A.K. Sharma is the Chief Operating Officer for Communities In Schools® (CIS®), based in the Arlington, VA, national office. He brings over 15 years of diverse experience across the nonprofit, federal government, and private sectors. Most recently, he served as Head of Shared Services at Yoga Alliance, where he provided strategic leadership across global operations, including finance, IT, and human resources, for an international membership organization representing over 100,000 members. At Yoga Alliance, A.K. was instrumental in guiding the organization through key initiatives in digital transformation, process optimization, and governance enhancement, ensuring the alignment of operations with the organization's strategic goals.

During his time at the Small Business Administration (SBA), A.K. managed a $100M budget and led a team that was instrumental in the agency's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He played a crucial role in overseeing key areas such as human resources, IT operations, and strategic planning, driving the implementation of innovative solutions that enhanced disaster relief efforts and significantly improved organizational efficiency. For his commitment to customer service, innovation, and excellence during this period, A.K. was honored with the prestigious Ike Award, named after President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He also championed initiatives that transformed the SBA’s culture, with a strong focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Prior to his tenure at the SBA, A.K. was the Chief Operating Officer for North America at TAC Secured, a professional services firm providing vital support to federal government agencies, including the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, and Department of the Navy. He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and holds an MBA in Business Administration and Management from California State University, as well as a BA in Computer Information Systems and Human Resource Development from James Madison University.