India's human resource market is estimated to be worth roughly Rs 22,800 crore and has risen at a compound annual growth rate of 21% over the last four years. However, an industry which is traditionally considered very demanding has not seen the emergence of many Women in the role of the Chief HR Officer. As equal opportunity tries to catch up, there are certain women making great strides in the field, setting an example for those that dare to dream. Kanchan Banerjee is one such inspiring CHRO working in the well-known fashion brand ManyavarMohey. With over 11 years of experience in the Industry, Kanchan has established herself as a leading HR professional through her excellent work, strong ethics, and a powerful determination and passion towards her work. Today, she is empowering and inspiring the younger generations to realize their full potential.

Here are some highlights from our interaction with her.

What Are Some Important Features About Your Expertise As A Human Resource Leader That You Want Us To Highlight Through The Article?

As an HR leader, having strong values is essential. As such, I firmly believe in partnering with businesses which require strong business understanding and wish to resolve them through HR solutions, Commitment to the job, and to the people and a firm belief in shared leadership defines my style of work. Further, I maintain utmost courage and integrity in challenging situations and strongly uphold the concepts of Gemba Walk and “Karmabhumi” Visits.

Take Us Through Your Early Educational Journey And Prior Industry Experience That You Bring To The Table.

Being daughter of a Mining Engineer, I studied Engineering to become an electronics & telecom engineer, just like any other teenager growing up in India where medicine & engineering are considered the good academic streams that guarantee good career & life.

But then life engineered a twist in my future course & I found myself branching out into a subject that taught me to read people, their behaviour& psychology. This interest of mine dragged me towards education at XLRI and then my passionate HR journey never looked back.

Tell Us About The Various Roles And Responsibilities That You Shoulder As The CHRO Of Manyavar Mohey What Are Your Primary Focus Areas In Your Current Role?

As ManyavarMohey's CHRO, I am in charge of creating and implementing the organization's HR strategy, particularly in the areas of succession planning, talent management, change management, organizational and performance management, training & development, and compensation. Our main HR strategy is to have a solid succession plan before moving on to HR automation and digitization in line with business needs. Employee happiness is another prime agenda which we constantly focus upon.

What Are Some Of The Most Pressing Challenges That You Encounter As A Business Leader? How Do You Successfully Mitigate These Challenges?

Being a successful change leader isn’t easy. The challenge of managing, mobilizing, understanding, and leading change requires knowing how to mitigate consequences, overcome resistance to change, and deal with team members’ reactions to change. The challenge of honing effectiveness at workplace is about developing the relevant skills- such as time management, prioritization, strategic thinking, decision-making, and getting up to speed with the job - to be more effective at work.

"We must be progressive in our thoughts & try out things first, success or failure comes later."

Anothercrucial leadership challenges is managing relationships and image in the work environment. This includes gaining managerial support, managing up, influencing others, and getting buy-in from other departments, groups, or individuals.

All the above challenges get mitigated by bringing in transparency in processes & policies. Bringing in data analytics in the conversation gives me an edge while presenting my points on the table, which helps to sail through during critical conversations.

What Are Some Of The Most Significant Milestones That You Have Achieved Throughout Your Professional Journey?

Starting my career as training and engagement lead, I took on the role of L&D, following which I contributed significantly in the role of HRBP and then moved on to the role of Head HR. My career has grown in an upward trajectory and I have gained valuable experience handling white and blue collared employees, IR issues, and strategizing talent development strategies.Receiving the Top Most HR leaders Award in India, 2022 and the Best Employer brand award for ManyavarMohey in 2021, and 2022 have been significant milestones.

What Has Been The Driving Force Behind Your Success?

Driving force behind my success is of course my family who stood by me during all thick & thin. My supervisors who helped me to build a strong foundation during initiation of my career.

When I used to get tired of work my mom would always say,“Koshishkarteraho, Mehnatkeaagebhagwanbhijhuktahai” , this still keeps me going. My Dad who is a man of strong believer of ethical practices would never allow me to stop chasing my dreams and he says “Pehletadbeer, phirtaqdir” which means efforts comes first always then your luck comes into picture.

My reporting Manager & the MD of Manyavar Mohey Group (Vedant Fashions Ltd.) Mr. Ravi Modi has always been inspirational, his trust in me has enabled me to perform my best as CHRO of the organization. His philosophy has taught me that ‘We must be progressive in our thoughts & try out things first, success or failure comes later.’

How Do You Foresee The Indian HR Industry Evolving In The Future? What Trends Do You See Developing Going Forward?

Technology has had a crucial role in the dramatic changes in the workplace culture in India. Due to the workforce's maturity and the necessity for HR, businesses are becoming more flexible in their workplaces. The workforce has become more diverse, which has greatly influenced changes in the average age, diversity, and inclusivity. HR leaders now need to be more agile, adaptable, and flexible to tackle problems. The future of work will be based on a focus on automation, employee experience, and measuring employee perks.

Drawing From Your Experience As A Business Leader, What Would Your Advice Be To Young Women And Girls Who Also Aspire To Become Business Leaders And Entrepreneurs In The Future?

A mantra I follow is “Aspire to Inspire before you Expire”, and I strongly urge every woman to follow it too. Be assertive and the main decision maker in your life and career to ensure people look up to you for your work, vision and passion. To succeed in your career, it is important to prioritize and focus on what is important to achieve your goal, and never lose sight of Meritocracy.

Kanchan Banerjee,  Chro,  Business Leader,  Manyavar Mohey

Kanchan began her education in engineering & moved on to pursue master’s in hr from xlri jamshedpur. After completing her education, she has been associated with some of the biggest firms in india starting with vodafone, then moving to wipro, followed by trident group, then vikram solar, before finally coming to manyavar mohey