As part of business expansion or resource outsourcing process, organizations across the world usually relocate their employees, both nationally and internationally. While relocating employees has its own share of advantages, the whole process can be a daunting task due to the various steps involved, such as immigration, house hunting, relocating goods, and many more, and that’s where mobility service companies come in. An avid traveler and passionate leader with around 20 years of professional experience, Shiivani Aggarwal joined the leading employee mobility service firm, Formula Group, in 2004 and over the years, has climbed through the ranks to become the CEO of the firm. Under her able leadership, Formula Group has grown into becoming a leading one-stop solution provider for managing mobility and relocation across various nationalities. In an in-depth interview with Women Entrepreneur, Shiivani discusses her professional background and leadership approach, the wide range of services offered by Formula Group and its position in the market, and much more:

Shed some light on your professional background and experiences. Tell us about your leadership approach.

At the young age of 19, I joined Formula Group 20 years ago when the organization was just a travel company. My passion for travel and exploring different cultures was the key to my landing a job at the firm. Over the years, I have climbed through the ranks to become the CEO of the firm. The journey from reporting to the most junior members of the team to leading the entire company has been a thrilling experience.

For me, leadership is not just a matter of interest but an innate quality that fuels growth and a passionate drive to advance an organization. My inspiration for leadership comes from my three-year-old son, who teaches me valuable lessons every day. To be an effective leader, one must possess the ability to execute plans and pave the way for progress. Being centered around people, a human touch is essential in this sector. Without the growth and development of our employees, it is impossible for the company to progress.

Introduce us to Formula Group. What are some of the service offerings of the firm?

Formula Group is a provider of employee mobility services in India. The firm initially started as a car rental solutions company, primarily targeted at expatriates. We wanted to offer our clients a driven car solution that was compliant, organized, safe, and secure. With our customers' interest and faith, we continued the journey before expanding our business further across multiple verticals. We help people and companies relocate from one spot to another, which includes both national and international relocation.

Our service portfolio includes taking care of immigration, house hunting, renting cars with drivers, searching for office space, and relocating goods from one place to another. We at Formula also relocate people within India to foreign locations through an extremely simplified process. We have an entire technological platform to bring complete transparency to the service delivery platform which not only helps track the moving person and access the whole process but also helps the client, even the HR, see through the ground-level work carried on at a given time.

Give us a brief account of the client base of Formula Group. What is the USP of the firm that makes it stand out from the rest of its peers in the market?

Our clients are mostly Multinational companies including many Japanese, American, and Swedish companies amongst others. We are currently working with the top 20 among the top 100 Fortune companies and many top 500 Fortune companies. Our expansive client base makes us cater to various industries, such as FMCG, Automotive, Steel, Hospitality, Trading, and many more.

"Leadership is not just a Matter of interest but an Innate quality that fuels Growth and a passionate Drive to advance an Organization"

What helps Formula Group stand out from the rest of its peers in the market is the single-window model followed by the firm. Companies often face a tough time managing the mobility of employees to new spaces as it involves coordination with multiple service providers for contracting services. As a one-stop solution provider, we have a single-window model process for managing mobility and relocation across various nationalities. No other similar service model company in India offers all moving solutions under one roof.

How do you achieve a balance between your personal and professional life? Drawing from your personal experience as a business leader, what advice would you give to aspiring women leaders/entrepreneurs?

For me, it is very crucial to have the right work-life balance. Being an avid traveler, I have goals set for the entire year. I plan two trips each year, and now that I have a kid, I plan it according to the school calendar and not just mine. Exploring new places and being happy in your personal space is equally important to fuse in more energy at your workplace and amongst the workforce. The advice I would like to give to women entrepreneurs is to stay strong and believe in themselves, which is the most important attribute of a leader. Being committed and dedicated helps you achieve anything in life. To become a successful entrepreneur, you need to know your roadmap and have the vision to achieve your targeted goals.

Shiivani Aggarwal, CEO, Formula Group

A passionate leader with around 20 years of professional experience, Shiivani Aggarwal joined the leading employee mobility service firm, Formula Group, in 2004. Over the years, she climbed through the ranks and currently works as the CEO of the firm. An avid traveler, Shiivani has completed her education in the travel and tourism industry and has been to five continents and over 25 countries.

Award & Recognition :

The Relocate Awards: Destination Service Provided of the Year (2015)- Winner

The APAC EMMAS: Outstanding Contribution to Global Mobility (Raman Narula) (2018)- Winner

The APAC EMMAS: Outstanding Corporate and Social Responsibility Initiatives (2018)- Runners Up

The APAC EMMAS: Most Innovative Use of Technology in Global Mobility – Assignee Management (2022) - Shortlisted

The APAC EMEA: Most Innovative Use of Technology in Global Mobility – Assignee Management (2022) - Shortlisted

The APAC EMEA: Corporate Housing Provider of the Year (2022) – Shortlisted