Archana Rajesh: A Trailblazing People's Leader
Archana Rajesh
Director , HR & Operations
To learn more about Archana and her inspirational journey, peruse the following excerpts of an exclusive colloquy between her and CEO Insights.
Cast some light on your educational and professional journey so far. Also, mention about the inspirational factor that keeps you going on, even today.
I am a commerce graduate and have done my B.Com from Mount Carmel College. Pursued Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (PGDBA) from Mount Carmel Institute of Management Studies, Post Graduate Diploma in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations (PGDPM & IR) from MES College and Masters Diploma in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations (MDPM & IR) from Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies. My professional career began around 20 years ago and presently spearheading at SuisseTechPartners as its Director - HR & Operations. What sets me apart from other HR Leaders is my ability not only to run the organization, but also to build the organization I have helped to set up SuisseTechPartners from scratch joining them as a pre-incorporation employee. I have developed and implemented strategic initiatives for enabling the desired culture and augmenting efficiency at all levels.
One of the things, I love about HR is that it is constantly growing and there is an avalanche of change that has happened in this industry! Every day has been a new day and never the same. Pursuing a career in human resources was very encouraging and it gives opportunity to work with decision makers and also influence strategic business decisions in innumerable aspects. Further, people management is my
forte. I enjoy helping employees reach and realize their fullest potential. There is continuous learning in this field and as the world changes, we also need swift reskilling and upskilling to remain as top HR Leaders
Did you face any challenges initially while establishing yourself as a woman leader in the niche segment? How did SuisseTech Partners support you to grow as a successful professional?
There was a respectable collaboration with the leadership team, they were highly skilled and their guidance was impeccable. They have always supported me well and I could also share my voice when needed. Being a startup organization, employees were expected to play multifarious roles. Building that culture in the leadership team was really challenging. Further, present generation of workforce lacks the ability to focus, they have shorter attention span. But they have huge potential and the way they think is amazing sometimes. Channelizing this required ample time, as we had to understand them before getting work done. Auxiliary, being a product development company the product knowledge needed regular mentoring from functional experts. We had arranged internal trainings to build the gaps and share knowledge and also HQ team helped us to cope up with all the difficult phases swiftly and their support was immeasurable. Lastly the systems and processes needed to be framed and realigned on regular basis to handle the situation aptly.
Define SuisseTechPartners as an organization and its current position in the market? What are the current or emerging HR trends that you have adopted or you are preparing to adopt?
SuisseTechPartners is a Product Development company; the flagship product PM plus is an innovative Financial Technology Solution for Asset Servicers, Asset Managers, Wealth Managers and Family Offices using cloud native software solutions. The outstanding success is attributable to our capacity to provide state-of-the-art solutions with complete functionalities perfectly adapted to global market needs as a Cloud native software solution.
Emerging HR trends are Artificial Intelligence, Diversity, GIG Economy, Cloud Based HR Systems for PMS especially related to Productivity Evaluation Approaches. Presently, we are re-defining the recruitment techniques as sourcing right talent has been rigorous task. We are also focusing on employee experience (EX) strategies like remote onboarding, hybrid working model and employee well-being cum benefits packages. We are also trying to redefine our learning and
Pursuing a career in human resources was very encouraging, as it gives opportunity to work with decision makers and also influence strategic business decisions in innumerable aspects
Did you face any challenges initially while establishing yourself as a woman leader in the niche segment? How did SuisseTech Partners support you to grow as a successful professional?
There was a respectable collaboration with the leadership team, they were highly skilled and their guidance was impeccable. They have always supported me well and I could also share my voice when needed. Being a startup organization, employees were expected to play multifarious roles. Building that culture in the leadership team was really challenging. Further, present generation of workforce lacks the ability to focus, they have shorter attention span. But they have huge potential and the way they think is amazing sometimes. Channelizing this required ample time, as we had to understand them before getting work done. Auxiliary, being a product development company the product knowledge needed regular mentoring from functional experts. We had arranged internal trainings to build the gaps and share knowledge and also HQ team helped us to cope up with all the difficult phases swiftly and their support was immeasurable. Lastly the systems and processes needed to be framed and realigned on regular basis to handle the situation aptly.
Define SuisseTechPartners as an organization and its current position in the market? What are the current or emerging HR trends that you have adopted or you are preparing to adopt?
SuisseTechPartners is a Product Development company; the flagship product PM plus is an innovative Financial Technology Solution for Asset Servicers, Asset Managers, Wealth Managers and Family Offices using cloud native software solutions. The outstanding success is attributable to our capacity to provide state-of-the-art solutions with complete functionalities perfectly adapted to global market needs as a Cloud native software solution.
Emerging HR trends are Artificial Intelligence, Diversity, GIG Economy, Cloud Based HR Systems for PMS especially related to Productivity Evaluation Approaches. Presently, we are re-defining the recruitment techniques as sourcing right talent has been rigorous task. We are also focusing on employee experience (EX) strategies like remote onboarding, hybrid working model and employee well-being cum benefits packages. We are also trying to redefine our learning and
skill development programs as mentoring new joiners has been a big challenge as of now. We have started to re-evaluate the strategies to retain talent at all levels of organization.
In your professional journey so far, which are the milestones that bestowed you with utmost satisfaction both as an individual and an HR?
Professionally, I started my career journey with IGEFI Software in the year 2004 and joined them as ‘Assistant Manager HR I got an ample of opportunities and one of the most cherishing one till date is getting promoted as 'Country Head HR & Operations'. It was a strategic role; here I also got an opportunity to interact with existing and prospective clients so that I could re-align the internal skill set to meet the business need. Later, integrated with former management of IGEFI Software as pre incorporation consultant and single handedly incorporated SuisseTechPartners (a Swiss based MNC)in India. Was responsible for cross border HR activities setup the Centre of Excellence(CoE) with the goal of increasing efficiency and effectivenss across the organization. Implemented Key StartUp Policies & Procedures related to Human Resources and Business Operations. I was also involved in strategic workforce planning. Recruited the startup team, identified core front runners and developing leaders. These two are the noteworthy milestones of my career, I would say.
What advice would you like to give to aspirant HR(s) in India reading this?
COVID-19 pandemic has forever left its mark on the way the present day generation live, think and work! And therefore as budding HR professional it is really important to understand the massive transformation impact that has occurred recently in the workforce management. The relationship and perception between Employer and Employee has drastically transformed. Auxiliary Time to Time it is also vital to recognize what is essential for the organization's growth and fill in the gaps proactively. Create an employee centric culture organization, because employee retention is the major point for the strengthening of talent pool and thereby bring success for organization. Employee mental & physical wellbeing must be given the highest priority. Emphasize on self learning at all levels in the organization and don't forget to include yourself here! Based on need deploy changes swiftly.
Archana Rajesh, Director HR & Operations, SuisseTechPartners
Archana is an adroit and resilient HR Leader holding over 20 years of comprehensive experience in managing multifarious activities related to Organizational Development, Strategic Management and Business Operations by diligent Cross Functional coordination. She possesses pragmatic aptitude or acumen to initiate build and implement strategic plans from scratch to meet organizational objectives for Talent Acquisition, Employee Skill Development, Performance Management, Retention, Competency Mapping, and Succession Planning.
In your professional journey so far, which are the milestones that bestowed you with utmost satisfaction both as an individual and an HR?
Professionally, I started my career journey with IGEFI Software in the year 2004 and joined them as ‘Assistant Manager HR I got an ample of opportunities and one of the most cherishing one till date is getting promoted as 'Country Head HR & Operations'. It was a strategic role; here I also got an opportunity to interact with existing and prospective clients so that I could re-align the internal skill set to meet the business need. Later, integrated with former management of IGEFI Software as pre incorporation consultant and single handedly incorporated SuisseTechPartners (a Swiss based MNC)in India. Was responsible for cross border HR activities setup the Centre of Excellence(CoE) with the goal of increasing efficiency and effectivenss across the organization. Implemented Key StartUp Policies & Procedures related to Human Resources and Business Operations. I was also involved in strategic workforce planning. Recruited the startup team, identified core front runners and developing leaders. These two are the noteworthy milestones of my career, I would say.
What advice would you like to give to aspirant HR(s) in India reading this?
COVID-19 pandemic has forever left its mark on the way the present day generation live, think and work! And therefore as budding HR professional it is really important to understand the massive transformation impact that has occurred recently in the workforce management. The relationship and perception between Employer and Employee has drastically transformed. Auxiliary Time to Time it is also vital to recognize what is essential for the organization's growth and fill in the gaps proactively. Create an employee centric culture organization, because employee retention is the major point for the strengthening of talent pool and thereby bring success for organization. Employee mental & physical wellbeing must be given the highest priority. Emphasize on self learning at all levels in the organization and don't forget to include yourself here! Based on need deploy changes swiftly.
Archana Rajesh, Director HR & Operations, SuisseTechPartners
Archana is an adroit and resilient HR Leader holding over 20 years of comprehensive experience in managing multifarious activities related to Organizational Development, Strategic Management and Business Operations by diligent Cross Functional coordination. She possesses pragmatic aptitude or acumen to initiate build and implement strategic plans from scratch to meet organizational objectives for Talent Acquisition, Employee Skill Development, Performance Management, Retention, Competency Mapping, and Succession Planning.