The increasing scope and operations of a business organization can make it hard for business owners to offer ample attention to all the different facets of the company including HR. This is where an HR consultant comes into play in order to help organizations with their different HR operations and processes. Midas Consulting is one HR Process consultancy firm that offers best value for money consultancy services to their clients. The company is headed by Shruti Dhawan Singh who has worked for 10+ years in India and 4 years in the UK. She has proven and verifiable contribution to the organizations she has worked for as Strategic HR & Training Consultant, OD interventionist, Certified Counsellor, Content Developer, Recruitment Consultant and in-house recruiter. Currently working with GITAM Deemed to be University in Hyderabad as their Senior Venture Coach to help students improve their entrepreneurial skills.

In an exclusive interview with Women Entrepreneur, Shruti talks in detail about her professional journey as an HR consultant.

Tell us about your professional journey prior to the inception of Midas consulting?

I finished my MBA in HR and then I was working in a small start-up where I was handling all the HR activities. After marriage, my husband got a job in London and we moved to London. At that time, I was also pregnant and was not able to take-up full-time jobs. Then I came to know about CIPD. As a CIPD, Associate Member in 2007, I was able to get consultancy services for various companies, under the trade name of Midas Consulting (UK) Ltd. Then I came back to India but the HR Process Consulting segment in India was very unorganized at that point of time. When I said to people that I am an HR consultant, they thought that I was just into recruiting and I had to let them understand that I also set up HR processes, do rewards and compensations, people engagement programs, career planning, and learning and development. All of this played a part in me starting my own HR Process Consultancy firm - Midas Consulting.

What were the initial challenges that you faced in the industry and what is your opinion on the current HR process consultancy landscape in India?

I did find it very hard to get a foothold in the Indian market because of the lack of knowledge of business organizations about HR Process Consultancy. But at the same time, I was lucky enough to get the right mentors, clients and associates who wholeheartedly supported my ideas and later I was fortunate enough to work on some good projects which has helped me to build a positive reputation in the industry. One of the biggest drawbacks of working as an HR process consultant in India is the fact that most business don’t know what metrics should be taken into consideration when it comes to calculating the fee of an HR Process Consultant. Things have been improving over the years, but there is still a long way to go. Another issue is that, when I talked to other Women entrepreneurs and women freelancers in India, I found that they are not assertive as their male counterparts when it comes to asking for the fee that they deserve for the work that they have put in. And unless women entrepreneurs and women freelancer change this attitude, things aren’t going to change.

“Helping these students is my opportunity to guide the future generation through the lessons i have learnt from my mistakes”

Do you participate in any mentorship programs or other such activities?

I had started taking various lectures in multiple institutes in Mumbai, as visiting faculty on entrepreneurship, HR, Life skills, employability skills and related topics from 2011 itself. And now, I am working with GITAM Deemed to be University in Hyderabad as their Senior Venture Coach to help students improve their entrepreneurial skills. Helping these students is my opportunity to guide the future generation through the lessons I have learnt from my mistakes.

How do you manage your personal and professional life? Also, what would be your message to the upcoming women entrepreneurs?

The truth is that both of them, personal and professional commitments, are part of life and both needs to be given equal importance. I deal with things as and when it comes and I don’t think about how I will be able to achieve work life balance all the time. I feel the word itself is coined wrongly as work is part of life. It cannot be different from life. Also anything I do in my personal space, is also work. I might not get paid for it in money but it is still work. Following a hobby, cooking for family, etc. is also work. So one should not strike a balance, but live all the aspects of life truthfully. As far as my message is concerned, what I have to say is that, women entrepreneurs should build self-esteem and don’t be shy to ask for help in fulfilling their commitments at home. It is ok to hire a maid, be a little late, or ask your mother to cook sometimes. Also, go out and meet other entrepreneurs and build a network which is really important. And what I have learnt is the fact that, if you feel like you need a break, then take it. Don’t get worried about what others think when you take this break.

Shruti Dhawan Singh, Founder, Midas Consulting

She has a rich experience of 12+ years in all core facets of HR domain. She has worked for various sectors like Industrial Design, Education, Agri-based business, IT, Engineering, Health Care, Oil & Gas, Power, NGO, Hardware manufacturer and Recruitment agency. Her core strength is her ability to work in multicultural environment and be able to lead high performing multicultural teams.