In this edition of our Quick 5 Interview Series, we spoke with Deepti KS, People and Culture Business Partner at Vendavo. With a personal ritual rooted in gratitude, Deepti shows how open communication can be a real game-changer, how personalisation is redefining the employee experience, and how she envisions a future-ready workplace.
Here is the excerpt from the candid conversation with Deepti, who is a seasoned HR professional with over 12 years of experience. At Vendavo India, she plays a pivotal role in driving strategic HR initiatives. A recognized voice in the HR community, she is also an engaging speaker, and her core strengths lie in HR business partnering, operations, and HR technology, making her a versatile and progressive HR professional.
Read below:
Q1: What’s the one ritual you follow every day that helps you stay grounded in this fast-paced and ever-changing world of HR leadership?
A1. Living each day with gratitude, I cherish my journey in the HR field that resonates with my core passions. Letting go of outdated knowledge creates the space needed to adopt new insights, which invites success in a world being rewritten, especially by rapid geopolitical and AI changes.
Q2: Employee engagement is a continuous effort. As a leader, what strategies do you use to measure engagement levels across teams, and how do you pivot when you see a dip in motivation?
A2. At the heart of true employee engagement lies something simple yet profound: open communication. When team members feel comfortable speaking candidly with their leaders and HR, that’s a sign of confidence and a primary indicator of engagement. Pulse surveys and other tools play their part, but the real test is whether employees feel secure confiding in their managers and sharing issues or ideas freely. While strategies like learning programs and recognition initiatives are valuable, they must be both timely and genuinely welcomed by the people they are intended to support.
Q3: The nature of work is constantly changing. What innovative approaches are you taking to keep employees engaged and maintain a sense of belonging, especially in a hybrid or remote environment?
A3. At our B2B SaaS company, we operate remotely, but connection remains key. We foster engagement through virtual collaboration, occasional in-person meetups, and prompt recognition of great work. Skip-level meetings and employee surveys offer additional channels for team members to voice concerns and align with leadership’s vision. These thoughtful efforts help team members feel seen, heard, and connected globally.
Q4: In today’s dynamic workplace, how do you see personalization redefining the way we approach employee engagement?
A4. Personalization isn’t just a trend; it’s today’s reality. Employees now experience customized learning journeys, tailored career paths, and individualized promotion plans. At Vendavo, we elevate this by offering personalized merchandise during onboarding, allowing new joiners to choose from a curated range of swag that truly resonates with them. Personalization is deeply valued by each team member and deeply woven into every aspect of the employee experience.
Q5: What does the ‘future-ready’ workplace look like to you? With the rise of AI and automation, how can organizations create an environment where employees feel continuously recognized and motivated?
A5. Future-ready workplaces are where employees and AI are working side by side, and leaders are well-versed with AI themselves. It’s where lifelong learning is encouraged and long-term business initiatives help the company stay relevant for years altogether. While adaptive recognition, instant feedback, and learning will be at the forefront, job stability and genuine focus on employee well-being, along with sustainable compensatory growth, will take the center stage, in my opinion.
