“I see technology as a great friend rather than a change agent”
When it comes to leveraging technology to amplify employee wellness, no one does it better than Kartik Rao, a vibrant People Officer in every sense of the term.
Kartik Rao
Group Chief People Officer, Good Glamm Group
June 10, 2022In an exclusive interaction with us, Kartik shares his thoughts on leadership, the benefits of technology in the HR space, and the importance of employee wellness.
Taking the road less travelled made all the difference
Kartik has had a very non-conventional journey. He started out as a primary school teacher and gradually moved to theatre. He worked as an assistant director, wrote several plays and stories, and indulged in his passion to become a filmmaker. Kartik was 22 years old when the mental gymnastics of art and commerce kicked in. In pursuit of earning more, he found his way into HR.
A candid yet articulate take on leadership
Leadership is not about managing work. As a leader, one manages people, and the people manage work. In Kartik’s experience, over the years, the ability to manage people instead of managing work has been the biggest mental model shift in terms of leadership. At present, he is on this journey of understanding what it means to be a manager and a balanced one at that. Kartik shares a simple theory. He says, “You’re a good manager if your team delivers while you are present. And you’re a good leader if your team delivers even in your absence.”
Spill The Beans
- Who has been the biggest influence in your life?Rajesh Rai, my first and then CHRO at United Colours of Benetton
- A character you relate to the mostImpatient Optimist, Bill Gates in his words.
- Your mantra to unwind post workMeet people either above 65 or play and talk with kids under 6 years.
Technology is the vehicle for change, wellness, and efficiency
Technology is the vehicle and not the driver. It will help people reach where they want to reach faster, but it’s the humans who are the drivers. To simplify his day-to-day HR functions, Kartik encourages the use of Amber within his team. Amber is an AI tool, powered by neuro linguistic programming, and he fondly refers to Amber as his Chief Listening Officer. Kartik goes on to explain how Amber reaches out to employees every 15 days to check on them and see how they’re doing. According to him, this is surely an example of how technology helps bring about a positive change in HR and ensures employee wellness.
Interesting views on technology as an enabling partner
Kartik and his team leverage technology for something called ‘moments that matter’ or MTM and here’s how it works: Each time an employee changes or keys in something new on the HRM tool, whether it’s the name of their reporting manager, department, title, or location, Amber realises that it’s a moment that matters and proactively reaches out with a note of concern to say, “Hey, I just noticed that you’ve changed your manager. Is everything okay?” Kartik shares this example to highlight how he is using technology to do a better job of managing human resources in a virtual yet empathetic way.
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Skills that people leaders should hone to adapt to the changing times
Flexibility is always something that HR professionals are expected to have. In an organisation that’s shifting gears at a very fast pace, HR professionals should be able to merge the organisation’s culture with their talent and skills. In recent times, CHROs have come to the forefront where people became a critical disproportionate advantage for companies. HR needs to continue to build on creating value through different changes in time, geographies, and scenarios, be it technical, political, or cultural.
To sum up
Three things that are going to be crucial for HR in 2023 include striking the right balance between technology and people, leveraging technology as well as the minds of people, and creating space for increased flexibility. Using technology to enhance employee experience in a creative and smart way is Kartik’s primary focus this year as a people leader.
Kartik is one of our Most Influential People Leaders of 2023. His role as a Chief Human Resources Officer cuts across Business and HR to create purposeful teams that deliver stellar business results on a strong foundation of systems, processes, people, and innovation.
₹ 25,000
Credits Free
Onsurity Edge Credits Program for Startups is here to revolutionize the employee healthcare space
