Speaker: Mr. Bharat Chhabra, Tata Group
Date: 29th June 2024
Theme: Strategic HR and Ethical Leadership
The first-year students of the MBA-HRM program at XIM University attended a Leadership Talk during their orientation, led by Mr. Bharat Chhabra from Tata Power. His insights, grounded in professional experience, provided the cohort with a clear understanding of HR’s role as a strategic business driver and the importance of ethics in corporate leadership.
Talk Summary
The session began with Mr. Chhabra explaining the role of HR as a strategic partner in businesses. He emphasized that HR could either be a proactive force that elevates people or a passive support system. He introduced the Tata Group’s values and code of conduct, advocating for integrity, excellence, unity, responsibility, and pioneering as core tenets. Mr. Chhabra discussed ethics through examples, including the Satyam and Daewoo scams, highlighting irreversible brand damage caused by unethical practices. He encouraged participants to evaluate decisions through questions about personal and public scrutiny, such as whether one would be comfortable sharing the decision with family or in the press. He also outlined practical steps for ethical decision-making.
Additionally, Mr. Chhabra shared examples of crisis management from Tata Motors, touching on the Tata Indica recalls and Tata Nano’s marketing challenges. He concluded by emphasizing sustainability and ethical practices in companies like ITC, Godrej, Infosys, and Wipro.
Key Takeaways
- Strategic HR Role: HR’s impact goes beyond support; it drives strategic business
- Ethics in Decision-Making: Assess actions by personal and societal standards to foster a culture of trust and transparency.
- Crisis Management: Effective handling of challenges, as seen in Tata Motors, is crucial for corporate resilience.
- Sustainability Focus: Companies today prioritize sustainability and social responsibility in their business models.
- Growth of Tata Motors: The company’s revenue journey from $2 billion in 2002 to $400 billion in 2024 showcases the effectiveness of values-driven growth.
Q&A Session
1. How do ethics influence business decisions?
Mr. Chhabra responded that ethical decision-making builds a foundation of trust within organizations and enhances their reputation, which is essential for long-term success.
2. Why is strategic HR critical?
According to Mr. Chhabra, HR’s role is evolving to actively contribute to achieving organizational goals, which requires HR leaders to be proactive, innovative, and aligned with business strategies.
About the Speaker
Mr. Bharat Chhabra, Head – Learning, Culture and Change at Tata Group, brings extensive experience in strategic HR and business ethics. His insights into Tata’s values and sustainable practices underscore the Tata Group’s commitment to ethical leadership and societal impact.
Out of over 29 years of professional experience, with over two decades in the Tata Power in HR, Talent Management, Change Management and L&D, presently contributing in the area of Tata Legacy of giving back to the Society and creating an impact by lighting up lives and ensuring sustainable is attainable.