Falguni Shah: An Exemplary Professional Cementing Her Legacy In Indian HR Industry
Falguni Shah
HR Director
In an exclusive interview with CEO Insights, Falguni talks more about her professional journey and how she has been able to guide AVEVA towards sustained success in the industry.
Throw some light on your professional background and experience. What inspired you to start your professional journey in this niche HR segment and what drives you today as an industry leader?
All through my career, I have worked with blue chip organizations such as Hitachi Consulting, NTT DATA and DXC Technologies (formerly known as Computer Sciences Corporation). I have also contributed extensively to various organizational initiatives in the space of M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions) integration, change management, strategic business partnering, and employee experience championing. I have been at AVEVA for over four years. I initially headed the HR for the India organization for three years and then moved into a global role to support global R&D, strategy, portfolio, and cloud business teams as a Strategic Global HR Business Partner.
As a global leader, I focus on aligning business strategy with HR strategy and have contributed extensively towards employee engagement, organizational development, and Diversity and Inclusion initiatives through my career. I am passionate about
developing and driving various community development initiatives that give back to society.
How would you define AVEVA as an organization and its position in the market? What's its USP and what kind of exposure it can offer candidates?
AVEVA is one of the world's fastest growing industrial software organizations, with solutions that underpin the digital transformation across the global economy. Against a backdrop of a rapidly digitalizing world and the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), the opportunities for employee growth both professional and personal are immense. As an organization, we stand at the gateway to the future and we invest heavily in training, mentorship, and support opportunities for the development and wellbeing of our staff. AVEVA is home to some of the world's greatest engineering talents and we offer fast-track growth to suit individual strengths and career aspirations.
What's more, AVEVA is working to make the world a more sustainable place with its software. We are revolutionizing the industrial sector and making it greener, cleaner, more connected, and more efficient for the benefit of future generations. All AVEVA employees are stakeholders in that future.
As a Global Human Resource Leader, Strategic HR Business Partner, and Transformational Change Expert with over 18 years of experience, how did you get to this level? And what is your success mantra?
I have always been driven by a love of people. I'm passionate about enabling, supporting, and nurturing human talent in organizations. My leadership style is collaborative and inclusive that's how I get results. It's also important to build trust with your colleagues and stakeholders. It's essential to be flexible and adaptable that's how you become a responsive business enabler.
AVEVA pioneers' innovations that empower industry leaders to optimize value, efficiency and sustainability. How do you execute this vision? What do you look for in a candidate?
As an HR function, we enable a culture of inclusion, wellbeing and opportunities to enable people to unleash their full potential through innovation. Our culture and values are the essence of everything we do as an organization. Business success today comes from working
How would you define AVEVA as an organization and its position in the market? What's its USP and what kind of exposure it can offer candidates?
AVEVA is one of the world's fastest growing industrial software organizations, with solutions that underpin the digital transformation across the global economy. Against a backdrop of a rapidly digitalizing world and the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), the opportunities for employee growth both professional and personal are immense. As an organization, we stand at the gateway to the future and we invest heavily in training, mentorship, and support opportunities for the development and wellbeing of our staff. AVEVA is home to some of the world's greatest engineering talents and we offer fast-track growth to suit individual strengths and career aspirations.
What's more, AVEVA is working to make the world a more sustainable place with its software. We are revolutionizing the industrial sector and making it greener, cleaner, more connected, and more efficient for the benefit of future generations. All AVEVA employees are stakeholders in that future.
I'm passionate about enabling, supporting, and nurturing human talent in organizations. My leadership style is collaborative and inclusive that's how i get results
As a Global Human Resource Leader, Strategic HR Business Partner, and Transformational Change Expert with over 18 years of experience, how did you get to this level? And what is your success mantra?
I have always been driven by a love of people. I'm passionate about enabling, supporting, and nurturing human talent in organizations. My leadership style is collaborative and inclusive that's how I get results. It's also important to build trust with your colleagues and stakeholders. It's essential to be flexible and adaptable that's how you become a responsive business enabler.
AVEVA pioneers' innovations that empower industry leaders to optimize value, efficiency and sustainability. How do you execute this vision? What do you look for in a candidate?
As an HR function, we enable a culture of inclusion, wellbeing and opportunities to enable people to unleash their full potential through innovation. Our culture and values are the essence of everything we do as an organization. Business success today comes from working
together across cultures to develop innovative products. Our workforce has more than 50 nationalities and they speak over 60 languages. Apart from their overall profile, we evaluate candidates according to the AVEVA LIFE values: Limitless Possibilities, Integrity Always, Flexibility Together and Excellence Every day.
In your professional journey so far, what are the milestones that bestowed you with utmost satisfaction both as an individual and as an HR leader?
I have derived great satisfaction from leading integration and change management projects in various high-profile organizations. I was particularly proud to help guide AVEVA change management regarding its M&A. I'm proud to have been a part of the Strategic Leadership Team at AVEVA for two years in a row this is a cohort of 16 high-potential leaders that work together with executive leadership in defining organizational strategy.
Most recently, I have contributed as both an individual and professional to various community initiatives, such as leading and driving the mass planting of trees in Hyderabad with over 300 passionate AVEVA team members. I also helped drive AVEVA's active contribution towards COVID-19 support initiatives by providing N-95 masks, sanitizers, PPE kits, ventilators, and food supplies in huge quantities for frontline workers.
Going forward, what are the changes in market behavior that you anticipate and what are the opportunities that you foresee as a leader?
Market behavior has always evolved, but the pandemic has significantly transformed the business world and human behavior. Some changes are sudden and involuntary, and others have gained more traction. Only time will tell if these changes are permanent in nature, but we shall never be the same after this pandemic. From an HR standpoint, I have seen positive change, including the acceptance of remote working and digital delivery. The talent market has grown and become truly global. Workplaces are naturally more inclusive, and talent has a stronger chance to shine on an international stage.
As an industrial software organization, I see a great opportunity to support our valued customers through innovative and sustainable solutions.
Falguni Shah, Global Hr Director, Aveva
Falguni headed HR for the AVEVA India organization for three years and then moved into a global role to support global R&D, strategy, portfolio and cloud business teams as a Strategic Global HR Business Partner. Prior to this, she has worked for 18 years contributing to organizations such as NTT Data, DXC Technologies and Hitachi Consulting. Falguni is also a qualified certified executive and life coach.
In your professional journey so far, what are the milestones that bestowed you with utmost satisfaction both as an individual and as an HR leader?
I have derived great satisfaction from leading integration and change management projects in various high-profile organizations. I was particularly proud to help guide AVEVA change management regarding its M&A. I'm proud to have been a part of the Strategic Leadership Team at AVEVA for two years in a row this is a cohort of 16 high-potential leaders that work together with executive leadership in defining organizational strategy.
Most recently, I have contributed as both an individual and professional to various community initiatives, such as leading and driving the mass planting of trees in Hyderabad with over 300 passionate AVEVA team members. I also helped drive AVEVA's active contribution towards COVID-19 support initiatives by providing N-95 masks, sanitizers, PPE kits, ventilators, and food supplies in huge quantities for frontline workers.
Going forward, what are the changes in market behavior that you anticipate and what are the opportunities that you foresee as a leader?
Market behavior has always evolved, but the pandemic has significantly transformed the business world and human behavior. Some changes are sudden and involuntary, and others have gained more traction. Only time will tell if these changes are permanent in nature, but we shall never be the same after this pandemic. From an HR standpoint, I have seen positive change, including the acceptance of remote working and digital delivery. The talent market has grown and become truly global. Workplaces are naturally more inclusive, and talent has a stronger chance to shine on an international stage.
As an industrial software organization, I see a great opportunity to support our valued customers through innovative and sustainable solutions.
Falguni Shah, Global Hr Director, Aveva
Falguni headed HR for the AVEVA India organization for three years and then moved into a global role to support global R&D, strategy, portfolio and cloud business teams as a Strategic Global HR Business Partner. Prior to this, she has worked for 18 years contributing to organizations such as NTT Data, DXC Technologies and Hitachi Consulting. Falguni is also a qualified certified executive and life coach.