hardik began his HBO adventure on a small team as a contractor. Working on a Metadata Integration & Network Delivery (MIND) software application, Hardik realized just a month in, that his contract was on the verge of being withdrawn. Refusing to let challenges beat him, Hardik approached the situation as an opportunity to grow, developing a remediation plan that not only saved the contract but also helped grow this HBO account for his employer from a small 3 resources to at least 21 resources with a multi-year contract.
Despite coming from a developmental background, Hardik’s contributions to designing the nonlinear scheduling software application for HBO GO and HBO Max helped him to achieve two promotions between July 2011 and July 2016. This software developer transitioned to a team lead position and quickly to a Senior Project Manager responsible for managing large portfolios.
Now, as the Director of Technical Program Management at ADP, Hardik is distinguishing himself as a leader, not just a manager. Working with teams of 140+ members, Hardik is responsible for ensuring Client customization, support & development for Next Gen HCM at ADP. Evolving from a technical role to a leadership position required a holistic understanding of project dynamics,” he explains. “Managing cross-functional teams demands a blend of empathy and strategic insight.”
Hardik has faced challenges though, operating in a scrum team-based model that relies on self-managing and cross-functionality, but proving capable of turning challenges into opportunity, he improved team efficiency and decreased the time to market through an innovative team model that allowed for dynamic resource allocation.
His development of the Dynamic Squad Model, which Hardik has used to address the challenges of resource allocation and team efficiency in the scrum team-based models at ADP, is one of his most notable achievements. This model is a modern way of organizing software development teams by focusing on a particular goal or purpose. It is “dynamic” in that the goal shapes the size and lifespan of individual squads.
More than just a software developer, Hardik Ghelani has demonstrated his dynamic and versatile approaches to technical program management, managing large-scale, cross-functional programs. His decade-long career managing large-scale, cross-functional programs underscores his commitment to excellence.
