I’m Emrana Sheikh, Enterprise HR Head for Johnson & Johnson in India and South Asia, and this is how I Lead from Within
Emrana Sheikh, the newly appointed enterprise HR Head – India and South Asia, Johnson & Johnson, is a proud lifelong-learner. She plunges into diverse roles, dismisses learning hierarchies and advocates collaboration. Sheikh also possesses deep appreciation for business and its realities, and firmly believes that business intimacy enables HR to deliver high-impact value. Today, with over 25 years of rich experience, Sheikh is among the most coveted and respected women HR leaders in the country. This is her story and how she leads from within…
My Foray into Human Resources
My parents, despite not having been able to complete their schooling, raised me with a strong belief that learning is like oxygen for professional growth and development. This seeded my career objective of being a catalyst in others’ development and steered me into human resources.
On People-oriented Cultures
Each of the organizations that I have worked with previously – FedEx, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Asian Paints – as well as my current organization, Johnson & Johnson, have a very strong people-oriented culture, which is the best environment any HR leader can ask for. At FedEx, I was encouraged to move into roles that I had never taken on before. I worked for new geographies, developed appreciation for diverse global cultures, and successfully completed several professional certifications.
The transition from FedEx to Mahindra & Mahindra brought with it a steep learning curve since I was migrating from the service industry to a hard-core manufacturing domain. In a perceived male-dominated industry, the organization embraced me by giving me a seat at the table of Automotive Executive Council. While there is a lot to learn through formal and structured learning interventions such as the Mahindra Universe Program at Harvard University, I thrived on understanding the industry as well as the business through interactions with seniors, peers, dealers, customers and employees at large.
At Asian Paints I was surrounded with high caliber talent – leaders who are highly involved and passionate about people agenda – and was given an empowering environment to blossom as a professional.
At Johnson & Johnson, the credo which was written 75 years ago stays core to what the organization believes in, and central to leadership behavior in any geography in which it operates. I instantly connected with this credo-based culture and resonated with the meaningful purpose of building a healthier world. When purpose and passion are deeply embedded, the drive to perform comes naturally.
On Being a Lifelong Learner
I believe that learning is lifelong and it’s the maintenance you pay to have a successful career. Greater the learning agility, greater is our impact in delivering results. Today, learning often takes the guise of collaboration, which creates unique value and energy. I believe in this and as a leader I strive to build a culture of collaboration wherever I work. I have always sought out diverse aspects to familiarize myself with and have never believed in having a hierarchy in learning – we can learn from anyone and everyone. I continuously question and challenge myself to do more.
With doing more though, come fear and judgements. Fear heightens preparedness before we take the plunge. It enables growth and breaks the inertia of comfort zones. When faced with challenges I concentrate on what I can do instead of what I can’t. As for judgements, I feel that in organizations, perceptions are realities. It is important to solicit timely feedback, which can help us reflect and shape ourselves to become better and stronger.
My Belief in Equality
I was brought up in an environment of positivity and equality. My father saw no difference between his children; he believed that his daughters could do what his sons could do. My mother taught us to dream and gave us wings to fulfill them, so that we never get trapped in conventional thinking. My early conditioning became the foundation and the fuel for my belief in equality, which developed my core confidence in achieving any goal.
On Importance of Mentors
In my career so far, I have had the privilege of working with some great leaders from different backgrounds and nationalities. They have mentored me and guided me like the North Star, contributing significantly to making me who I am today.
Throughout our lives there will be many who will believe in us, our abilities and dreams. They become our enablers towards success. And then there will be a few who will try to fuel guilt and remind us of our limitations. They only derail success so it’s best to ignore them. Success is relative but whatever it means to you, you have the fundamental right to work towards it and enjoy the journey towards it. Every milestone achieved creates hunger for working towards another goal; success keeps shifting.
On Leadership
I have had extremely fulfilling and diverse professional experiences, each of which has left me with meaningful insights and wisdom. I firmly believe that leadership is a privilege that one must earn every day. Also, for a leader, being agile is not a choice anymore. I have seen the importance of communication , and it cannot be left to chance. Instead, it needs to become a ritual for connecting with those with whom we work. Recognition is like oxygen; employees need it for their existence. We outperform only when we challenge ourselves, and when we challenge ourselves we keep building our capability and potential to do more.
On Integrating Work and Personal life
Work-life integration is not a destination but a lifelong journey with moderate to high level of adjustments. Every choice we make in either sphere will have its pros and cons; the trick is to find ways to be happy about the choices we make.
Also, work-life integration is not a one-way street. I learnt this through my challenging journey towards motherhood. On resuming work post my maternity break, I had to leave for the UK for work. The thought of leaving a 6-month-old-baby behind was heartbreaking but my family reminded me that the organization had been flexible and accommodating during my pregnancy and now, it was my turn to fulfill my professional responsibility.
And finally, it is important to recognize and deeply treasure the army of people who believe in your professional dreams and enable you to chase them.
On Self Care
There are four zones in an individual’s world: work, family, self and community. Each of these occupy a portion of our time. We can define how much time we devote to each in order to lead a meaningful life. It’s important to not ignore ‘me’ time as it rejuvenates us professionally, personally and spiritually. I am passionate about fitness, dance, reading, travelling and learning diverse things related from HR to baking.
My Advice to Young Women
There are a few things I have learned in my journey. I have learnt that one must always keep yourself relevant. Learn to invest in your capabilities and learn to see and chase your dreams. And very importantly, amidst your profession, family and community, don’t forget your self, which gives you the power to reboot when you need it.
