Murugu Balaji, PMP

Program Manager at Cisco

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

About

Accomplished PROGRAM MANAGER with over 20 years of global experience, including 9 years of U.S.-based work, leading complex, enterprise-wide technology programs across multi-domain environments. Recognized for successfully driving strategic, high-impact initiatives such as large-scale data center migrations, middleware infrastructure upgrades, cloud integrations, and enterprise system modernization. Recognized for driving strategic initiatives and leveraging cutting-edge Generative AI (GPT-5 Pro, Gemini 3.1 Pro, Claude 4.5 Haiku) to optimize project governance, resource forecasting, and financial precision. Brings deep expertise in both Agile and Waterfall methodologies, with a consistent record of delivering programs on time, within budget, and aligned with organizational goals. Demonstrated leadership in managing end to end infrastructure integration for major healthcare mergers and acquisitions worth of $75 Million, ensuring seamless transitions with minimal business disruption. Highly skilled in Stakeholder management, ITSM framework implementation, release/change governance, and cross-functional team leadership. Played a key role in pre-sales activities. Currently Managing 35 resource across multiple geographies

Experience

  • Cisco ()
    • Program Manager
      Nov 2025 - Present · 9 mos

    • Project Manager
      Sep 2021 - Nov 2025 · 4 yrs 3 mos

      Managing project which develops a common infra using the technology of Network Function Virtualization Infra (NFVI) with the carrier grade platform across technology group and to cater different network / Telco and IT work loads. Handling ACI Implementation project to Automate customer data center network environment by selecting Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure to centralize the automation and Policy driven Application profile. Actively participating Pre Sales activity to determine the resource requirement and cost of the budget.

  • Project Manager at Wipro Limited
    Jan 2020 - Sep 2021 · 1 yr 9 mos

    Handling multiple infra related projects responsible to prepare and delivery end to end project which includes resourcing, Budgeting and Schedule. Working in Firewall upgrade, IVANTI tool implementation, AZURE service transition projects. Successfully closed Datacenter upgrade and consolidation project. Overseeing 3 project manager deliverables.

  • IT Project Manager at Sanofi
    Feb 2019 - Jan 2020 · 1 yr

    Driving and Managing O365 tenant to tenant cloud migration project. Collaborating Infra integration part of Merger & Acquisitions program. Coordinating with two entities service owners to draft Messaging (O365) Skype, SharePoint high level and details level requirement gathering. Working with Service owners to define integration strategy and time lines. Worked with different Vendor to share the requirements and answer their questions to prepare the implementation strategy and the RFP. Working on to define strategy for Cloud( Tenant) to Cloud ( Tenant) migration

  • Associate Operations Manager at Cognizant Technology Solutions
    May 2010 - Jan 2020 · 9 yrs 9 mos

  • Infrastructure Project Manager / Scrum Master at Cigna
    Aug 2017 - Jan 2019 · 1 yr 6 mos

    Worked extensively with Application team, JSP and Middleware team for successful project implementation. Worked in AWS cloud infra upgrade projects for leading health care company. Used key Scrum metrics (burndown, velocity) to track and deliver committed work Manage, collect, and disseminate project requirements, metrics, and test and implement strategies. Managed all Scrum Ceremonies including Sprint Planning, Daily Standups, Sprint retrospectives, Sprint Demos, Story Grooming, and Release Planning Orchestrate application deployment all the way through. I was Working with transformation team to setup infrastructure for the application using devops tools : Jenkins, Git, Ansible and udeploy for both on promise and cloud ( AWS) Onboarding application to start using Jenkin pipeline CI /CD automation Establish and track success criteria and metrics for the program and projects. Participate in establishing practices, templates, policies, and tools, partnerships to expand and mature these capabilities for the organization. Worked with IT Business analysts, systems analysts, software designers and programmers to determine the best methods to achieve the projects objectives and requirements