Ankita Mehra

Here's to awareness translating into real action towards a more equitable future.

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🌟 Save the Date! Join Me for an Exciting Session on "Nurturing Innovation: Building a Start-up Culture that Thrives" 🌟 🗓 Date: June 7th, 2024 (Friday) 🕒 Time: 3:00 PM IST Join me and the The Shape of Work Community for an insightful session on how to foster a vibrant and innovative start-up culture. Whether you're an HR Professional, founder, team leader, aspiring entrepreneur, or just want to learn about these interesting concepts, this discussion will equip you with practical strategies to nurture and grow your organization's innovative spirit. 🔍 Key Discussion Points: - Employee Engagement: Fueling Passion and Productivity 🔥📈 - Explore how to inspire and maintain your team's enthusiasm and productivity, turning their passion into a powerful driver of growth and innovation. - Cultivating Organizational Culture: The Heart of Innovation 🏢🌱 Learn the key elements of building and nurturing a culture that supports creativity and innovation, which is crucial for your start-up's success. - Achieving Work-Life Balance: Sustainable Success ⚖️🌟 Discuss the importance of balancing work and personal life to achieve long-term sustainability and success for both your employees and your start-up. 📢 Don’t Miss Out! Register Now: https://lu.ma/0804q87y #StartupCulture #NurturingInnovation #worklifebalanceinstartups #organizationalculture #employeeengagement

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Question: Are long maternity leaves just lip service in India? POV: Policies alone don't cut it. To truly support our employees, we need action. Implement 1) Structured re-entry programs, 2) Distribute workloads fairly, and make policies inclusive for all genders. 3) Plan for extra staff and create a culture where everyone thrives. Let's turn words into impactful actions! #diversity #inclusion #inclusiveworkplaces #women #india #maternityleaves #policy #DEI #womeninleadership CNBC-TV18 CNBC #CNBC

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The 'Employee Class Voter Apathy' : As the wave of interpretations of election results intensifies, it seems timely to draw attention to an often overlooked yet pivotal factor. This 'potent force' is not merely a catalyst but the very essence that fueled the success of movements such as the 'Anna Ji Andolan' and many others. The NDA's performance is absolutely commendable. Despite surmounting challenges, the fighting spirit of our honorable Prime Minister Sir has instilled renewed hope for our nation's rise from the ranks of the “Fragile Five" to the world's third-largest economy. He is nothing less than a "Miracle" for our mother nation. A critical yet frequently ignored factor influencing election results is the 'Employee Class Voter Apathy.' This issue's impact is significant and can be quantified: India has 8.18 crore taxpayers, many of whom are burdened by multiple taxes. Including their household members, this group comprises at least 11 crore voters. With a 65% voter turnout, they represent 7.5 crore voters. Just consider that... Here are some humble suggestions: A. Implement wage reforms that remain unnotified. B. Apply gratuity eligibility after two years of service. C. Mandate employment insurance. D. Standardize a 40-hour work week. (Indians should not be perceived as global laborers, as suggested by some industry leaders.) E. Rebrand the BJP's capitalist image. F. Most importantly, reform the income tax system. Political pundits can undoubtedly propose many more innovative ideas. The key is transforming voter lethargy into voter energy in this untapped segment. This educated, hardworking class could be a game-changer in elections. Even the INDI alliance seems unaware of this potential. Can any alliance tap into this vast, often ignored voter base, assumed to avoid voting in the scorching heat? Remember, this segment exists despite being overlooked by many political analysts.

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Today, during my first ever conversation with Anjali Sharma, founder and CEO at Ahaan Consulting, a poignant line she shared struck a chord: "The world outside is already very unsafe; the best that managers can do is ensure their employees feel safe at the workplace." Empathy, it seems, holds the key. In the intricate web of professional dynamics, where deadlines, targets, and bottom lines often take precedence, it's easy to overlook the human element. In the busy rush, there's a clear truth: feeling safe is not just a luxury, it's a necessity. Managers, leaders, and colleagues alike, bear the responsibility of cultivating an environment where safety isn't just a checkbox, but a heartfelt commitment. It's about understanding, listening, and extending a helping hand when needed. It's about creating a space where individuals feel valued, respected, and heard. So, let's pledge to be beacons of empathy, architects of safe spaces, and guardians of well-being, ensuring every individual can thrive, knowing they're valued not just for their output, but for who they are. Thank you, Anjali, for igniting this important conversation about the significance of creating safe and supportive environments. #empathy #empatheticleadership #safeworkspaces #humanfirstculture #wellbeingmatters

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As we celebrate World Earth Day this year with the theme "Planet v/s Plastics" it takes me back to my childhood days. Like many, I didn't pay much attention to the materials I used. Plastic was everywhere - convenient, lightweight, and seemingly harmless. It was just a part of everyday life. However, as I grew older, I began to learn more about the impact of our choices on the environment. It became clear that our reliance on plastic comes with a heavy toll on our planet's health as plastic pollution has far-reaching consequences, impacting our oceans, wildlife, and even our own well-being. While I understand that eliminating plastic entirely may not be feasible, we can all start by making small sustainable changes in our daily lives. Whether it's choosing cloth bags over plastic, opting for paper cups and straws instead of plastic ones, or embracing biodegradable products over single-use plastic are simple yet impactful actions. This mindset extends to our workplaces, where REA India prioritizes environmental responsibility and sustainability. We're committed to reducing our carbon footprint and promoting eco-friendly practices. Let's continue to make conscious choices to protect our planet for future generations. Together, we can create a more sustainable and healthier world. Happy World Earth Day! REA India Housing.com PropTiger.com #WorldEarthDay #Planet #Plastic #Environment #Sustainability #Plant #Protection #Future #Generations #Heath #Wellbeing #Life #Leadership #India #HumanResources #HR #Startup

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Title: Exploring the Transformative Journey of Sudarshan Kriya: A Personal Reflection For the past four years, my journey with #yoga has been nothing short of extraordinary. Thanks to the teachings of Isha Yoga, I've delved deep into the realms of my body, mind, and breath, experiencing profound transformations along the way. However, it wasn't until I embarked on the path of #SudarshanKriya that I truly understood the power of meditation and its profound impact on the way we breathe. Sudarshan Kriya, a form of #rhythmic #breathing meditation, has been instrumental in taking my yoga practice to the next level. Derived from ancient Vedic traditions, this powerful technique encompasses various breathing patterns such as #Bastrika and #Ujjayi, each offering unique benefits that extend beyond the physical realm. Bastrika, often referred to as #bellowsbreath, involves rapid and forceful inhalations and exhalations, stimulating the respiratory system and increasing oxygen flow to the body. This dynamic breathing technique not only enhances lung capacity but also energizes the entire being, leaving me feeling invigorated and revitalized. On the other hand, Ujjayi breath, known as the #victoriousbreath, is characterized by a subtle constriction of the throat, creating a gentle oceanic sound during both inhalation and exhalation. This soothing breath not only calms the mind but also helps to regulate emotions and reduce stress, allowing for greater mental clarity and emotional stability. Through consistent practice of Sudarshan Kriya, I have experienced a myriad of benefits that extend far beyond the physical realm. The rhythmic breathing patterns have enabled me to cultivate a deeper sense of awareness and presence, allowing me to navigate life's challenges with grace and resilience. Moreover, Sudarshan Kriya has served as a powerful tool for emotional healing and self-discovery. By tuning into the rhythm of my breath, I have been able to release pent-up emotions and traumas stored within the body, paving the way for greater emotional balance and inner peace. In essence, my tryst with Sudarshan Kriya has been nothing short of transformative. It has not only deepened my yoga practice but has also enriched every aspect of my life, allowing me to tap into a reservoir of inner strength and resilience. As I continue to journey forward, I am grateful for the wisdom and guidance of Isha Yoga for #ShambaviMahamudra and the profound insights gained through the practice of Sudarshan Kriya from #ArtofLiving. I urge you all to learn, practice and experience the immense benefits of Yoga, Kriya and the Sudharshana Kriya or any form of meditation like Vipasanna, after all, all roads leads to the same destination - A journey towards Self Transcendence/Enlightenment. #SudarshanKriya #Yoga #Meditation #InnerTransformation #IshaYoga #Mindfulness #Wellbeing #SelfDiscovery #EmotionalHealing #Breathwork #InnerPeace

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Cultural considerations during the run-up to an #IPO and beyond are not just for HR people to consider - this should be on every executive's radar. The Circle by Founders Circle Capital pulled together a great panel covering some of the critical things leaders must think about to thoughtfully bring their employees along, and summarized in a brief article. We would love to hear some of your tips—what did we miss? #innovation #management #technology #humanresources #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #growthhacking #growthmindset #future

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Monthly milestones: Join us as we look back on our journey, celebrating each step and every moment that made this month special. #Pradeepitconsulting #PradeepITCares #PradeepIT #MonthlyMilestones #JourneyRecap #StepByStep #MomentsofTheMonth #CelebrateProgress #ReflectAndCelebrate

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Attracting and hiring top talent is a critical challenge for startup founders. Vaibhav Founder, GrowthSchool shares some tips to help you successfully navigate this process: 1] Leverage Your Own Network/ Distribution: Your personal and professional network can be a powerful tool in attracting talent. Building a strong personal brand can significantly enhance your reach. 2] Seek Growth-Oriented Candidates with high intent: Look for individuals who are eager to grow and learn. These candidates are often more motivated and adaptable. 3] Prioritize Cultural Fit: Ensure potential hires align with your company’s culture and values to a cohesive and productive work environment. By focusing on these areas, you can effectively attract and hire the right talent. These tips are just Part 1, with more insights to follow Video Credits: Kulbir Singh

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"Learning is fun, if you are fine with looking stupid to start with". I hang onto this quote from my mentor very dearly.😕 And I see it playing out every time I learn something new. #Learning is messy, its uncomfortable, difficult, and embarrassing.🛣️ In this conversation we chat about very pertinent learning challenges and how organisations like Coursera are creating solutions to remove the hindrances from the learning journeys.🎯 Despite all the cacophony around the learning tools, learning mediums, learning solutions - never forget that learning always starts with #You. 👍 Thank you ETHRWorld for curating this discussion. Thank you Coursera for being the wireframe on which this important conversation sat comfortably. Grateful to Krystyna Devina Lason for calming my nerves and allowing me to express freely, honestly I was a nervous wreck to start with. 🙏Thank you Shilpa Pai for your insights as a co-panellist. Appreciate Arushee Aggarwal for the perspectives you brought as functional specialist. #BrandConnectInitiative, #ETHRWorld, #Coursera, #FutureReadyLearning, #Learnwithoutlimits, #ETStudios, #digitallearning, #corehumanskills, #empathy, #EI, #deeplistening, #humananalytics, #learninganalytics, #dichotmouslearning

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Certain #conversations, many books, some movies, they move you much long after the words were done... and I always long to hold on to that which was more than the words I witnessed Last week was one such, with HerKey and their #DiversityDialogues getting HR Leaders from across the industry together and to actually have an honest no-holds barred conversation on “𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬: 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬.” Many of us had lived that life, juggling it all. Many of us witness it on a daily basis. Yours' truly had quit 2 decades ago from a role I loved and took me a long while to return to the full time corporate world. As Corporates how do we enable that the equity that is needed, is given? How do we as a community do what must be done? Perhaps something all of us panelists agreed on was no one gives more or works harder than a returnee. We did ponder on the why, is it that the individual is making up for lost time or there is a feeling of being validated through their efforts after a break means more? We talked of traditional gender roles, amazing policies that can change this narrative, candid confessions of our journeys, ticking biological clocks, the motherhood penalty, performance appraisals, project deadlines and disparity between maternity and paternity leaves. There was laughter and sighs. At things we have witnessed and felt powerless to change and those where we stood our ground, of Leaders and Companies that inspired us and had our backs. HerKey's efforts in making Returee-ship mainstream conversation, the #Diversity they practice, populate and preach. Neha Bagaria, I have said this before, repeat it again, May your tribe grow. Rupali Tyagi, Jaya Azad, Divya Ramesh, Navin Patel, Amrita Nair, Maninder, Ashima , Suranjana Gupta thank you for a conversation I will continue to cherish.

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The future in itself is so intriguing, and here we're talking about the future of Learning and Work! ETHRWorld #Digital #AI #Learning #FutureofWork

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"Organizations must communicate their culture, mission, and values to attract talent. It's about creating a lasting legacy, not just a one-off post or article," says upGrad CHRO Saurabh Deep Singla. Read our conversation to know more! #upgrad #elearning #allthingstalent #naukri

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🌟 Sparks & Ideas: Integrating Learning into Business Lifecycles 🌟 The recent series of Sparks & Ideas featured Asian Paints and how they have remarkably fostered a learning culture within the organization while integrating this into various business lifecycles. This discussion featured Karthik Ganesh who shared super strategies how they brought about a learning culture within the company. There are some amazing takeaways from the session : 🚀  Evolution of Learning Modalities •Shift from ILT to blended learning approach with pre and post e-learning •Accessibility and scalability of learning have evolved, especially with mobile access 🔧 Diverse Workforce Requirements •Automation in Manufacturing, Frontline sales, and Plants have happened due to technology shift and areas of upskilling such workforce especially on tech have come about 🌐 Leadership and Cultural Involvement •Skill Building, Role Transitions, and Customized Leadership Development are the three main pillars of manager interventions •Managers must play an active role in creating a learning culture by being involved in programs, delivering them as well as sharing personal learning journeys to act as motivators 📚 Integration and Personalization of Learning •Integrating learning across existing programs for a guided and blended approach •Pre-joining access, integrating with core programs, and functional academies for specific skilling are the main ways of getting businesses involved with learning 💡 Best Practices •Communicate and over-communicate about learning interventions to learners and encourage uptake •Factoring learning into the performance review process •Employee Experience needs to be both guided and democratized Mahesh Prabhu Vibha Adlakha Bhavna Bandyopadhyay Deep Rastogi (He/Him) Akanksha Pandey Aarti Thapar Nivedita Chanana Neha S Shetty Jyoti Dadlani Ruchee Anand Anuradha Ray Chris Correia Aarushi Sharma #linkedinlearning #Alwaysbelearning #Sparksandideas #learninganddevelopment

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The Truth of Corporate by Vandan Patel 🌟 🎉 Drumroll, please! Let’s unveil the ultimate corporate wisdom: It’s Okay To Quit A Job. Yes, you heard it right! If you’re feeling unappreciated or disrespected, it’s totally fine to pack your bags and leave. Because who needs job security or a stable income when you can be valued elsewhere? 🙄👏 Imagine the thrill of leaving behind all those lovely deadlines, endless meetings, and the pure joy of micromanagement. Ah, the sweet taste of freedom! 🌈✨ And let’s not forget the exhilarating job hunt that follows. Because what’s life without a bit of uncertainty and excitement, right? 🎢😅 You deserved to be valued, just like every corporate cog in the machine. So, why settle for less when you can chase after that elusive perfect job where you’ll be treated like royalty? 👑🤴 Like if you agree! Because nothing says “I support you” like a digital thumbs-up. 👍💬 #CorporateLife #JobHunting #Freedom #ValueYourself #CareerChange #LivingTheDream #WorkLifeBalance #Sarcasm #JobQuitting101 #OfficeEscape #EmployeeRights #MotivationMonday #UnappreciatedAndThriving #DisrespectedNoMore #NewBeginnings #LinkedInHumor #InfluencerLife #10KFollowers #HRWisdom #VandanSays

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A recent trend has been hovering round the social media space and I thought to have a taste of it. A TEREND THAT BASICALLY DEPICTS GROWTH Being a part of this trend was really funny 😂, amazing and emotional for me. Quite a roller coaster of feelings. I mean see how I looked guys😂 [If you laugh😏]. I looked like I needed Jesus’ literal blood but I’m happy he still found me sha!🥰 My heart everytime yearns for value. I always want to be valuable wherever I find myself. I have wanted to be known for the positive effect I have to offer but had no clue how to go about it. After trying and failing severally, God brought the right people my way, mentors, coaches, colleagues, friends and they started to shape my mentality and I became completely sold to the importance and benefits of unlearning, learning and relearning! Growth is imminent and it is a way of Life [So is marketing anyways 😜]. I know the pain I felt and the amazing benefits I missed out on when I couldn’t figure out the right way to identify, navigate and nurture my career path. I also know that there are so many individuals who do not know how to position themselves professionally and I’ve taken it upon myself to help those in need. If you’re currently on ‘this table’ , in service [NYSC] , or looking for a job, comment MENTEE and I’ll DM you what it takes to get started! Hurry Now! and become a sought after professional in the marketplace!😊 #professional #career #careerpath

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“We revere great speakers like Washington, Lincoln, Churchill; but do we revere great listeners” – Oscar Trimboli . . Rohit is sharing the details with his Somesh (his Manager) and Somesh is nodding his head. The discussion is over, all queries answered but somewhere within Rohit gets a ‘feel’ that Somesh was not really ‘Listening’ (or rather ‘Receiving’). He compares the scenario with the experience he got with Lokesh (his previous Manager), who was simply present, oozed energy and calmness and he came out of every interaction feeling energized and transformed. Amazing part in both the above scenarios is that answer to the problem at hand is same (but the experience is totally different). In short, listening is much more than just providing answer; it has the potential to make an individual feel valued, respected, builds self-esteem and self-confidence; which in turn contributes to a culture of trust and openness, which is directly linked to innovation and high performance. This further reminds of Nyquist effect where the only thing that separated Bell lab scientists’ with highest patents from others was former having lunch with quiet Swedish engineer Harry Nyquist. Nyquist was reported to be simple, humble but had warmth and relentless curiosity and he reportedly drew people out. Unfortunately, a lot of theoretical frameworks related to listening are taught in business schools which have very limited efficacy in real world. A very simple model to follow here could be –“Are you getting that ‘feeling’ of calmness and tranquility within you, as you are ‘receiving’. This is aligned to the Head/Heart/Gut model of BCG, wherein listening is not with just rationale mind, but with heart and gut as well. A difficult skill to pick up for sure, but the impact goes far beyond the immediate conversation. So maybe its time to celebrate not only great speakers, but also great listeners. #Leadership #listening #trust #safety #skill #headheartgut #nyquisteffect

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~ #Bizongo has often featured in several media articles for being an organisation that has #Culture as a differentiator to attract, engage, retain, groom & scale talent.. People have often asked what this means in terms of an executable action plan.. The answer to that is a simple concept that we follow as a part of our organisation DNA - we exercise #RadicalCandor at scale.. At the core, it means ‘Challenge directly, but Care personally’.. As you can imagine, both are intertwined, and one without the other will not have the desired organisation level impact.. Also, ‘Care personally’ doesn’t necessarily mean mollycodding, but rather it means that the person being ‘Challenged directly’ should know for a fact through other actions, that there is an underlying personal care, and that by challenging directly it would only bring out the best from that individual while creating impact for the organisation.. As they say, Culture eats Strategy for breakfast! A motivated bunch of people who are willing to live outside their comfort zone and raring to get their boundaries stretched, with an unsatiable hunger to learn, will almost always be the difference between winning & losing out there in the market.. We are always on the lookout for talent that would culturally fit as we scale this business to the next orbit of profitable growth..

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