Chai Break

Pooja Chawla Sanghavi
Pooja Chawla Sanghavi
Head - Performance Management and R&R, Tata Consultancy Service

Pooja is currently heading the Performance Management and Rewards & Recognition function for TCS, globally. With an extensive experience of about two decades in leading Strategic HR processes and Business Partnered HR delivery, her in-depth domain expertise spans across Talent Management, Total Rewards, People Analytics, Leadership Development, Resource Management, Change Management, and global HR operations.

Pooja has several certifications to her credit including Data-driven decision making from Harvard, Tata Business Excellence from Tata group and most recently, Yoga protocol instructor from Ministry of AYUSH, Govt of India. Being a perpetual learner herself, Pooja enjoys teaching the aspiring HR professionals at B-schools and sharing her insights on LinkedIn & other professional forums. 

Q:What do you think about the process adopted by PeopleFirst HR Excellence awards, while selecting the final winners?
A:PeopleFirst HR Excellence awards are among the very few awards that review award applications on merit and process it with high-quality checks through established processes and jury members. Recognition received through these awards is truly meaningful as it creates an environment of healthy collaboration within the HR fraternity to learn from the best practices of the winning organizations.
Q:What advice would you offer to aspiring HR professionals who aim to excel in their careers and make a meaningful contribution to their organizations?
A:The most successful HR professionals are those who are passionate about helping others succeed while driving organizational success through effective people management strategies. While the strategies can be learnt over a period of time through experience and guidance from mentors, aspiring HR professionals must develop strong interpersonal skills, empathy, problem-solving and conflict resolution skills along with a high degree of professionalism and integrity. The foundation of genuine interest in helping people is the baseline for all other skills. Career excellence will automatically follow.
Q:Mentorship and leadership development are crucial for organizational growth. Can you share your insights on how HR can facilitate leadership development programs effectively?
A:HR can play a crucial role in fostering a culture of continuous learning & development to nurture the next generation of leaders in the organization. Identifying leadership potential through performance management, coaching, mentoring and talent development on an ongoing basis is critical in today's changing world of work. The leadership development programs must be developed in alignment with the organization's long-term vision and its success must be measured accordingly.
Q:What role, according to you does an award play in boosting morale and productivity of the employees?
A:An award stands as a testimony of one's excellence and goes a long way in motivating the employees. It reinforces a sense of achievement, which in turn positively influences higher productivity as employees get more engaged and invested in their work. Not only for the employees receiving the award, but also when publicly acknowledged, it inspires others to strive for excellence too.