Radhika Thakkar has built a dynamic and multifaceted career, evolving from a scientist to a strategic leader in procurement consulting. As a principal at Efficio Consulting, she brings extensive expertise in procurement strategy, research, analysis, and digital sourcing. She also distinguishes herself as a mentor and advocate for women in the workplace.
Since joining Efficio in 2018 as a senior consultant, Ms. Thakkar has steadily risen, becoming a senior manager in 2021 and assuming her current leadership role in 2024. Her responsibilities include overseeing programs, supporting project managers with client strategies, and analyzing digital initiatives to drive cost efficiency and operational improvement. She also plays an active role in mentoring team members across the organization, fostering professional development and team cohesion.
A defining part of Ms. Thakkar’s tenure at Efficio has been her commitment to women’s empowerment. As the most senior female consultant at the time of her arrival, she founded the company’s women’s network to address gender biases and build a sense of shared strength. She encourages women to view their perspectives as assets, offering guidance on navigating workplace challenges with confidence and pride. Her leadership approach, which is centered on open dialogue rather than top-down management, has been widely appreciated and has helped shape a more inclusive culture within the firm.
Prior to her consulting career, Ms. Thakkar gained valuable experience at Coach, where she served as a global procurement manager and supplier enablement manager from 2014 to 2018. Her professional journey began at Chassix, where she advanced from junior buyer to purchasing project manager between 2011 and 2013. Before entering the business world, she contributed to cancer research as a lab technologist at the University of Michigan Health System from 2007 to 2011 and co-authored a publication in Cancer Research entitled “Role of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Degradation in Cisplatin-Induced Cytotoxicity in Head and Neck Cancer.”
Ms. Thakkar’s academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Science in microbiology from Michigan State University in 2010. She later expanded her business expertise through a certificate in corporate finance from the New York Institute of Finance in 2013 and a business sales and marketing certificate from Washtenaw Community College in 2011.
Outside of her professional life, Ms. Thakkar is a dedicated athlete and performer. She has competed in soccer since childhood, serving as captain of the Ann Arbor United Club team in high school where she has continued on as coach for the same club. She is also an accomplished dancer affiliated with the Noor Dance Company.
Ms. Thakkar’s personal life is centered around her family, including her three children, who bring daily purpose and joy. She credits her success to her internal drive and the unwavering support of her parents and husband, who is also a consultant. Her mother, a former management consultant at Gemini, and her father, both now business owners, instilled in her a spirit of entrepreneurship, adaptability, and creative problem-solving.
Looking to the future, Ms. Thakkar aspires to transition into a more strategic advisory role, offering high-level insights to C-suite executives. She envisions being called upon as a trusted advisor, helping senior leaders shape long-term strategies and acting as a reliable sounding board for their vision.