At what point in your life did you decide to take up education technology? What were the guiding / motivating factors?

I come from a technical background but having worked in the IT industry for a few years, I felt a pressing need to contribute my skills to the betterment of the next generation in the field of education. Since 2011, I have been in the education technology field, and evangelising conscious use of technology for the benefit of the learners and teachers.

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 through various employee engagement initiatives?

The job of the HR department is a critical one because they must ensure that every employee’s strengths get utilised and nurtured, while also aligning their goals with the larger goals of the organisation. Most of the times, employees may come with skills that are different/insufficient to reach those goals, and thus may lead to stress. The concerted efforts of the HR team, along with immediate management’s support can help with that alignment to a great deal.

What are some of the most important employee engagement initiatives related to Music, Art, Dance or Sports that you have taken in your career?

I feel employees in any organisation must be allowed to bring their individual strengths to the table and HR should support them in working on their weaknesses. Every human being has some level of creativity and skill in them that they may/may not have been able to nurture during their school/work years. If organisations can supports their staff in growing their individual potential – be it in any form of art, the employees are likely to feel more fulfilled, and as a result, more committed to their organisation.

Do you think time and cost for employee engagements are an investment for the organisation and can help in multi-fold returns?

Definitely. There must be a daily commitment to nurture employee’s personal potential and creative abilities, and not just a supportive culture on paper. A healthy, happy and fulfilled individual is likely to be a more useful resource than a person who drags themselves to work. I definitely feel that health, wellness and enjoyment of employees should be at the core of the mission of any organisation.

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 initiative in your past or current organization?

Families are the pillars of our workforce and they must be given due acknowledgment. Getting the families to visit and see the work environment helps build trust both ways and makes both the employer and employee more committed to the growth of the other.

What is the one change that you would like to bring in HR practice that has potential to boost employees work-life balance?

Most people complain of lack of wellness and dedicate their un-healthiness to their busy schedule. I strongly feel that organisations should embed a culture of health in their spaces and their policies to ensure there is no reason for any employee to feel overwhelmed and hence, under-deliver.

What are your personal interests in Music, Art, Dance or Sports and how do you continue to pursue it?

I hold a bachelor’s degree in Indian Classical music. I also did a certification in storytelling and continue to do storytelling for children. Besides this, I love writing for young readers and have written two books that are available on amazon and even internationally. I continue to give time to my health by doing strength training 2-3 times a week and ensure that I maintain an active lifestyle while I juggle various roles at work and at home, the most important one being that of a mother.

Books: (1) Ramya’s bat (2) Let’s talk about my feelings
 

Any other thoughts you may want to share.

Getting to know the employees better, sharing authentic experiences, dining together, being honest and open is key to building lasting professional relationships.