Rama Shankar Pandey is a purpose-driven business leader, serial social entrepreneur and social-impact practitioner with 28+ years of leadership across the automotive and mobility ecosystem. He currently serves as CEO of Work With Dignity Foundation, Co-founder of Autoverse Mobility, and Executive Director at Paracoat Products Ltd. A former CEO of Tata Green Batteries and MD & CEO of Hella India Lighting, he has led high-growth and turnaround journeys, championing road safety, Right to Repair & workplace dignity through skilling & empowerment. An IIM Bangalore, ISB Hyderabad, and NIT Calicut alumnus, he has been recognised with multiple national and Asia-Pacific leadership awards and continues to advise industry and government through roles with ACMA, ASDC, MEPSC, FICCI, CII and as a National Resource Person for the Government of India’s SMILE – #BeggaryFreeIndia mission. His work is guided by a simple belief: skills over degrees, dignity over designation, and safety over speed.

Rama Shankar Pandey is a purpose-driven business leader, automotive industry veteran, and nationally recognised social-impact practitioner whose work spans mobility, skill development, workplace dignity, and public policy.

Former CEO of Tata Green Batteries & Former MD & CEO of Hella India Lighting Ltd. Mr. Pandey’s transition as CEO of Work With Dignity Foundation followed his national service as Social Defence Fellow of Indian Administrative Fellowship until Aug 2025 with the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE), Government of India, where he advanced initiatives in dignity and social protection. This role at WWD is in a combination of task along with his cofounder role at Autoverse Mobility empowering multi-brand aftermarket workshops, technicians across the country get fastest delivery of parts and Executive Director at Paracoat Products Ltd., contributing to its strategy & growth, thereby deepening his engagement in India’s automotive and mobility ecosystem while advancing social impact.

With 28+ years in entrepreneurial and turnaround leadership, Mr.Pandey has built a record of sustainable growth and workplace excellence, particularly in the domain of Road Safety, strong advocate of Right to Repair & making skills aspirational for the Indian Automotive Industry, Rama Shankar Pandey has the distinction of becoming one of India’s youngest professional CEO & MD for any listed MNC in India. At Hella India Lighting Ltd., he helped the company become one of India’s Top 25 Great Places to Work (2019) and a CII Innovation Award winner. An alumnus of IIM Bangalore, ISB Hyderabad and NIT Calicut, he has been recognized with honors including the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Award, ET-Now CSR Leadership Award, and ET’s Most Promising Business Leader of Asia.

Beyond the boardroom, Mr.Pandey serves the ecosystem through leadership roles with ACMA as EC Member and Mentor-Aftermarket, Chairman Skilling, with ASDC & MEPSC in Governing Council & Board respectively, co-founded Prayaas Bangalore (youth livelihood), founded Drive Smart, Drive Safe (road safety) and chairs FICCI sub-committee on Road Safety.

A strong believer in “skills over degrees” and “dignity over designation,” Mr.Pandey has mentored countless technicians, workshop owners, and industry entrepreneurs. His leadership is powered by a deep commitment to Vision Zero, ethical mobility, and customer safety.

Beyond industry, Mr.Pandey also continues to National Resource Person for the flagship national mission of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, #BeggaryFreeIndia (SMILE Mission) contributing to implementation frameworks, policy improvements, state-level capacity building, and public mobilisation.