How, where and when did you start your career, specifically in HR?
I had intended to study Mechanical Engineering and pursue a career in that area but instead I followed my father’s footsteps to specialize in HR from XISS, Ranchi and started my career with Siemens Ltd. at Kolkata in 1993 as Personnel Trainee.
Why did you choose HR as your professional field?
Honestly it was my father’s batchmate from XLRI and also my mentor Who led me down the HR path. The influence of my father being an IR professional throughout his career in a large automobile factory was a factor too.
Could you briefly describe the initial years of your career – what were the challenges you faced, the areas you enjoyed the most, the lessons learnt?
In the first decade of my HR career I was fortunate to work with two great multinationals – Siemens and Coca–Cola. One of the key challenges while at siemens was a staff union settlement which concluded with a productivity agreement after 12 months from the commencement of the discussions. At Coke the challenge was change management, from the acquired bottling units to Coke standards with people integration and acquiring talent from the market.
The area I enjoyed the most was understanding and collaborating with the Strategic Business Units on various HR process interventions. Peoplesoft the HRMS implementation at Siemens was another thoroughly enjoyable point. I had great learnings from the management and graduate engineer trainee program at Coke. My first union settlement at Hindustan Coca-Cola, Jamshedpur, a tough one to achieve, was also quite a high.
Getting into details of the business to understand productivity in the Union negotiation processes was a big life lesson. I also learnt it was important to follow processes and systems as the organization scales up. I learnt to build a rapport with supervisors, HR teammates and with internal stakeholders.
What would you describe as the highest point of your HR career?
I would say the best moment of my career is the one when I moved over to Head, HR at Mahindra Logistics in Mumbai .The main challenge of the stint was to transform HR from being an administrative support to a business contributor. We adopted a new grading and designation structure in line with a B2B service organization, formed a talent council with investment in Management Trainee programmes, set up a high potential leadership development programme, and designed and implemented a Shadow Board Programme.
Developing manpower suppliers as business partners, collaborative industrial relations strategy with our large customers and finally being a key member of the business restructuring and change management initiative done in conjunction with a large consultancy firm were other high points.
Two more eureka moments have been to set up a startup business while working in a retail firm and being involved in an acquisition process while in a stint with a tyre company.
Some of these best moments of my career have not only helped to strengthen my HR domain and delivery but has helped the orgnaisation in responding to the changing market needs and meeting the growth aspirations.
How did these achievements transform you personally and professionally?
Being in the HR profession has helped me get a natural connect with people, ability to listen and provide solutions and above all to give and earn respect.
On the professional front, I have made some great friends from professional colleagues I have worked with over the years. Decision making ability, risk taking, and coaching young HR talent to give their best are some of the key aspects of the job.
What advice would you like to give HR practitioners of the next generation?
Some of the key learnings and experiences have summed up as below for HR practitioners:
R–Understand the Role clearly
E–Enthusiasm in the role and Entrepreneural thinking
S–Speed of implementation
P–Planning and Preparation is always key
O–Desired Output at various moments
N–Build Formal and Informal Networks for influencing
D–Invest in Self –Development
