| Current Organization | Xoriant Solutions |
| Designation | Director - HR |
Previous Organization(s) |
Hexaware technology |
Belongs to (place from) |
Maharashtra |
MADS Interest |
Painting, singing, Dancing |
Favorite MADS Personalities |
Amitabh Bachchan |
Life Mantra |
Live and let live |
I draw inspirations from |
Small things in life |
Had I not been an HR Professional then |
I would be a painter |
At what point in your life did you decide to take up HR as your career? What were the guiding / motivating factors?
HR just happened to me. But the evolution as a HR professional was the one which was most exciting. Once I started working in this field I sure did know what I didn’t want to do for the next 10 or 20 years as was the knowing that what I wanted to do. Business success highly depends on the careful management of all resources, including human capital. HR connects the value of human capital to the company’s bottom line. As a part of the role HR works closely with the top management on the organization’s direction, employee development, and strategic planning. Along with attracting top talent, HR also enables employees to develop their skills and talents for their own benefit and that of the organisation hence connecting this people and business is a very satisfying journey, as well as there is sense of completion to see people grow in their careers and lives. Creativity, thoughtfulness, mindfulness are very important qualities which I enhanced in this role making a very significant impact on my life and career.
HR is one practice that touches human lives directly. Do you think employers and specially HR Professional can play role in reducing stress levels of employees
Of course, engagement is a whole rounded effort. Different things make different people engaged. It is important to understand what engagement really means to your people and how stress affects them. A happier workforce is a more productive workforce. So, all means which can reduce stress and increase engagement are important from the people perspective and HR has big role to play in this.
What are some of the most important employee engagement initiatives related to Music, Art, Dance or Sports that you have taken in your career?
We have participated in Radio Mirchi talent contest for corporates. Participated in Stan chart marathon every year. We have runners-group in our office. We also have a hobby lobby group which engages employees in areas of learning music, arts and other hobbies like trekking.
Do you think time and cost for employee engagements are an investment for the organisation and can help in multi-fold returns?
As mentioned before happy employee is a happy customer and in turn a happy organisation. If people engagement is not invested effort, it shows up in all spheres of an organization value chain. As per research, just by increasing a company’s engagement by just 10% can increase profits by $2,400 per employee per year. This is a huge value benefit there.
Do you feel there is a need even to reach out to the family of employees so that they get better connected to the company? Have you undertaken any such initiat
The value of family in the Indian context is unfathomable and Xoriant HR recognises this. We take every opportunity where we can to connect with family members as the bonding is what is crux of a human life.
We have kids’ days organised once a year in office and also an Annual day where family is invited to the office. We also thank employee families every year with promotion cards given to the employee ’s who are promoted. During Diwali we invite family members of employees to put up stalls in office for sale of various items. On special occasions we send cake to families on their achievements (10th and 12th results of employee children).
What is the one change that you would like to bring in HR practice that has potential to boost employees work-life balance?
Work life balance is an array of things. Discipline in time management and interest in self awareness if important. While employees juggle on multiple fronts, I would like HR to be able to build more practices from self-awareness perspective as well as managing stress. I would love to bring spirituality as a practice as workplace which helps people manage their greatest life challenge. Meditation on regular basis is a boon to the tired body and mind. Anything that take your in meditative state helps in a big way to achieve this. For e.g.: if I love music and am able to do it even for fifteen minutes with my heart and soul, that is meditation for me. I wish corporates start looking at the mindfulness part more seriously to achieve work life balance for its employees and it becomes mainstream HR practice.
What are your personal interests in Music, Art, Dance or Sports and how do you continue to pursue it?
I am personally interested in painting and Music. I do practice both of these regularly and take hobby classes of children in my spare time. Bliss to the soul is what I call a “hobby”.
