Ramya Cotah

Background

About Ramya Cotah

I have often been told that I ask a lot of 'whys'. This curiosity has driven me across continents, industries and experiences. Living my dream to break glass ceilings, I strive to show people that success is possible with purpose and passion while pursuing my mission to create happiness and joy. FOUNDATION My journey began in the vibrant lobbies of the luxury Indian hospitality industry, where I delved into pricing strategy & marketing. The pinnacle of this chapter was launching a hotel amidst the pandemic. This experience was a crash course in project management, communication, handling ambiguity, embodying agility, & creating order from chaos. What I loved about the industry was creating memorable experiences, designing innovative strategies, & problem-solving daily to keep guests happy & the business profitable. EXPLORATION However, my curiosity & desire to challenge myself brought me across the world to pursue my Rotman MBA. It was here, amidst finance & economics, that I stumbled upon design thinking & felt a spark within me. But I found myself in a rat race of imposter syndrome & trying to fit in, followed by a journey of self-(re)discovery. My epiphany was realising I was always in flow when discussing user experiences, psychology, behavioral decision-making, & neuro-marketing. Friends told me I lit up! VISION I aim to blend business and design using human-centered strategies in service, systems design, and consulting, helping businesses turn challenges into victories with my versatile skills, empathy, and growth mindset. OUTSIDE WORK My curiosity & drive to impact have led me to: •Author my first book of poetry - Diary of a perplexed twenty something •Start a podcast about navigating life in your twenties - Flip The Script •Teach young Tibetan monks English; assist a differently abled community with funding & digital materials; help GRT hotels provide food to Covid warriors •Explore 24 countries across 5 continents, immersing in local cultures •Bungee jump, skydive, zip-line, paraglide, hot air balloon, trek; PADI Level 2 dive certification •Participate as a ramp model, ac in ads; selected by designer Prasad Bidapa for a modelling workshop •Play field events at the school & district level; awarded Best Women’s Athlete in college; avid runner, novice swimmer, little bit of CrossFit •Participate in debates, elocution, skits; enjoy writing, reading, solving puzzles I believe adventure is a part of life! Happy to connect if you ever want to share stories or go for a workout session—because every great connection begins with a story.