Totem

/ˈtəʊtəm/

A totem is a symbolic depiction of a tribe’s skills and heritage. Every totem is unique and serves as a gathering point for a clan to come together.

At Talking Totem, we bring together a wealth of niche skills that can help accelerate your business results. We partner with clients to shape their ideas into revenue-generating businesses or find the big problems preventing growth. We do this through innovative research-backed strategies, deep tactical execution expertise, and a strong foundation in process optimization. And for over a decade, we have enabled global start-ups, SMEs, and entrepreneurs to set up, manage, and grow their businesses profitably and efficiently.

It’s what we believe in. What we stand for. It’s our Totem.

Our Team

  • Supraja (Su) Subburaj

Founder & Principal

Strategic Leader. Entrepreneur. Board Advisor

With over two decades of diverse experience in working with Fortune 500 organizations across industries, Su helps businesses realize their potential. Her proven track record in solving complex problems has helped startups, small and medium companies transform into sustainable businesses.

Su is currently the CMO for SiteOwl, the world’s first unified, digital platform for security systems and has served on the advisory board for several other startups in her past roles.

When not cultivating new business ideas, you can find Su in the garden cultivating her exotic plants.

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  • Mahalakshmi (Maha) Vijayakumar

Senior Consultant - Process & Digital Transformation

Digital Transformer. Process Manager. Automation Acharya.

As a detail-oriented project manager, Maha leverages her Lean Sigma Green Belt to design and optimize business processes and improve profitability. Her 13 years of expertise in digital transformation and automation of manual processes, enables her to streamline efficiency for both our product and service-based clients.

Before Talking Totem, Mahalakshmi led a part of the global sales operations team for the EMEA region at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and was a product operations manager with India’s largest matrimonial website.

Behind her quiet efficiency also lurks a sweet-tooth monster. Don’t ask her to share.

  • Kalaivani (Kalai)

Senior Consultant - Process & Operations Optimization

Compliance Guru. Operational Analyst. Processing Prodigy.

A certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Kalai drives our process compliance, documentation, audit, and controls, and enables operational excellence by using analytics to build business transparency for leadership.

Her immense expertise in Audit, Q&RM, Accountancy, Internal Controls, and Data Governance, ensures we maintain high-quality assurance in all our projects incorporating world-class standard protocols.

She previously worked with Ernst & Young and led the process compliance team that was responsible for managing the end-to-end audit procedures.

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  • Charul Negi

Consultant - Marketing Operations

Creative Storyteller. Content Strategist. Analytics Whizkid.

With an eye for creative communication and digital analytics, Charul brings together the magic of maths and marketing to make brands reach the right audience.

Charul manages the execution of high-performance marketing initiatives for many of Talking Totem’s clients. As a marketer who is deeply rooted in process, Charul leads many of our marketing automation projects.

When not working, you’ll find her enjoying Sufi music, writing Hindi poems, and painting landscapes.

  • Shalini Antay

Senior Consultant - Business Operation

Business Analyst. Product Enhancement. Project Management.

Shalini brings over 16 years of experience in Operations, Product, and Process Automation, for our clients across multiple industries.

Shalini’s end-to-end business understanding has helped optimize projects for some of our largest clients, including startups and enterprises in B2C, C2C, B2B spaces. In her previous role, Shalini successfully held the challenging position of State Head of Customer Service for the largest courier and delivery network in India, and was the operations manager at Bharatmatrimony, India’s biggest matchmaking website.

Her coordination, project management, and time management capabilities enable us to complete projects on time, and within budget. And while that may seem like music to your ears, it’s not surprising to us, as Shalini is also a certified Carnatic music professional.

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  • Mithra Srinivasan

Associate - Operations & Project Management

Efficiency Manager. Collaboration Expert. Green Queen.

Mithra is a project management professional with experience in the management of resources and efficiency analysis. Her coordination and management capabilities ensure the smooth completion of all Talking Totem projects.

Mithra is also a LEED® Green Associate professional and utilizes her skills to bring sustainability principles to companies both large and small.

A thrill-seeker, Mithra enjoys everything from bungee jumping to high-altitude sky diving.

What Our Clients Say