Deepa Soman has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai (1985) and a postgraduate degree in Business Management (Marketing) from S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai (1987) and started working in Hindustan Lever Limited as Management Trainee post campus recruitment. Thereafter Deepa spent six years in HLL and worked in the erstwhile Lipton India Limited, holding positions as Area Sales Manager and as Marketing Research Manager.

She availed of a career break from HLL in 1993 and moved to Jamaica for three years, where she worked as Consultant with a marketing research firm, J. A. Young Research Ltd. At J. A Young Research Ltd, she had an opportunity to direct large quantitative and qualitative research projects for key sectors like FMCG, Telecom, Cement, Petrochemicals and Government.

At Jamaica she was also visiting faculty at the University of West Indies, Mona Campus, and taught a program in Marketing Research to undergraduate students as a part of the Bachelor of Management Studies Programme.

After her three-year stint in Jamaica, Deepa returned to India and set up Lumičre Business Solutions, a boutique qualitative marketing research firm, with the credo, “shedding light on business problems through knowledge”.

Lumičre has worked extensively with HLL, partnering in the co-creation and refinement of research methodologies ranging from idea evaluation through finished product. We have worked across all Home and Personal Care brands in the company’s portfolio, to study each element of the marketing mix. Deepa was invited by Unilever to train their qualitative research agencies in S.E Asia on key consumer connect and testing methodologies.

Lumičre Business Solutions has a team of 15 junior and senior researchers with varied academic and sectoral backgrounds and experience. We conduct research capabilities all India and in 9 Indian languages. The client list has expanded to include sectors like Pharmaceuticals, Petrochemicals, Agri products, Retail, Entertainment and Media. The range of research solutions offered extend beyond brand and product to Internal Climate Studies, HR and Personnel, Training and Learning, and business growth.

Lumičre is a run as a unique business model, a virtual, networked organization where consultants practice work format options to achieve work-life balance via flexi time and work out of home office. We have a 100% on-time project delivery and over 80% of the work done is repeat business from highly satisfied clients who benefit from the strong spirit of partnering on business problem. All work is exclusively based on repeat business and referrals from satisfied clients.

Deepa is a keen reader and practitioner of creativity and has facilitated creativity sessions for idea generation with Corporates. She is a managing committee member of the Market Research Society of India, an association of MR users and practitioners and is actively involved with various activities of the association. One of her passion involves broadening the understanding and application of Marketing Research by businesses who are presently not core buyers and users of research.

Deepa is an avid reader, poet, essayist, sports and fitness enthusiast, nature enthusiast and member of the Bombay Natural History Society. She loves music, travel and gardening, and is a keen people collector. She is married and a mother of two children aged 14 and 10˝. Her dream is to make a difference to the larger majority by working in the area of social development.