Decoding the Startup Ecosystem for HRs and Employees

Empowering Minds: Transforming Workplace Mental Health

Is Your Workplace Infected with Bias?

The conversation features Bridgette Nambiar, the CHRO of Altruist, who shares her expertise on identifying, minimizing, and eliminating biases within an organization--including appearance, background, gender, and sexual orientation biases. And how these can influence hiring decisions, team assessments, and overall employee interactions. Bridgette highlights the importance of recognizing both conscious and unconscious biases and the steps organizations can take to address them.

Understanding Workplace Sexual Harassment: Laws, Awareness, and Change

She also discusses with Srinivas B. Vijayaraghavan, CMO of Loop, the importance of education, consent, and proactive measures to ensure a safe environment for all employees.

The Complex Case of Workplace Harassment

Antra and Srinivas B Vijayaraghavan, CMO at Loop, cover the societal and cultural biases that seep into workplace environments and how organizations can strive to create a safer, more inclusive space.

Indian Job Market 2024 - Do’s and Don’ts with Michael Page Director

Dinesh Yegireddi, Director of Michael Page, and Srinivas B. Vijayaraghavan, CMO of Loop, talk about the hiring process, from quick hires to lengthy searches, and what it means for employers and job seekers. Plus, understand the true essence of diversity in hiring across gender, age, and more.

Is finance trapped in the past or a hidden powerhouse of innovation?

Jaipal Singal, Group CFO at iD Fresh Food, 'Close the Loop' with Srinivas B. Vijayaraghavan CMO of Loop, on old perceptions, revealing how finance at ID Fresh is pioneering with AI and evolving beyond traditional roles -- striving for CEO positions and reshaping business leadership.

Essential Financial Practices for Organisational Success

He suggests finance folks need to explain their decisions more and be a bit more flexible when they can. The talk also covers the need for timely interactions with finance and being clear about what's urgent.

Is it All About the Metrics?

Ashish Singh, Chief HR Officer at Meesho, discusses the challenges and nuances of measuring various HR aspects, such as retention, talent density, and employee experience. He highlights that while some aspects like hiring and headcount are easily measurable, others like talent quality are more complex. The conversation also touches on the influence of external metrics like Glassdoor ratings on HR and the importance of understanding the limitations and uses of such data.

When Do OKRs Really Succeed?

Vidya Santhanam, co-founder and CEO at Fitbots, joins Srinivas B. Vijayaraghavan, CMO at Loop, to shed light on the principles of OKRs and their rising popularity in the post-COVID era. Whether you're a startup or an established firm, understand the nuances of adopting OKRs and avoid common pitfalls.

AI's Impact on Your Workforce Composition

Reetu Raina, VP and Head of Talent Management at Amdocs, and Srinivas B. Vijayaraghavan, CMO at Loop, discuss AI's transformative role in reshaping workforce composition and HR dynamics -- moving beyond job displacement to altering employment structures. They emphasize HR's need to strategically navigate this shift, advocating for adaptability and continuous learning. The conversation highlights the evolving nature of work, the necessity for new accountability frameworks, and the critical approach of progressive change in an unpredictable future.

How HR Shapes High-Performance Culture?

From breaking down big goals to ensuring everyone speaks the same 'goal language,' HR is the unsung hero. Aparna C, Vice President of Human Resources at Aknamed and Srinivas B. Vijayaraghavan, CMO at Loop ‘Close the Loop’ on how to spot red flags, inspire every employee, and keep that performance bar high.

The Art & Science of Managing Modern Workplace Conflicts

Wonder how HRs handle the heat in today's dynamic workplace? Parul Singh, VP HR at Xceedance, discuss with Srinivas B. Vijaraghavan, CMO at Loop, about the evolving role of HR -- from navigating the challenges of being at the heart of everything to mastering the art of conflict management.

Health Assurance vs. Health Insurance

Ryan Singh, the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Loop, joins the discussion with Srinivas B. Vijayaraghavan, CMO of Loop, in Episode 16 of “Close the Loop” to explore why companies haven't expanded their health benefits beyond “Health Insurance” and how they can make health benefits a genuine asset for their employer brand. They share insights upon the difference between “Health Insurance" and “Health Assurance." While health insurance covers the costs of hospital visits, Health Assurance is about providing a comprehensive healthcare service that addresses an employee's entire health journey, not just hospitalization.

HR's Role in Managing Strategic Company Changes

Episode 15 of 'Close the Loop' with Srinivas B. Vijayaraghavan, CMO at Loop, explores the dynamic changes companies face, highlighting shifts in strategy and leadership. Emphasizing HR's pivotal role in these transitions, it questions HR's often sidelined position. Shobana Kailash, Group CHRO at Hubilo, shares her expertise from roles at Freshworks and Amazon. She delves into the impacts of changes, especially the transition from sales-led to product-led approaches, and underscores the perception of HR as service-oriented rather than change leaders.

How Can We Train Someone To Be A Good Manager?

Episode 14 of “Close the Loop” discusses the importance of managerial development in organizations. The conversation emphasizes that while individual contributors and top leadership often receive attention, the managerial layer is sometimes overlooked. Veena Satish, Head of HR for MoEngage, joins Srinivas B. Vijayaraghavan, CMO Loop, to explore whether managers are the "forgotten employees" and sports the challenges and nuances of training effective managers.

How do we create a culture of feedback

Episode 13 is all about the much talked about 'feedback culture'. Tripti Jha, VP HR-Niro, addresses some important questions about feedback with Srini. They discuss what makes employees (and even managers) aversive to feedback before moving on to some strategies for providing effective feedback . Tell us your most insightful feedback stories in the comments.

Hybrid Workspaces - 
Productivity and Collaboration

In episode 12 of 'Close The Loop,' we explore the variety of working arrangements that have emerged in the modern world and their impact. Sachi Krishana, CHRO VYMO, sits with Srinivas B. Vijayaraghavan, CMO Loop, and discusses how flexible working arrangements complicate the challenges of productivity and collaboration that have always been around. Sachi channelizes her vast experience to give us insights that would make you rethink your own relationship with your workplace and its policies.

Will Artificial Intelligence Replace HR?

In Episode 11, Nitin Nahata, the CHRO of Gameskraft, discusses with Srinivas B Vijayaraghavan, CMO of Loop, the potential threat Artificial Intelligence poses to Human Resources. They delve into the possibilities AI tools can provide in the HR domain, yet also explore the unique 'personal touch' that HR professionals contribute, which cannot be easily replaced. This conversation serves as a valuable primer for HR professionals seeking to transform this emerging threat into an opportunity.

Performance Review Management

In episode 10 we discuss 'Performance Reviews' with Manmeet Sandhu, the Chief People Officer of PhonePe. As Manmeet shares some incisive insights on evaluations, the conversation delves deeper into the manager-employee relationship as a whole. This episode promises to be an intellectual treat as it explores everything from emotions to OKRs.

Hiring for Startups- Challenges, Opportunities and Possibilities

In episode 9 Swati Khanna, VP Human Capital Sequoia sits down with Srini and delves into talent at startups. They discuss the unique challenges that come with hiring for startups and the importance of an alignment between the 'founder' and the 'prospect'. As the conversation throws light on the 'grey areas' around building good teams, Swati offers tips on things to think about when one is considering joining a startup.

Identifying good leaders

In episode 8 Shashikanth KS, CEO-Retail and CHRO Chai Point, breaks down the composition of a good leader and the costs of having a bad leader in an organization. Shashikanth and Srini address some nuanced questions around leadership as they identify the markers that set good leaders apart and provide insight on how to spot them while hiring.

Will artificial intelligence take 
away jobs?

In episode 7 Srini Vijayaraghavan dives deep into the hottest conversation in the professional space with the legendary TN Hari, co-founder of Artha School of Entrepreneurship. They discuss the shifts that artificial intelligence will cause in the professional landscape and the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs.

Myths around Managers and 
Insights around ICs

In episode 6 Srini chats with Alex Peter, Sr. Vice President, Founder's Office Lummo as they bust misconceptions around the roles of individual contributors (ICs) and managers. We find out how to choose between the two tracks, and why every company values both.

Key tips for hiring during 
a recession

In episode 5 Srini catches up with Aadil Bandukwala, Senior Director Marketing at Hackerrank who breaks down the factors that affect hiring during a recession. We'll see how times are changing across businesses and what employers can do to keep up with the changes. Let's explore the key tips for hiring during a recession.

What is HR's role during layoffs?

Episode 4 explores the burning questions around layoffs, as Srini speaks to the Saurabh Nigam, VP Human Capital, Omidyar Network India. We find out how much influence HRs have on layoffs and much more.

Inside the mind of an HR

Managing people is no walk in the park. Episode 3 will give you a peek into the good, the bad and the ugly of an HR's job as Srini speaks to Sudeep Ralhan, CHRO Upstox.

Being a Woman in the Indian Startup Scene.

Being a Woman in the Indian Startup Scene. The world is waking up to change. In episode 2 Srini talks to Swapna Nair, VP-HR Khatabook about the challenges women face at work and what is it that startups can do to level the playing field.

What is Remote done well?

The Covid Pandemic created a paradigm shift in how workplaces operate. In episode 1 Srini talks to Abhash, VP Marketing Springworks, about the good, the bad and the ugly of remote work and how it has changed workplace dynamics, maybe forever.