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The Paradox of Diversity Hiring: Merit vs. Quotas in Corporate India

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Are we truly hiring the best, or are we just playing the numbers game to flex on social media? Let’s dive headfirst into the electrified muck of diversity hiring—this time with a laser focus on Corporate India, where the paradox of merit versus quotas is a slow-burn crisis, not just a government saga. On one side, you’ve got the corporate meritocrats—CEOs and HR honchos—swearing by talent, competence, and bottom lines. On the other, a rising clamour for caste-based reservations in the private sector, echoing India’s decades-old public quota playbook, is now fueled by political muscle and DEI buzz. Donald Trump’s 2025 merit-or-bust crusade in the U.S. adds a global twist, but India’s corporate DEI dance is a beast of its own—tangled in caste, class, and capitalism. Are we building inclusive powerhouses or just slapping diversity stickers on profit machines? Let’s unpack this mess, spotlight the government-corporate divide, and throw some wild fixes at both - the suits and the ne...
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The Future of Work: Is India Ready for the AI Revolution?

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  Back in February 2023, I penned down some thoughts about the Future of Work—little did I know, AI was lurking quietly around the corner, ready to burst onto the scene like an unexpected guest who becomes the life of the party. Today, every HR conversation feels incomplete without the mention of AI, sparking debates sharper than a chai break (black coffee for me) discussion: Will AI replace jobs, or will it give them an upgrade? So, let's clear the air—yes, AI is mighty powerful and transformative, and sure, it can automate tasks faster than a Mumbai local (or a Metro) during peak hours. But should we panic? Absolutely not. Think of AI less as an HR villain stealing your job, and more as your smartest intern ever—imagine ten PhD-level researchers who never take coffee breaks, tirelessly crunching data, drafting reports, and performing analytics for you (minus the usual internship drama). Now, here’s how we can smartly handle this AI revolution, especially in India—although, trust ...
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The HR Paradox: Why Do We Preach Collaboration but Hesitate to Help Our Own?

 A while ago, I was added to a WhatsApp HR networking group (one amongst many such…) The description read: "A place for HR professionals to connect, share knowledge, and help each other in career growth." It sounded great—until I noticed something interesting. ·          The group was flooded with job postings—but mostly for junior and mid-level HR roles. ·          Lots of theory, articles, and “gyaan” —but very little real career support. ·          When a senior HR professional needed a role, suddenly, the group turned silent. Because helping junior professionals is easy —it costs nothing. But recommending or referring a fellow senior HR leader? That’s where things get tricky. The Unspoken Reality: HR’s Own Insecurities HR professionals are expected to advocate for employees, culture-builders, and champions of fairness—but ironically, many fa...
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Why is HR One of the Most Undervalued (or Neglected) Department, Bordering on Hate?

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Imagine this: A fast-growing startup, led by a charismatic founder, is scaling rapidly. Sales are booming, product innovation is at its peak, and funding rounds are closing faster than they can celebrate. But HR? Oh, HR is an afterthought—relegated to payroll, admin tasks, and the occasional office party . In many promoter-led companies and medium-sized businesses , HR is often treated as a secondary function —sometimes even entrusted to a family member with little to no HR expertise. If a founder’s wife, mother, or a close relative can “handle people,” why bother hiring a professional HR leader? And that, right there, is the root of the problem. HR: The Least Respected Business Function? The HR Problem in Startups & Promoter-Led Companies HR is the last CXO to be hired. Finance, marketing, and sales leadership? Essential from Day 1. But HR? "We’ll hire an HR Head later." HR is often reduced to payroll & compliance. Instead of being a strategic enabler , HR i...
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Why (some) Indian Startups fail – case in point being Byjus and Paytm and some others on the verge… Capt. Rahul Sharma A HR professional / CHRO with over 30 years of experience with a strong background in Employee Engagement,PMS,OD,CM/ held senior-level HR, Trg and Security positions at several large organisations/ Army Veteran. 22 articles April 19, 2024 Open Immersive Reader From an HR perspective, the downturns of Byju's and Paytm and others highlight crucial shortcomings in their organizational strategies and compliance with their own mission and vision, exacerbated by rapid expansion and disregard for regulatory and internal governance. Byju's faced significant issues related to a toxic work culture and high employee turnover. The company pursued aggressive expansion, both geographically and through acquisitions, without sufficient consideration of the integration and cultural alignment of these new components with the existing structure. This aggressive approach led to u...
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When Psychopaths Go to Work: Snakes in Suits - My take...

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Book Summary & Reflection: “Snakes in Suits – When Psychopaths Go to Work” by Paul Babiak and Robert D. Hare While reading Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work , penned by organizational psychologist Dr. Paul Babiak and eminent criminal psychologist Dr. Robert Hare, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own corporate journey. Thankfully, I’ve had the privilege of working with some remarkable leaders—empathetic, empowering, and inspiring. But then… like flickering ghosts in a rearview mirror, a few familiar faces reappeared—faces that could have walked straight out of the pages of this book. Faces of corporate “snakes,” charming on the surface, but venomous underneath. This seminal book takes a deep dive into a chilling but under-discussed reality: the presence and influence of corporate psychopaths . These are not the knife-wielding Hollywood villains, but the ones who weaponize charm, manipulate organizational systems, and wreak havoc on culture and morale, often while wearing...
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