Preeti Das: Crafting High-Impact People Strategies For Organizational Growth
Preeti Das
CHRO
As the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at Wellness Forever, Preeti Das plays a crucial role in shaping the organization’s culture and driving its growth through effective people strategies. With a deep understanding of the retail, IT and ITES sector, she focuses on talent acquisition, employee engagement, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness. Preeti’s innovative approach to HR has helped Wellness Forever scale rapidly while maintaining a strong, supportive work environment. Her commitment to aligning people strategies with business goals has been instrumental in fostering a high-performance culture, positioning the company for continued success in an evolving industry.
Below is an excerpt of Preeti Das’s exclusive interaction with CEO Insights magazine.
Share with us a brief background on your professional journey. What are the major milestones and the challenges that have been a part of your professional journey so far?
My professional journey has been a blend of roles across industries, starting with counseling and faculty positions during college, where I balanced academics with work.Early exposure to business operations at NIIT and Apollo group shaped
my understanding of marketing, P&L, and operational dynamics, setting a strong foundation for my HR career. Transitioning into HR, I streamlined processes and led cultural transformations at organizations like Bank of New York Mellon and Kantar, achieving milestones such as a 94 percent engagement score, ranking among top 25 Best places to work in the respective sector and implementing agile solutions. Managing global teams across diverse cultures, I navigated challenges like scaling operations during COVID-19 while driving impactful initiatives. Each milestone has deepened my commitment to aligning people strategies with business success.
How has your cross-geographical experience shaped your professional approach in your current role?
Cross-geographical experience has deeply influenced my professional approach, broadening my perspective on cultural nuances and leadership practices. Working with teams across India, Europe, and North America taught me how diverse cultural values shape interactions and expectations. For example, working with Swedish teams revealed the importance of autonomy and mutual respect, contrasting India’s more hands-on leadership style.
This insight led me to develop cultural sensitization programs, promoting understanding and collaboration across borders. These experiences have strengthened my adaptability and empathy, enabling me to lead with greater awareness, respect, and inclusivity, fostering environments where teams from different cultures can thrive and succeed together.
As a leader, how do you effectively guide and mentor your team members in achieving success?
As a leader, I believe in recognizing and nurturing the unique strengths of each team member. Drawing from valuable experiences with mentors and theories like scalable metrics and DISC profiling, I identify untapped potential within my team.
For instance, someone with technical expertise in HR may possess leadership capabilities that aren't immediately visible to them. By assigning challenging
Leadership is about empowering others, and Preeti Das embodies this through her strategic HR vision, fostering growth and innovation
How has your cross-geographical experience shaped your professional approach in your current role?
Cross-geographical experience has deeply influenced my professional approach, broadening my perspective on cultural nuances and leadership practices. Working with teams across India, Europe, and North America taught me how diverse cultural values shape interactions and expectations. For example, working with Swedish teams revealed the importance of autonomy and mutual respect, contrasting India’s more hands-on leadership style.
This insight led me to develop cultural sensitization programs, promoting understanding and collaboration across borders. These experiences have strengthened my adaptability and empathy, enabling me to lead with greater awareness, respect, and inclusivity, fostering environments where teams from different cultures can thrive and succeed together.
As a leader, how do you effectively guide and mentor your team members in achieving success?
As a leader, I believe in recognizing and nurturing the unique strengths of each team member. Drawing from valuable experiences with mentors and theories like scalable metrics and DISC profiling, I identify untapped potential within my team.
For instance, someone with technical expertise in HR may possess leadership capabilities that aren't immediately visible to them. By assigning challenging
projects that align with their strengths, I inspire growth and self discovery. Once individuals realize their own potential, motivation follows naturally, driving both personal and organizational success. Understanding your team deeply is key to guiding them effectively.
How do you ensure a healthy work-life balance as a leader while managing your professional responsi- bilities?
Maintaining work-life balance is a constant challenge,especially as a leader. Personally, I’ve adopted the philosophy that there is no true balance, only a choice between work and life at any given moment. When my child was younger, I set firm boundaries, where work ended at a specific time, allowing me to dedicate quality time to my family. However, as responsibilities increased, particularly with a 24/7 business, I had to be more flexible.
Leadership requires managing both personal well-being and organizational demands with maturity and empathy. I prefer a transparent conversation with my family about my role. This helps them understand how my role impacts 5000+ lives, being available for my people when in need is important, just as it is for me to be available for them when they need me. I feel this also helps me nurture and groom them to be future leaders.
What are your future plans for personal growth and for the continued success of your company?
Our company is on an exciting growth trajectory. Last year, we successfully crossed the mark of 400 stores, and our goal for this year is to reach 500. Our vision is to expand across the nation. On a personal note, I am deepening my expertise as a happiness coach and pursuing my ICF leadership coaching certification. I envision myself ultimately establishing my own coaching practice, where I can leverage my experience for coaching future leaders and my passion for technology to help businesses foster growth and build better people strategies.
Preeti Das, CHRO, Wellness Forever
Preeti Das is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Wellness Forever, a key player in the Pharma Retail industry. With a strong focus on organizational growth and employee development, she leverages her extensive HR expertise to drive strategic initiatives, enhance workplace culture, and support the company’s expansion goals.
How do you ensure a healthy work-life balance as a leader while managing your professional responsi- bilities?
Maintaining work-life balance is a constant challenge,especially as a leader. Personally, I’ve adopted the philosophy that there is no true balance, only a choice between work and life at any given moment. When my child was younger, I set firm boundaries, where work ended at a specific time, allowing me to dedicate quality time to my family. However, as responsibilities increased, particularly with a 24/7 business, I had to be more flexible.
Leadership requires managing both personal well-being and organizational demands with maturity and empathy. I prefer a transparent conversation with my family about my role. This helps them understand how my role impacts 5000+ lives, being available for my people when in need is important, just as it is for me to be available for them when they need me. I feel this also helps me nurture and groom them to be future leaders.
What are your future plans for personal growth and for the continued success of your company?
Our company is on an exciting growth trajectory. Last year, we successfully crossed the mark of 400 stores, and our goal for this year is to reach 500. Our vision is to expand across the nation. On a personal note, I am deepening my expertise as a happiness coach and pursuing my ICF leadership coaching certification. I envision myself ultimately establishing my own coaching practice, where I can leverage my experience for coaching future leaders and my passion for technology to help businesses foster growth and build better people strategies.
Preeti Das, CHRO, Wellness Forever
Preeti Das is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Wellness Forever, a key player in the Pharma Retail industry. With a strong focus on organizational growth and employee development, she leverages her extensive HR expertise to drive strategic initiatives, enhance workplace culture, and support the company’s expansion goals.