Anupriya Awasthi: Where Strategy Meets Humanity in the World of Work

 

Seek mentors, keep learning, and don’t shy away from bold decisions.

For Anupriya Awasthi, leadership has never been about authority it has always been about alignment. Alignment between people and purpose, systems and culture, ambition and empathy. With over eighteen years of experience as a Strategic HR Lead Consultant and Head of HR, her work reflects a deep understanding of what truly sustains organisations: people who feel seen, heard, and supported.

“What drew me to HR was my fascination with people,” she says. “I realised early on that when talent decisions are made thoughtfully and employee experiences are designed with care, organisations don’t just grow they evolve.”

That belief has quietly shaped a career spanning aviation, IT, FMCG, international NGOs, consulting, retail, real estate, and emerging technology sectors, each adding a new layer to her leadership philosophy.

Learning from Leadership, Growing Through Experience

Anupriya’s professional outlook was influenced early on by leaders who balanced strength with sensitivity. One such figure was Ms. Pallavi Tyagi, EVP & Group Head of People Experience Design and Future of Work. Long before working with the organisation, Anupriya admired her clarity of thought and people-centric leadership qualities that reinforced the idea that empathy and performance are not opposites, but partners.

As an XLRI, Jamshedpur alumni her career journey has been marked by intentional learning across diverse environments. From representing SpiceJet on national platforms to managing HR for organisations with thousands of employees, Anupriya embraced complexity rather than avoiding it.

Key turning points came through high-impact assignments—international hiring for CARE USA, a complete re-badging project for an overseas client at Hexaview, and delivering over 400 hires annually while maintaining quality and cultural fit. Each milestone sharpened her strategic thinking and strengthened her ability to lead through change.

Receiving the Most Inspiring Women Leader – 2025 award from The Portfolio Magazine became a moment of reflection rather than arrival. “It validated years of quiet, consistent work,” she shares, “but more importantly, it reaffirmed my belief that people-first practices create lasting impact.”

Achievements Rooted in Impact, Not Applause

When Anupriya speaks of success, she does not list titles first. She speaks of transformation.

Launching a Balanced Scorecard-based digital goal-setting framework in an aerospace organisation. Improving employee engagement by 25 percent through structured talent and engagement programs. Establishing learning and development ecosystems from the ground up. Leading HR initiatives at SpiceJet that earned the National Award for Best Employee Engagement Practices.

She was recognised by the Great Manager Institute with a Certificate of Merit while at CARE India and invited as a speaker at LinkedIn’s Voice of Talent event representing the aerospace sector. Yet, for her, the most meaningful achievement remains seeing teams align, leaders grow, and cultures shift for the better.

Leading Through Complexity and Change

Driving an initiative of international hiring, system overhauls cultural transition that required not only technical expertise but trust building. High state environment brings equally high pressure challenges. Managing HR for organisations with 6500 employees at SpiceJet and over 2000 at CARE India meant navigating complex employee needs alongside operational priorities.

 “Resistance to change is natural,” she explains. “The real work lies in bringing people along, helping them see the ‘why’ behind the shift.”These experiences strengthened her resilience and reinforced her people-centric leadership style—one that values clarity, communication, and consistency.

Values That strengthen Her Leadership

She guides her work is guided by five core principles: integrity, honesty, commitment and perfection. These values are not determined as ideals but practiced daily through fair decision making, inclusive policies and leadership accountability. She believes that HR has the responsibility to be both the conscience and the catalyst of an organisation.

What Keeps Her Moving Forward

Posing Impact is her greatest motivator, while visible differences her work makes, whether designing performance frameworks, enabling leadership performance and improvising engagement scores.

Motivated by growth of people, teammates, organisation along with complex challenges energise her because they demand learning and adaptability. But above all, it is the moment when individuals flourish and teams find alignment that gives her work meaning.

Balancing Drive with Discipline

Anupriya loves to work, she describes herself as Workaholic who manages through discipline rather than detachment, Structured processes, empowering teams with clear priorities and delegation that allow her to remain effective without any burnout.

 “Balance isn’t about doing less,” she reflects. “It’s about doing what matters, with focus.” As someone who believes in boundaries, recharging intentionally, and continuous learning.

Shaping the Future of Work

While speaking to her she envisions deeper engagement in HR, organisational development and leadership roles, serving as enabling organisation employer building strategies and performance management system tailored to business models.

She also aspires to contribute to HR thought leadership and mentor emerging professionals. Her experience with CARE India has strengthened her commitment to social impact, particularly in women empowerment, education, and community development.

“My goal,” she shares, “is to blend professional excellence with purpose-driven work.”

A Thought to Carry Forward

One line that reflects her philosophy is simple yet powerful:

“Build people with compassion, guide them with clarity, and the organisation will rise with them.”

A Message for Young Women

Her advice to young women is stable yet grounded to believe in your abilities and stay consistent because growth may not be stable but very experience add strength

“Be ambitious, but stay empathetic,” she says. “Seek mentors, keep learning, and don’t shy away from bold decisions. You don’t have to choose between being strong and being kind—you can be both.”

In a world of fast change and constant pressure, Anupriya Awasthi’s journey reminds us that sustainable leadership is built not just on strategy, but on humanity—and that when people grow, organisations rise naturally with them.

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