Pooja Chawla

Led human capital strategy for a $1.3Bn Fintech Unicorn backed by Temasek and Sequoia, Matrix & QED
• Organizational Scaling & Design: Architected the HR function from the ground up, scaling the workforce by 1, 300% (from 100 to 1, 400+ employees) across 30+ cities while maintaining cultural integrity.
• Business Transformation: Spearheaded the enterprise-wide transition to an Agile framework and OKR methodology, fostering a high-performance culture and cross-functional synergy.
• Talent Acquisition: Engineered a talent acquisition framework that delivered a 60% reduction in recruitment costs and optimized time-to-fill for mission-critical leadership roles.
• Digital Transformation: Architected and executed the end-to-end implementation of a comprehensive HRMS (Hire-to-Retire); achieved 100% organizational adoption and fully digitized the employee lifecycle within 30 days of the launch.
• Governance & Compliance: Engineered a scalable compliance framework and equitable workplace policies to mitigate risk and safeguard organizational reputation during rapid scaling.
• Talent Management - Led an end-to-end Talent Management strategy, synchronizing Performance Management, L&D, and Wellness to cultivate a high-impact culture and drive a 28% increase in high-potential retention.

HR Digital Transformation: Implemented HR automation that delivered a 22% reduction in overhead and enhanced the remote employee experience.
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Cost Leadership: Streamlined administrative operations, realizing an 11% cost reduction within 90 days.
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Strategic Realignment: Executed a workforce reduction initiative with a focus on compassion and minimal business disruption

M&A Integration: Played a pivotal role in the complex merger of Poonawalla Finance and Magma Fincorp, successfully integrating a 10, 000-employee base.
• EVP Architecture & Alignment: Conceptualized and launched a comprehensive Employee Value Proposition (EVP) centered on core organizational values. Strategically aligned these values across all HR touchpoints—from talent acquisition to rewards—to create a unified and high-performing culture
• Wellness & Engagement: Designed data-driven engagement and holistic wellness initiatives to maintain organizational morale during COVID and improve retention during the post-merger transition.
• Talent Strategy: Scaled a comprehensive talent strategy across leadership, tech, sales, and campus hiring to build diverse, high-performing teams from the ground up.
• Performance Leadership: Designed and launched an enterprise-wide Performance Management System and L&D initiatives to enhance banking product competencies.
• HR Transformation: Directed end-to-end system overhauls and post-merger transformation projects to support the organization’s high-growth objectives

Talent Partnership & Organization Design: Acted as a dedicated Talent Partner for the Technology and Digital Group, architecting the organizational design and scaling the division from 100 to over 5000+ members.
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Innovation Lab Incubation: Singlehandedly developed the organizational structure, compensation, benefits and policies for the Bank’s Innovation Lab, staffing the specialized team in 45 days.
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Scalable Performance Management: Led the Performance Management team in executing complex, large-scale appraisal cycles for 80000+ employees, and integrated advanced analytics to mitigate systemic bias.

Human Resources
* Workforce Planning and Management: Ensuring End to end manpower planning via internal and external
channels as per the business forecast. Accountable for ensuring 100% manpower on ground for 8 SBUs within
banking and finance domain. Major SBUs were Credit Suisse, JPMC, UBS and FGB
* Employee Engagement: Responsible for managing employee aspirations and timely resolution of employee
grievances. Responsible for organizing fun activities and events for the employees
* Cognizant Outreach: Was active volunteer of Cognizant CSR team and have organized multiple events and
cultural activities for the underprivileged kids
Key Achievements
* Managed the ramp down of 290 people from UBS Bank and have successfully placed them in other projects in
less than 30 days. Youngest team member in the HR team to be recognized by Business Applause Award
* Have set-up a 500+ member team for Credit Suisse in less than 6 months. Received multiple awards from
Business and HR Team for the same