Pooja Upadhyaya (She/Her) — Co-Founder

Organizational Development & HR Leadership • Strengthen organizational capacity by fostering a respectful, supportive, and growth-oriented environment that enhances employee capabilities and engagement. • Proven expertise in HR strategy, including policy design, compensation benchmarking, wage settlements, KRA/KPI alignment, PMS implementation, and ROI-driven solutions. Sales & Business Growth Expertise • Results-driven marketing & management professional with a strong track record in sales leadership, business expansion, and revenue generation. Talent Management & Workforce Productivity • Specialized in psychometric assessments, employee counseling, and tailored training programs to address skill gaps and drive productivity. • Successfully managed talent acquisition, competency development, succession planning, retrenchments, and outplacements across diverse industries. Diversity & Inclusion Advocacy • Championed women’s leadership development and diversity initiatives, creating inclusive workplaces that empower underrepresented talent. Strategic Networking & Collaboration • Strong relationships with industry professionals, business partners, and consultants, leveraging social media and cross-functional networks for organizational growth. Cross-Industry Experience • Delivered HR and productivity solutions for multiple industries, aligning workforce strategies with business objectives.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a strategic HR leader with a focus on diversity and organizational development.

Location: Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India

Experience: 5 yrs 2 mos

Skills

Diversity & Inclusion
Advocacy
Leadership
Industry Collaboration
Education Strategy
Talent Management
Diversity Leadership
Hr Management
Employee Lifecycle
Hr Operations
Talent Acquisition

Career Highlights

Founder of Her Awaaz Foundation promoting gender equality.
Led diversity initiatives impacting women's leadership.
Extensive experience in HR strategy across multiple industries.

Work Experience

Her Awaaz Foundation

Founder & Director (9 mos)

University of East London

Chair for Industry Advisory Board -India (1 yr 1 mo)

Randstad India

National Head ,Diversity Champion(Women) | Multi-Industry Talent Leader (20 yrs 9 mos)

Cash Surgicals Pvt.Ltd, Bhopal Renowned name in M.P. for hospital furniture, surgical equipment etc

HR Professional | Talent Acquisition | Employee Lifecycle Management | Training & Development (1 yr 11 mos)

Universal Medical Transcription (Contech Infotech Pvt.Ltd) Leading medical transcription institute

Human Resources Generalist (2 yrs 2 mos)

Education

Leading Transformation in the Digital Age at London Business School

Bachelor of Education - BEd at Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore

Executive Development Programme at Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

Master of Business Administration - MBA at National Insitute of Managment

Degree at Barkatullah Vishwavidyalaya

Master's degree at Barkatullah Vishwavidyalaya

BSC at Barkatullah Vishwavidyalaya

at Kendriya Vidyalaya

Pooja Upadhyaya (She/Her)

Co-Founder

Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India5 yrs 2 mos experience

Key Highlights

Founder of Her Awaaz Foundation promoting gender equality.
Led diversity initiatives impacting women's leadership.
Extensive experience in HR strategy across multiple industries.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a strategic HR leader with a focus on diversity and organizational development.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Diversity & InclusionAdvocacyLeadershipIndustry CollaborationEducation StrategyTalent ManagementDiversity LeadershipHr ManagementEmployee LifecycleHr OperationsTalent Acquisition

Other Skills

Benefits NegotiationBusiness DevelopmentBusiness HRCoaching & MentoringCollaborationCommunicationCurriculum developmentDiversity RecruitmentEmployee EngagementEmployee RelationsEmployee engagementHR ConsultingHR PoliciesHuman Resources (HR)Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS)

About

Experience

Her awaaz foundation

Founder & Director

Jun 2025 – Present · 9 mos · Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India · On-site

Passionate about empowering voices and driving change, I am the Founder of Her Awaaz Foundation, a dynamic initiative dedicated to "advancing gender equality, education, sports and leadership opportunities for women". With a relentless commitment to advocacy and social impact, I lead efforts to "amplify underrepresented narratives, foster inclusive policies, and create platforms for sustainable growth"
Through strategic collaborations, grassroots engagement, and innovative solutions, Her Awaaz Foundation strives to "build a world where every Women has the agency to speak, thrive, and lead". Join us in this journey to transform silence into strength.

Diversity & InclusionAdvocacy

University of east london

Chair for Industry Advisory Board -India

Feb 2025 – Present · 1 yr 1 mo · Remote

Chair, Industry Advisory Board | Bridging Industry & Academia | Driving Employability & Innovation
As Chair of the Industry Advisory Board at the University of East London (UEL), I collaborate with senior leaders across sectors to shape future-ready education, ensuring UEL’s programs align with evolving workforce needs. My work focuses on fostering industry partnerships, enhancing employability, and embedding innovation into curriculum and research.
About UEL: A dynamic, career-led university in the heart of London, UEL empowers a diverse student body through industry-aligned programs, cutting-edge research, and strong employer ties. Known for its strengths in AI, fintech, health sciences, and creative industries, UEL bridges academia and real-world impact.
Passionate about equipping talent with the skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Industry CollaborationEducation Strategy

Randstad india

National Head ,Diversity Champion(Women) | Multi-Industry Talent Leader

May 2004 – Feb 2025 · 20 yrs 9 mos · Indore · On-site

National Head - Pharma, Healthcare & Life Sciences | Diversity Champion | Multi-Industry Talent Leader
Randstad India | May 2004 – February 2025
Began my career as a Trainee Recruiter and over two decades, rose to National Leadership, shaping talent strategies across diverse sectors—FMCG, Manufacturing, Automotive, IT/ITES, Insurance, and Pharma & Healthcare.
Key Leadership Roles & Achievements:
National Head (2024–2025): Led pan-India staffing solutions for Pharma, Healthcare & Life Sciences, driving revenue growth and innovative workforce models.
Practice Head (2023–2025): Scaled Randstad’s Specialties Division, delivering tailored talent strategies for clients in Pharma & Healthcare
Deputy General Manager (2004–2024):
Transformed MP/CG /Bihar into a ₹1Cr PBT territory with 137% business growth, managing 2,500+ outsourced hires.
Built high-performing teams (20+ members) and designed end-to-end HR solutions—from recruitment to payroll—for clients across Automobile, Automotive, FMCG, Pharma, Healthcare, Retail and ITES.
Diversity & Inclusion Leadership:
As Randstad India’s Diversity Champion, I:
Lead the Women Forward BRG, launching Various initiatives
Randstad India’s first Menopause & Maternity Manual
Served as Engagement Lead, for Women Inclusion Network(Randstad Global), aligning India’s D&I campaigns with Randstad’s worldwide mission.

Talent ManagementDiversity Leadership

Cash surgicals pvt.ltd, bhopal renowned name in m.p. for hospital furniture, surgical equipment etc

HR Professional | Talent Acquisition | Employee Lifecycle Management | Training & Development

Jun 2002 – May 2004 · 1 yr 11 mos · Bhopal · On-site

Experienced HR professional with expertise in managing a workforce of 100+, overseeing the entire employee lifecycle from recruitment to separation. Adept at streamlining HR processes to enhance efficiency and employee satisfaction.
Key Responsibilities & Achievements:
Managed end-to-end recruitment, including sourcing, selection, onboarding, and training.
Maintained attendance, leave records, and payroll management, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
Oversaw the employee lifecycle from onboarding to confirmation, ensuring smooth transitions.
Streamlined the exit process, including full & final settlements, compensation, and benefits clearance.
Organized personality development programs to enhance workforce skills and productivity.
Conducted performance appraisals and implemented feedback mechanisms for continuous improvement.
Handled employee grievances, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.
Liaised with placement agencies for talent acquisition, including hiring for senior management roles.
Developed and implemented training processes to upskill employees and align with organizational goals.
Passionate about building strong workplace cultures and optimizing HR functions for business success.

HR ManagementEmployee Lifecycle

Universal medical transcription (contech infotech pvt.ltd) leading medical transcription institute

Human Resources Generalist

Apr 2000 – Jun 2002 · 2 yrs 2 mos · Bhopal · On-site

Managed a workforce of 50 , overseeing the full spectrum of HR functions from recruitment to separation. Ensured smooth HR operations while fostering employee growth and organizational efficiency.
Key Responsibilities:
Recruitment & Onboarding: Handled end-to-end hiring, including sourcing, selection, and training of new hires.
HR Operations: Maintained accurate attendance, leave records, and payroll processing.
Employee Lifecycle Management: Monitored employees from onboarding to confirmation, ensuring compliance and engagement.
Exit Process Optimization: Streamlined separation procedures, including final settlements, compensation, and benefits clearance.
Training & Development: Organized personality development programs for both employees and students to enhance soft skills and productivity.
Performance Management: Conducted appraisals and provided constructive feedback to drive performance improvements.
Employee Relations: Addressed grievances promptly to maintain a positive work environment.
Talent Acquisition Partnerships: Collaborated with placement agencies for strategic hiring, including leadership-level recruitment.
Training Process Design: Developed structured training modules to upskill employees and align with business objectives.
Committed to building a motivated workforce through effective HR practices and continuous development initiatives.