Poonam is a competent and accomplished educationist possessing multi-cultural work experience ranging from university teaching and academic research to administration and management in the educational and research sectors in India, USA and United Kingdom. Poonam has a Masters degree from Delhi University and an MBA from Rider University, New Jersey. She is a Member Sigma Nu chapter of Sigma Epsilon Honorary and Professional Fraternity in Management, USA and is also a Member Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society for alumni of AACSB accredited schools of Business Administration, USA.

She has worked for organizations such as VSO where she was responsible for administration and financial management, Tata Energy Research Institute where her responsibilities included  Designing Management Information System and Project Monitoring Systems Reports, Financial Analysis, liaison with bilateral organizations and organizing several national and International seminars. She has been the Head of Research, Development and Consultancy Division of Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, a National Examination Board, for six years and been the Deputy Secretary for fourteen years where she was heading conduct of senior secondary school examinations nationally and internationally and was also responsible for all matters pertaining to ISC (Class XII) Examinations. Her work also included regular interaction with government organizations and Ministries to facilitate implementation of national policies in the educational domain.