“The energy at KPMG in India and the zeal of making an impact is electrifying”
Vanitha Nitin
Director, Head HR- Asia Service Center India
Sun Life
Vanitha’s decade long stint with KPMG in India in Human Resources involved working on multiple projects. Armed with skills spanning across recruiting, change management, business partnering, performance management, HR policies and engagement, in 2019, she moved on to join Sun Life as a director in HR. She traces her journey with the firm.
My JOSHful experience at KPMG encompasses most of my career journey of over a decade working with some of the finest intellects in the country. I joined as a Manager in 2009 in Mumbai when our offices were located at Kamala Mills Compound. I have had the opportunity to help set up the NESCO office as one of the early few employees who transitioned from Lodha Excelus to operate out of an incubation office, eventually moving to Cyber City Office in Gurugram.
A world of opportunities
The energy at KPMG and the zeal of making an impact is so electrifying, that there is no dull moment here, no matter which city you operate from. During my tenure, I have had the opportunity to work under the leadership of three CEOs and three HR heads, each with their unique passion, inspiration and experience. The one thing they have continued to build the organisation on is its ever-evolving value system, which is the cornerstone of what the firm and its people represent.
The firm is a confluence of diversity in culture, thinking, ideas and people demographics. Being part of the HR team, I have witnessed the values come to action in daily interaction within teams, in how employees are respected, valued and treated, how carefully clients are chosen and how high performance is delivered day after day.
Growing within, growing along
It has been a matter of pride for me to support the firm in growing to more than five times its size in headcount, expanding our wings to newer entities and services and delivering expertise that has been recognised in various forums. Always open to new ideas and innovation, KPMG nurtures a culture where employees feel empowered to create and to grow. I have also benefitted from the guidance of partners who have mentored me, whom I continue to hold in much respect. One such advice I received from a mentor was to always put the firm before self and to take decisions objectively, considering the interest of the organisation and not driven by any leader’s interests
I have enjoyed working with the CSR team to volunteer for KPMG Family for Learning, for environment initiatives and being an Aspire mentor to students from the Vidya School. There was more to learn from them about life than what I could give as a mentor. I have been inspired by how KPMG has supported India and its citizens, by responding quickly to victims of floods, earthquakes, various other natural disasters and KPMG’s investment to building students of the future through KPMG Innovation & Collaboration Challenge and Enactus campus programmes.
The road ahead
Currently in my role as HR Leader for Sun Life Asia Service Center India, there are multiple exciting opportunities to work on capability and capacity building. As a shared services Centre, Sun Life provides operations and technology support for our parent organisation in Canada and parts of Asia. Majority of our employees are Gen-Zs and there is a continuous challenge to keep the young and bright workforce to stay engaged and focused. Amidst these challenges, practicing the values honed from my last experience with KPMG comes in very handy.
Somebody once told me, “this place just grows on you,” and I could not agree more to that! Above all else, at KPMG, I have found some valuable friends for life. Most colleagues are only a call away, many are still in touch and it takes a long time before one can internalise that you are not an employee any longer, but an alumnus. To me, KPMG has been a lot more than just another employer who provides your monthly paychecks. It is an institution, an alma mater, which prides in building its people, building the nation and building our communities.