Naval Thakur

"Hard work beats talent,
if Talent does not work hard"

Hi there! I’m Naval Thakur — a builder of digital ecosystems, a mentor of agile minds, and a tech strategist on a mission. Strap in, because this journey has been one heck of a ride!

My tech spark lit up back in the early 2000s, fueled by curiosity and a deep love for solving real-world problems through software. Over the past 18+ years, that spark has grown into a full-blown fire as I’ve helped global enterprises navigate the complex world of DevOps, Cloud Computing, and Digital Transformation. From leading FinOps programs to streamlining DevSecOps pipelines, I’ve lived and breathed the intersection of strategy, scalability, and speed.

My career has taken me through some fascinating terrain — from automating infrastructure at scale, driving multi-cloud cost optimization, to mentoring cross-functional teams in their journey toward agile excellence. And through it all, one thing has remained constant: my passion for simplifying the complex and scaling what works.

But let’s be real — tech isn’t just tools and frameworks; it’s about the people who make it come alive. That’s why I’ve always been drawn to mentorship and knowledge sharing. Whether I’m leading a workshop on API management or speaking at an SRE forum, there’s nothing like that lightbulb moment when an idea clicks for someone. I live for those.

I’m also deeply involved in community-driven innovation — from leading Global Special Interest Groups in Cloud and Open Source, to rolling out enterprise-wide strategies in large, distributed teams. My goal? To help the next wave of technologists and leaders thrive in a world that’s always changing.

And if you’re wondering what fuels me — it’s this belief: technology done right can transform not just businesses, but lives. That’s why I advocate for responsible innovation, inclusive leadership, and building systems that empower people at every level.

When I’m not busy architecting hybrid cloud solutions or coaching teams on agile delivery, you’ll find me exploring new ways to blend GenAI, blockchain, and automation into the heart of modern DevOps.

So that’s me in a nutshell — a tech enthusiast with a strategy mindset and a heart for community. If you’re into cloud architecture, enterprise agility, or just want to jam about the future of work, let’s talk. Because with the right mindset and a little bit of code, the possibilities are endless.

Organizations

Key Responsibilities

As the Practice Manager for SDLC at SLB, I am focusing on
– Establishing industry aligned best practices in the SDLC and DevOps areas.
– Evaluating and Maturing the DevOps best practices.
– Adhering the industry wide frameworks DORA, DOCA, i3PM.
– Managing tools landscape for exceling these practices.
– Achieving cost leadership with tools rationalization.
– Enabling GenAI across all phases of DevOps lifecycle of the project to achieve Cognitive DevSecOps.

DevOps transformations to Agile ways of working leading to faster time-to-market and streamlined deliveries.

➤ Strategies related to Consolidation, obsolescence and modernization initiatives on Tools landscape.
➤ Enabling, empowering and scaling cross-functional, cross-culture, multi-vendor and geographically distributed teams in removing any roadblocks, promote self-awareness and deliver seamlessly across portfolio hierarchies.
➤ Subject Matter Expert for Enterprise Governance on Tools & Apps providing strategic and tactical inputs to Governance groups, Change advisory groups, Value stream and portfolio owners.
➤ Migrations and Integrations across tools enabling teams to have consistent experience and seamless onboarding to Continuous Planning, Continuous Integration, Continuous Deployment, Continuous Delivery, Continuous Operations, Continuous Monitoring, Continuous Security, Continuous Compliance and Continuous Inspection.
➤ Implemented Jira Align for Enterprise agility and aligning corporate strategy to team level execution.
➤ Modernize the platform tools by decommissioning legacy Serena tools suite.
➤ Decommissioned (Released and saved dollars) 20+ servers by migrating to cloud based Azure DevOps Work item flows for backlog and portfolio management.
➤ Enterprise wide rollout of CMS platforms named uCMDB and its integrations with other Operations and Monitoring platforms like Dynatrace, APM, Service Now.

Key Responsibilities

Design and Implementation of DevOps Strategy:
- Develop and implement comprehensive DevOps strategies to streamline software development and deployment processes.
- Ensure alignment with business goals and objectives.
CI/CD Pipeline Design:
- Design and manage Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines to automate software delivery processes.
- Ensure pipelines are robust, scalable, and efficient.
Automation and Infrastructure as Code (IaC):
- Automate manual processes using tools like Chef, Puppet, Ansible, and Terraform.
- Implement IaC to manage infrastructure through version-controlled code.
Environment Setup and Management:
- Construct different environments (IaaS, PaaS) for developers to test and deploy applications efficiently.
- Manage and monitor these environments for optimal performance.
Collaboration and Communication:
- Facilitate communication and collaboration between development, operations, and security teams.
- Ensure that technical operations align with business requirements.
Monitoring and Logging:
- Set up monitoring and logging systems.
- Ensure these systems provide actionable insights for troubleshooting and optimization.
Technical Leadership and Mentoring:
- Provide technical guidance and mentorship to team members.
- Advocate for best practices in DevOps methodologies.
Analysis and Optimization:
- Analyze current development and operations processes to identify gaps and propose solutions.
- Implement changes to optimize workflows and improve system reliability.
Cloud and Containerization Expertise:
- Design and implement infrastructure and CI/CD pipelines optimized for cloud platforms
- Utilize containerization tools like Docker and Kubernetes for efficient application deployment.
Staying Updated with Industry Trends:
- Continuously learn and adapt to new technologies and methodologies in DevOps.
- Stay informed about industry trends and best practices.

Key Responsibilities

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- Develop and manage project plans, including timelines, resource allocation, and risk assessment.
- Create detailed project schedules and allocate tasks among team members.
- Establish clear deliverables, roles, and responsibilities for all staff members.
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- Lead and motivate technical teams to achieve project goals.
- Assemble and train teams on processes and strategies.
- Oversee day-to-day technical operations, including assignments and personnel reviews.
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- Communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Hold regular meetings with stakeholders to manage expectations and provide updates on project progress.
- Translate technical details into general terms for non-technical stakeholders.
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- Manage project budgets, making adjustments as needed.
- Conduct cost-benefit analyses for new hardware and software purchases.
- Forecast resource usage and plan accordingly to avoid budget overruns.
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- Oversee the technical aspects of projects, ensuring they meet technical standards and deadlines.
- Research and evaluate new hardware and software technologies.
- Update and maintain hardware and software systems as needed.
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- Identify and mitigate risks to keep projects on track.
- Implement quality management processes to ensure project deliverables meet intended outcomes.
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- Generate regular reports to update stakeholders on project status.
- Document project progress and maintain records of technical processes.
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- Proficiency in project management software and tools.
- Understanding of technical concepts relevant to the project, such as programming languages or software engineering.

Key Responsibilities

Design and develop user interfaces
Ensure UI/UX design is implemented correctly for a smooth user experience
Develop server-side logic
Create and manage databases using technologies
Participate in all aspects of agile software development, including design, implementation, and deployment