Niharika G Bhardwaj : Unlocking Organizational Potential Through HR Leadership
Niharika G Bhardwaj
Chief People Officer
Whether it’s overseeing recruitment, rolling out training programs, or managing organizational change, a CPO is all about building a thriving, highperforming team that can adapt and excel in an ever evolving market. One such leader is Niharika G Bhardwaj, the Chief People Officer at Sammaan Capital.
Bringing over 20 years of expertise to the table, Niharika is a true HR powerhouse, having led high performing teams across industries like Housing Finance, IT, and Insurance. She's all about driving results by building a performance-driven culture and streamlining processes to boost efficiency.
Her leadership has been key in successfully executing organizational restructuring initiatives that align with strategic goals, making companies more agile and productive. Niharika is also a seasoned change management expert, adept at guiding organizations through transitions and creating adaptable, future-ready teams wherever she goes. Let’s dive in to know more about her in this one-on-one interaction.
Explain the significance of aligning HR operations with the organization’s overall strategy.
When HR operations are closely aligned with an organization’s strategy, it forges a strong connection between employees and the company’s overarching objectives. This alignment ensures employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to contribute meaningfully. HR can focus on attracting top talent, offering developmental opportunities, and crafting policies that genuinely resonate with the workforce.
It creates a culture where individuals are motivated, understanding how their contributions drive success. When HR and strategy work in unison, it cultivates an environment where people thrive, teams collaborate seamlessly and the organization adapts and grows, transforming HR into a strategic partner that fuels both individual and organizational achievement.
Can you share your approach to leadership? What principles or strategies do you follow as a leader?
As CHRO, my leadership approach during change
management is centered on empathy, clarity, and building a performance-driven culture. I believe that during change, leaders must provide direction while ensuring stability and purpose for their teams. Transparent communication is a priority, as sharing the reasons behind changes and addressing concerns builds trust and alignment.
I also focus on empathy, listening to employees and validating their emotions throughout transitions. Creating a performance driven environment is key, with clear goals and recognition motivating employees to excel. I empower managers with the tools they need to lead effectively and foster resilience by encouraging innovation and growth. Balancing data driven decisions with human consideration, I ensure that restructuring aligns with both organizational goals and employee well-being. By leading with empathy and trust, we can navigate change and create a united, successful future for the organization and its people.
What are the latest industry trends and strategies that you’ve implemented to effectively train your team and maximize their potential? What are the growth opportunities available to them?
I believe that staying connected to the latest trends and adopting the right methodologies is essential for employee growth. To support our teams, we create personalized learning experiences through AI-powered platforms, aligning individual goals with organizational needs. We also make training engaging by using micro-learning and gamified approaches, ensuring learning is interactive, fun, and accessible anytime, anywhere.
We understand that growth isn’t just about skills, which is why we focus on building future-ready capabilities by upskilling and reskilling employees, especially in areas like technology, problem-solving, and adapt- ability. Beyond technical skills, we prioritize well-being by offering programs that support mental health and emotional intelligence, fostering a healthier, more balanced workforce. These initiatives ensure that our employees not only excel in their roles but thrive and grow alongside the organization.
What were some of the key challenges you faced when first establishing yourself as a successful leader, and how did you overcome them to achieve professional success?
Reflecting on my journey as a CHRO, I faced several challenges that helped shape me as a leader. Building trust and credibility was one of the first hurdles, especially in HR, where the role is often not seen as a strategic partner. I over came this by focusing on transparency, listening, and delivering consistent results in talent development and employee
I also focus on empathy, listening to employees and validating their emotions throughout transitions. Creating a performance driven environment is key, with clear goals and recognition motivating employees to excel. I empower managers with the tools they need to lead effectively and foster resilience by encouraging innovation and growth. Balancing data driven decisions with human consideration, I ensure that restructuring aligns with both organizational goals and employee well-being. By leading with empathy and trust, we can navigate change and create a united, successful future for the organization and its people.
By leading with empathy and trust, we can navigate change and create a united, successful future for the organization and its people
What are the latest industry trends and strategies that you’ve implemented to effectively train your team and maximize their potential? What are the growth opportunities available to them?
I believe that staying connected to the latest trends and adopting the right methodologies is essential for employee growth. To support our teams, we create personalized learning experiences through AI-powered platforms, aligning individual goals with organizational needs. We also make training engaging by using micro-learning and gamified approaches, ensuring learning is interactive, fun, and accessible anytime, anywhere.
We understand that growth isn’t just about skills, which is why we focus on building future-ready capabilities by upskilling and reskilling employees, especially in areas like technology, problem-solving, and adapt- ability. Beyond technical skills, we prioritize well-being by offering programs that support mental health and emotional intelligence, fostering a healthier, more balanced workforce. These initiatives ensure that our employees not only excel in their roles but thrive and grow alongside the organization.
What were some of the key challenges you faced when first establishing yourself as a successful leader, and how did you overcome them to achieve professional success?
Reflecting on my journey as a CHRO, I faced several challenges that helped shape me as a leader. Building trust and credibility was one of the first hurdles, especially in HR, where the role is often not seen as a strategic partner. I over came this by focusing on transparency, listening, and delivering consistent results in talent development and employee
engagement. Navigating resistance to change was another challenge, particularly when introducing new initiatives like performance management processes. I tackled this by clearly explaining the rationale behind changes and involving stakeholders early on.
Managing competing priorities was over whelming initially, but I learned the value of prioritization and delegation. Shifting the company culture toward performance required time and consistent reinforcement of accountability. Balancing empathy with accountability was another challenge, so I worked on improving communication and creating an environment where both well-being and performance was prioritized. These experiences taught me resilience, adapt ability, and the importance of continuous learning, which has been essential to my success as a leader.
What is the motivation that fuels your daily routines?
As a senior HR and change management leader, my daily motivation comes from driving positive transformation and empowering teams. I thrive on aligning individual potential with organizational goals, navigating complex changes, and fostering resilience. Seeing the impact of my work in improving efficiency and well-being inspires me to give my best.
Tell us about future goals or direction you are working towards?
As the CHRO of an NBFC, my vision is to build a workforce that not only adapts to the changing financial landscape but thrives within it. The financial industry is rapidly evolving due to digitalization, regulation shifts, and changing customer needs, and my goal is to ensure our people are prepared to drive this transformation. I’m focused on reskilling and upskilling, particularly in areas like data analytics, fintech, and automation, to keep our teams innovative and ahead of the curve.
I also prioritize enhancing the employee experience by fostering wellbeing, flexibility, and work-life balance to keep our talent engaged. Agility and resilience are crucial, so I’m dedicated to creating a culture where teams can quickly pivot to new challenges. Diversity, equity, and inclusion remain key to fostering innovation, and aligning our HR strategies with sustainability ensures we contribute to positive societal impact. My ultimate goal is a future where our people and organization continuously grow and succeed.
Niharika G Bhardwaj, Chief People Officer, Sammaan Capital
Niharika G Bhardwaj is the Chief People Officer at Sammaan Capital, with over 20 years of experience in HR. She specializes in building high-performing teams, driving organizational efficiency, and leading change management initiatives across diverse sectors including Housing Finance, IT, and Insurance.
Managing competing priorities was over whelming initially, but I learned the value of prioritization and delegation. Shifting the company culture toward performance required time and consistent reinforcement of accountability. Balancing empathy with accountability was another challenge, so I worked on improving communication and creating an environment where both well-being and performance was prioritized. These experiences taught me resilience, adapt ability, and the importance of continuous learning, which has been essential to my success as a leader.
What is the motivation that fuels your daily routines?
As a senior HR and change management leader, my daily motivation comes from driving positive transformation and empowering teams. I thrive on aligning individual potential with organizational goals, navigating complex changes, and fostering resilience. Seeing the impact of my work in improving efficiency and well-being inspires me to give my best.
Tell us about future goals or direction you are working towards?
As the CHRO of an NBFC, my vision is to build a workforce that not only adapts to the changing financial landscape but thrives within it. The financial industry is rapidly evolving due to digitalization, regulation shifts, and changing customer needs, and my goal is to ensure our people are prepared to drive this transformation. I’m focused on reskilling and upskilling, particularly in areas like data analytics, fintech, and automation, to keep our teams innovative and ahead of the curve.
I also prioritize enhancing the employee experience by fostering wellbeing, flexibility, and work-life balance to keep our talent engaged. Agility and resilience are crucial, so I’m dedicated to creating a culture where teams can quickly pivot to new challenges. Diversity, equity, and inclusion remain key to fostering innovation, and aligning our HR strategies with sustainability ensures we contribute to positive societal impact. My ultimate goal is a future where our people and organization continuously grow and succeed.
Niharika G Bhardwaj, Chief People Officer, Sammaan Capital
Niharika G Bhardwaj is the Chief People Officer at Sammaan Capital, with over 20 years of experience in HR. She specializes in building high-performing teams, driving organizational efficiency, and leading change management initiatives across diverse sectors including Housing Finance, IT, and Insurance.