Anusha Wagh is a senior HR manager at HGS, based in Pune, India. She has been with HGS for over two years now. She is also a marathon runner and has been running for the last four years. Here, she shares her experience with HGS and how she balances work and her passion for fitness.
What is your favourite part about your job?
My role as an HR business partner calls for a lot of collaboration and accountability. Working closely with the business keeps me updated with the latest market trends to provide the organisation with the best hiring and personnel management solutions. I have always felt that I am empowered to make decisions and support the business in my capacity. All the learning involved, the excitement and the challenges that keep me on the move are my driving forces throughout the workday.
HGS is an organisation that firmly believes in a value system. I have seen immense respect for the individual across all levels. This is also reflected in the many employee-friendly policies here. At HGS, innovation and creativity have no boundaries—the ones with a flair for perfection have all the opportunities to succeed within the organisation. It is rare to see an organisation as large as HGS with a work culture that keeps everyone so close-knit.
One of the biggest lessons I have learnt here is that every critical situation is an opportunity for success.
What sparked this passion for fitness? How do you strike a balance with work?
I became a fitness freak since my elder son started to train in swimming. Four years since there has been no looking back. My sons who are 11- and 6-years-old are the driving force for our family to stay fit. Both of them are undergoing professional training in swimming and skating. I always try my best to match their energy levels.
Anusha with Milind Soman at the freedom run
I have been a consistent runner in the Pune marathon and the Pinkathon. Recently, I participated in a Freedom run for women, a midnight run themed around women’s safety. Milind Soman was there as well, and we secured the same position. Another event was the HR run organised by Run India Run (a running community), where I came second. Every week, I ensure I run 10-12 km apart from my regular workout. It helps maintain my endurance whenever I participate in a marathon.
I have always been a working mother, so my family has learnt to manage things in my absence. However, this calls for a lot of planning from my end. My weekends are a lot more hectic comparatively because ground training for the kids starts at 5:30 AM. While early mornings seem strenuous, I find my schedule a lot of fun. It would be hard for most to be convinced, as they need to experience it.
At the HR run
When it comes to working, I prefer to be in the driving seat, and so, I always try to maintain consistent energy levels till an assignment is over. I firmly believe in delegating work, which helps to ensure that my team is groomed enough to support the system in my absence. This way of management also provides me with a broader canvas of opportunities in new areas of work.
What would be your advice on managing a seamless professional-personal balance?
Personally, I have seen a lot of benefits of making fitness an integral part of my daily routine. I think it teaches one to be disciplined, punctual and responsive. I also believe in doing everything with involvement, attention, and sincerity—these are also key to multitasking. It is important to pursue one’s creativity because of the resulting mental stimulation. We all think and function better when our minds are busy.