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Aarthi Ilangovan
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Aarthi Ilangovan
Associate Director of Operations at Pride Technologies
Collabera
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Aarthi Ilangovan is a member of:
Team Management
My approach has beento promote a team environment that is committed to succeeding “as a whole.” I often tell my team. “You are as strong as the weakest member of your team”. Those blanks can be replaced by similar pairs – as fast as the slowest member, as bright as the dullest member,….. The point is: it only takes one person’s inefficiency or incompetence to bring down the entire team’s credibility. So, team members are coached on the importance and sensitivity of playing their part with commitment and passion. If a member is weak in an area, others reach out to assist or if a team member wishes to understand a different process that impacts his work, he is encouraged to step beyond his boundaries to enlighten himself.
Teams are taught the importance of synergy and the need to build transparency and acceptance for continually challenging their abilities. This challenge goes beyond mere functional knowledge, to emotional competence and self-development. Given that every human interaction holds the potential for conflict and connection, teams are taught to collaborate instead of to evade, compromise or confront aggressively. Though personal differences and petty conflicts arise from time to time, the teams are constantly reminded of a higher cause that goes beyond what meets the eye. In short, the road to team work is bumpy and often not travelled as gracefully as intended, but with constant guidance and openness to work through the bumps and grit, the teams are reminded that left to themselves, they are like a severed organ of a body – lifeless and withering – and therefore invest time and effort to build their bridges with one another. Afterall, as the saying goes, even illness becomes wellness when you replace ‘I’ with ‘we’!
Teams are taught the importance of synergy and the need to build transparency and acceptance for continually challenging their abilities. This challenge goes beyond mere functional knowledge, to emotional competence and self-development. Given that every human interaction holds the potential for conflict and connection, teams are taught to collaborate instead of to evade, compromise or confront aggressively. Though personal differences and petty conflicts arise from time to time, the teams are constantly reminded of a higher cause that goes beyond what meets the eye. In short, the road to team work is bumpy and often not travelled as gracefully as intended, but with constant guidance and openness to work through the bumps and grit, the teams are reminded that left to themselves, they are like a severed organ of a body – lifeless and withering – and therefore invest time and effort to build their bridges with one another. Afterall, as the saying goes, even illness becomes wellness when you replace ‘I’ with ‘we’!
Important career decisions
Careers have often been treated as rational, money-making enablers that have no room for the heart. However, passion arises from one’s heart and to me, following my heart to offer my services driven by a passion for what I do, has been one of my major career decisions. I chose the field of human resources and emotional intelligence to not only study, but to also build my professional contributions around. Things didn’t fall in place overnight, nor was it a smooth start, but in the end, it was worth the challenges. Today, years into my area of work, my passion keeps me ticking to do more and there has not been a dull moment yet.
The other decision I’ve held on to, is a basic principle of life – often times, when things go downhill and despite your best efforts, you fail for reasons beyond your control, when frustrations pile up that begin clouding your vision with negativity and skepticism, it is easy to find a hundred reasons to give up or look for something better, but if you can find one reason to hold your ground and be the change you wish to seek in another environment, you’ve conquered the beast within you. I’ve had my trying moments and when I look back today, things look clearer and all the more convincing, that leaders are not unshakeable, they simply learn to get back on to stable ground quickly.
And finally, to succeed in life - help others succeed, for what goes around, comes around, pressed down and multiplied. Many people believe succeeding in life comes in the form of money, designation or at the cost of proving you’re one up over your peer or holding on to knowledge that makes you indispensable to your firm. On that note, one other important decision I made was to not allow money or title to limit my potential or ability to make a difference in my surroundings. The more I focus on the intangibles; I’ve come to realize that tangibles such as title and money come as by-products.
The other decision I’ve held on to, is a basic principle of life – often times, when things go downhill and despite your best efforts, you fail for reasons beyond your control, when frustrations pile up that begin clouding your vision with negativity and skepticism, it is easy to find a hundred reasons to give up or look for something better, but if you can find one reason to hold your ground and be the change you wish to seek in another environment, you’ve conquered the beast within you. I’ve had my trying moments and when I look back today, things look clearer and all the more convincing, that leaders are not unshakeable, they simply learn to get back on to stable ground quickly.
And finally, to succeed in life - help others succeed, for what goes around, comes around, pressed down and multiplied. Many people believe succeeding in life comes in the form of money, designation or at the cost of proving you’re one up over your peer or holding on to knowledge that makes you indispensable to your firm. On that note, one other important decision I made was to not allow money or title to limit my potential or ability to make a difference in my surroundings. The more I focus on the intangibles; I’ve come to realize that tangibles such as title and money come as by-products.
Excellence in Management
In the past year, I have worked to improve our focus on training and employee development initiatives. I believe our human resources are our most dynamic and fortifying assets that interact with multiple constituents that are just as dynamic and demanding to say the least. So knowing to manage oneself intellectually, emotionally and holistically, driven by passion and perseverance is a growing need in today’s world. I am also a strong proponent of leadership as a lifestyle applicable to each individual who is tasked with leading himself, before he can lead others. In that light, I work on a number of initiatives to motivate the workforce towards an empowered lifestyle, develop their emotional competence, instill a culture that promotes learning and embraces a transformational approach to life instead of a transactional one, thus grooming leaders within the organization, not by mere designation, but also by approach and outlook. My focus in the past year has also been to identify ways and means in which our business can grow competitive in the market through the use of technology and automation, apart from strategically streamlining offshore support for cost-effectiveness, resourcefulness, evaluating the continued opportunities that exist to provide support from India to our group companies, all of which continue as on-going initiatives with steady progress over the past year.
Current Job description
I am currently the Associate Director of HR Outsourcing Operations for my organization. My role comprises of managing the day to day operations of our Indian business unit that provides shared services support to our group companies based out of USA. Pride USA is one of the leading minority-owned staffing and vendor management services providers in the US with a strong presence in the banking and financial services industry. My role allows me to oversee the successful offshore delivery of day to day administrative support for Pride USA’s operations in a cost effective and qualitative manner. I also play a significant role in the local administration and management of the Indian business unit, focusing on training and development of employees, promoting a learning environment, evaluating and implementing employee engagement techniques, and other crucial aspects of managing the local workforce.
Family background
I was born in a middle class Tamil family. My father was in the Indian Navy and my mother was an English lecturer who took up short term teaching assignments based on my father’s tenure and eventually took up domestic responsibilities full time. My father was strict and built-in the discipline framework from a very young age while balancing it with the need to develop my talents and creative potential I had. My mother on the other hand, focused on character aspects and faith in God to help me develop a balanced perspective. I have one older brother who is an Engineer and works in the Networking field.
I am an MBA graduate, who specialized in HR and General Management, from Missouri State University in 2005. I lived a fairly nomadic life till my teens as my father’s work kept us on the move. Having studied in 9 different schools across the various states I lived in, accepting change, diversity and different religious and cultural backgrounds came as an advantage to me which eventually became second nature, for it allowed me to see people as people, not as tags imposed by society. My husband is from the BPO industry. He is one of my greatest sources of support in helping me give my best to the world by being accommodating, flexible yet critical when needed.
I am an MBA graduate, who specialized in HR and General Management, from Missouri State University in 2005. I lived a fairly nomadic life till my teens as my father’s work kept us on the move. Having studied in 9 different schools across the various states I lived in, accepting change, diversity and different religious and cultural backgrounds came as an advantage to me which eventually became second nature, for it allowed me to see people as people, not as tags imposed by society. My husband is from the BPO industry. He is one of my greatest sources of support in helping me give my best to the world by being accommodating, flexible yet critical when needed.
Managing personal and professional life
Being a leader is not about ‘I’ but ‘us’. Seeing the larger picture and my role as an enabler, a facilitator and advocate allows for proper correlations and healthy mental maps. While there is no recipe to avoid mistakes it would be foolishness to run headlong into them. I’ve learnt over the years to treat mistakes as learning curves to rise above them rather than to allow them to turn me sour or to confine me to the resulting sense of shame and defeat. The other thing I’ve learnt is to be perceptive and keep an open mind to learn from the mistakes of those around me as well. No matter how smooth or rough the going may be, I remember that my responsibility lies towards the objectives set before me, and my people who support me in achieving those objectives, and therefore the choices I make will weigh on them as well.
Leadership qualities
Truly said, being a leader is not an easy task. If you stand in front of a mirror and command yourself to do something you will not bring yourself to do, chances are you will not succeed in making someone else obey your command either. A leader demonstrates the ability to influence those around him, through the building of ‘trust’. Building trust comes from a display of congruence so people can see that you walk your talk. A leader, who is passionate about his cause, shows involvement, empathy and emotional competence will see higher chances of success in life. A leader builds resilience within him to face adversity and rises from each fall, more determined than ever to make things happen. Being a go-getter and persevering till the desired results are achieved are some other essentials. Finally, a leader is not super-human. He’s just more competent in molding himself through constant self-development, staying positive, accepting feedback, building transparency and creativity to see through problems for the solutions required. He is motivated intrinsically by intangible factors that go beyond designation, compensation and stature. A leader should realize that his real challenge in life will comprise of managing himself 60% of the time and the others around him only for 40%, which will call for diligent investment of time and effort in continually learning, evolving and developing himself.
My advice
Advice they say is the easiest given, and hardest accepted. Life is rich with insight and wisdom for those willing to open their eyes and seek. If you want to be a leader, begin with leading yourself. For that, believe in yourself. How you manage yourself, will largely determine the success of how you manage others and if you are not ready to believe in yourself, chances are others will not as well. Build emotional and professional competence to allow for constructive interactions. Think of yourself as a seed. How you water and nourish yourself today, will result in a proper, well-rooted plant, rich in fruit with time. Character refinement does not happen on a bed of roses. It is painful but the reward is worth the investment. So stay indefinitely positive. Staying positive does not mean you never have a sad moment. It means you bounce back without waiting for someone to pull you out of your pity-pot.
If you want to work well with others, remember that in life only 10% is in your control, 90% is not. You cannot control your colleague’s hold on his cup of coffee when it spills over you, but you can control your anger and frustration resulting from the incident. There is always a choice in life. Base your choices on who you see yourself as. If you want to soar like an eagle, then stop waddling around in your problems and complaints like a duck. Ducks are not meant to soar. So choose wisely. Don’t pick the duck and complain about the dozen reasons why you are unable to soar. If you can accomplish this within yourself, you will have a more realistic and mature perspective on how you can lead the others in your life. Good luck!
If you want to work well with others, remember that in life only 10% is in your control, 90% is not. You cannot control your colleague’s hold on his cup of coffee when it spills over you, but you can control your anger and frustration resulting from the incident. There is always a choice in life. Base your choices on who you see yourself as. If you want to soar like an eagle, then stop waddling around in your problems and complaints like a duck. Ducks are not meant to soar. So choose wisely. Don’t pick the duck and complain about the dozen reasons why you are unable to soar. If you can accomplish this within yourself, you will have a more realistic and mature perspective on how you can lead the others in your life. Good luck!
Handling Grievances
As a leader, and more so as an individual, when a grievance is voiced by an employee, “I listen”. It is the first step towards acknowledging to my employee that he has engaged my attention and interest. Secondly, I tell him how sorry I am because, no matter what reality may be, to the employee, his pain is real and to let him know that I sense his pain and want to relieve him is important. Then, having listened to the grievance, if it involves an HR or legal issue, I involve the relevant departments to follow established protocol. However, if the issue is one that I can directly address, I explore possible solutions with the employee so he feels involved in the solution arrived at and where other individuals are involved in the grievance, I hear each person out individually and then together to address the issue at hand.
Often times when an employee comes forth with a problem, it is in my nature to remind him that if he has the ability to identify a problem, then he is just as capable of identifying its solution as well, and while he may expect the solution to arrive from around him, the answer may very well lie within him. With the right amount of focus and positive outlook, he can be steered to stare at the solution instead of the problem.
Often times when an employee comes forth with a problem, it is in my nature to remind him that if he has the ability to identify a problem, then he is just as capable of identifying its solution as well, and while he may expect the solution to arrive from around him, the answer may very well lie within him. With the right amount of focus and positive outlook, he can be steered to stare at the solution instead of the problem.
Tech Management matters more on
I grew up reading a lot of HR vs Engineers anecdotes and gags to the point of understanding the stereotypical mindset of our culture that hints at male-oriented traits such as rational thinking and left-brain perspectives driving competitiveness and aggression for success in life, compared to female-oriented traits such as compassion, empathy, care, etc. that are perceived as a sign of weakness. However, today’s logo for success bears the fusion of intellect and emotional competence to ensure that people are able to work with people to collaboratively harness their potentials for success.
So the days of IQ scores and merit awards stealing the top notch positions of corporate careers are fading into a more mature blend of emotional competence today, that allows the managing of one’s emotions and that of the others around, to yield better managers equipped with knowledge and wisdom, to deal with conflicts and interpersonal demands constructively. Therefore, while academics can teach technical skills and practice can produce competence, today’s managers need emotional intelligence and cultural competence to harness their potential and the potential of the people they work with, in the midst of work pressures, stress, geographical barriers and ever-increasing productivity demands.
So the days of IQ scores and merit awards stealing the top notch positions of corporate careers are fading into a more mature blend of emotional competence today, that allows the managing of one’s emotions and that of the others around, to yield better managers equipped with knowledge and wisdom, to deal with conflicts and interpersonal demands constructively. Therefore, while academics can teach technical skills and practice can produce competence, today’s managers need emotional intelligence and cultural competence to harness their potential and the potential of the people they work with, in the midst of work pressures, stress, geographical barriers and ever-increasing productivity demands.
My views on India Technical development
It is true that we have budding talent in our country not by virtue of mere qualifications but in terms of actual intellect and potential. However, culturally, eons of traditional frameworks have instilled in our land, a collectivistic approach to every aspect of life that masks one’s individuality and ability to rise above the common boundaries dictated by society. Independence to think, express and create are subservient to family, society, image and social acceptance which have created multiple paths for brain drain and freedom to innovate outside our land. Our culture propagates the need to ‘conform’ rather than ‘transform’ which puts the fire out of innovation and creative thinking.
If we are truly looking to address our deficiencies, we’ve got to promote a culture that is less rigid to change and more accepting of fresh perspectives. Let’s re-visit our syllabus to make sure our children are studying what is relevant to their growth in a global age.Let’s revisit our teaching style and approach to make sure we encourage application and understanding of knowledge through ‘learning’ rather than ‘mugging’. Let’s promote education as an act of self-empowerment and not a commercial transaction. Let’s encourage and accept diversity in thought and action by breaking career stereotypes. Is it true that a diploma holder in Computer Applications cannot possess creativity to design or develop an application compared to a Computer Science Engineer? In short, the shift in perspective has to touch the very roots of our culture – our homes, our schools, our workplaces, our governments – to where innovation is seen as an opportunity rather than a threat. We should be open to transformation rather than mere transaction in our approach.
If we are truly looking to address our deficiencies, we’ve got to promote a culture that is less rigid to change and more accepting of fresh perspectives. Let’s re-visit our syllabus to make sure our children are studying what is relevant to their growth in a global age.Let’s revisit our teaching style and approach to make sure we encourage application and understanding of knowledge through ‘learning’ rather than ‘mugging’. Let’s promote education as an act of self-empowerment and not a commercial transaction. Let’s encourage and accept diversity in thought and action by breaking career stereotypes. Is it true that a diploma holder in Computer Applications cannot possess creativity to design or develop an application compared to a Computer Science Engineer? In short, the shift in perspective has to touch the very roots of our culture – our homes, our schools, our workplaces, our governments – to where innovation is seen as an opportunity rather than a threat. We should be open to transformation rather than mere transaction in our approach.
Ensuring Growth
My CEO once told me, “to grow smart, try being around people smarter than you.” My current organization has many individuals from diverse backgrounds, who stand out for their leadership abilities. Working closely with them and having the chance to observe them has been a great source of influence and insight to my growth as a leader. Separately, I also invest time in discussing and/or reading articles and books written by leaders, or about leadership from diverse channels – family, entrepreneurs, management gurus, professional networks and religious texts – all of which provide certain similar and certain distinctly different approaches to leading. However, apart from the above, one of the keys to growing as a leader in my personal experience has been taking time out for reflection, self-evaluation and accepting feedback at increasingly stringent levels to build transparency and alignment in my perception of my leadership abilities, with that of those who see me as a leader. This aspect is an ignition to rev constructive changes into action. Lastly, being a leader is not all about winning or holding a cup of glory at all times. Learning from mistakes and building resilience to pick myself up each time I fall, with an undeterred vision that the cross is followed by glorywhich calls for perseverance to see things through and the passion to go through the whole package, not just the happy times, has also been instrumental in contributing to my growth as a leader.
Influenced by
There are many who have influenced my life to date and I believe the list is not over yet. The foundation for who I am today was set by my father who is a retired Naval Officer and my mother who was a school teacher turned house-wife. Growing up, I had a few remarkable teachers including my mother, who demonstrated their genuine interest in promoting learning as opposed to merely fulfilling their obligations to a pay check. Through school and college, I encountered friends who were brainy, friends who were notorious, friends who were weak and friends who went the extra mile, all of whom made their mark in shaping my character. As I entered the career world, I had as I continue to have,opportunities to work with inspiring professionals who have made their mark, not because of fancy titles or lifestyles, but because of their sense of professionalism, ownership and commitment to seek betterment through their abilities. All of them were like pieces of a puzzle sent for either a season, or a reason or a lifetime, to influence me in picking up the right ideals for life.
As a teenager, my experience in moving away from religion to a spiritual outlook about life and the role of an all-powerful, yet loving God in shaping my life and character to be the best I could be was by far the most powerful influence and with time, I came to understand the role of people throughout my life, as orchestrated by this divine power to help me become who I am today.
As a teenager, my experience in moving away from religion to a spiritual outlook about life and the role of an all-powerful, yet loving God in shaping my life and character to be the best I could be was by far the most powerful influence and with time, I came to understand the role of people throughout my life, as orchestrated by this divine power to help me become who I am today.
Awards and Recognitions
I work for a fairly mid-sized firm with recent introductions of formal recognition and award programs. However, I have been recognized for years now, for my subject matter expertise in handling the operations of the field we do business in, my ability to train and develop, lead and manage. I am also well known for my focus on process management/improvement and business analysis.
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