From a librarian to an MNC global head – Surya Prakash makes an incredible journey
By Mamata Sahoo
Surya Prakash Mohapatra, Global Head- Talent Skilling at Wipro Enterprise Futuring is a thought leader of international repute in the L&D and HR space. He has over 25 years of experience in various leadership roles in several leading IT and ITES organizations. Prior to Wipro, Surya worked with HP, Microland, Computer Garage and a few other organizations. He has extensive experience in setting up and running learning and development functions for organizations in India and international locations. He has led leadership development, capability building and talent management efforts in various organizations.
World HRD Congress has recognized Surya as one of the 25 Most Talented Training & Development Leaders in the world. Moreover, Global Knowledge Management Congress has conferred the Knowledge Management Leadership Award on Surya. Popular HR Journal, Human Factor featured him in their 2016 Listing of Best HR Heads in India. His articles have been published in various journals and magazines in India and abroad.
In a tete-a-tete with Mamata Sahoo, Surya Prakash candidly narrates his incredible journey that will surely inspire millions.
Q: You have rich experience from Human Resources to Talent Skilling in large global organizations. How do you look at your career journey?
Ans: My career began a as part time librarian in a training institute in Bhubaneswar more than 25 years ago. Later I joined a publishing house in Cuttack as the Circulation Manager for an Odia literary magazine. Then I started an English Language training Institute in Bhubaneswar. I failed miserably as a small-time entrepreneur. Then I worked for another IT training institute for some time. A few years later, I moved to Bangalore in search of better job opportunities. Initially I worked there for a few years with a couple of small organizations before having a breakthrough in a company called Hewlett Packard. It was my first entry to a large global corporation which gave me exposure to world class processes, methodologies and practices. I have never looked back since then. I built the next phase of my career brick by brick from there. It has been a dream run since then. I feel very nostalgic when I reflect on my journey from a librarian to the global head of talent skilling function in the largest business unit of a large multinational organization.
Q: What was in you that made you so successful in your Career?
Ans:I am an ordinary man and I come from a very modest background. I am neither superlatively intelligent nor extremely talented. However, deep inside me I have an indomitable will power, a never-say-die attitude, humility, diligence and a hunger to touch lives around me. Maybe these qualities have taken me to where I have reached today in my journey.
Q: You are a senior business leader and at the same time you have a strong inclination towards Spirituality. How does being Spiritual help you in your professional life?
Ans:If we look at life holistically, we get to know that family, business, profession, spiritual practice etc. are different facets of life. And they are complimentary to each other. Some people believe that one cannot become a business leader and a spiritual practitioner at the same time. Many believe that one needsto be aggressiveto succeed in business and corporate life and Spiritual people are generally not aggressive. However, such beliefs have no base. In fact, my spiritual side has enabled me to become successful in my professional life. Spirituality teaches us to become calm, focused. empathetic, respectful, caring, resolute, diligent and honest. Doesn’t one need these qualities to become successful in business and professional life?
Q: According to the latest research, the world of work is changing. We shall only be as good as the skills we possess. What is your take on developing a continuous learning culture in an Organization?
Ans: Learning is like breathing. We won’t survive, ifwe stop breathing. Similarly, we won’t survive as modern age professionals, if we stop learning. Professionals must gear up to become life-long learners. New technologies and new business models are emerging and older ones are becoming obsolete all the time. Professionals must keep learning and adapting to new ways of working always. The good news is that there are plenty of opportunities available to professionals to build new skills with easy access to content and courses.
Organizations need to work as enablers. Their role is to facilitate skilling of their people. They need to build the right eco-system where self-learning, peer to peer learning and social learning can happen seamlessly. Leaders in organizations need to ensure that learning is celebrated and rewarded.
Q: What organizations should do to keep employees engaged when they are working from home?
Ans: Now most organizations have moved to a hybrid model. Many employees have started going to office at least for a few days a week. When employees work from home, the most important thing missing is ‘human connection’. Organizations need to ensure that the human connection is maintained during work from home. After all humans are social beings. Managers need to connect with their team members regularly. Their conversations should not just be restricted to work. A manager should demonstrate empathy and care in those conversations.
Today technology has reduced many physical barriers. There are powerful tools that can enable seamless collaboration and engagement among colleagues across the globe. Organizations should efficient and agile technologies for this purpose.
Q: Who has been the greatest influence of your life?
Ans: My Spiritual Master, Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra has been the greatest influence on my life. We all need a Guru or Guide in life. In the midst of the pulls and pushes of life, one can easily get distracted and go astray. However, with a Guide in life, one need not worry about that. Because he gives us clarity of vision, sense of purpose and sense of direction. Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra is my guide and I attribute all my success to his presence in my life.
Q: What is your advice to HR professionals?
Ans: Not my advice but my request to HR Professionals is: “Keep the ‘Human’ element alive in the ‘Human Resources’ function. Believe that every employee in your organization has infinite potential. Find ways to discover the unique potential of every employee in the organization and tap into their potential. Believe that every individual is talented. Create an environment where their talent can flourish. Don’t reduce yourself to administrators or order takers. Be a pathfinder to your people and your stakeholders.
From a librarian to an MNC global head – Surya Prakash makes an incredible journey
By Mamata Sahoo
Surya Prakash Mohapatra, Global Head- Talent Skilling at Wipro Enterprise Futuring is a thought leader of international repute in the L&D and HR space. He has over 25 years of experience in various leadership roles in several leading IT and ITES organizations. Prior to Wipro, Surya worked with HP, Microland, Computer Garage and a few other organizations. He has extensive experience in setting up and running learning and development functions for organizations in India and international locations. He has led leadership development, capability building and talent management efforts in various organizations.
World HRD Congress has recognized Surya as one of the 25 Most Talented Training & Development Leaders in the world. Moreover, Global Knowledge Management Congress has conferred the Knowledge Management Leadership Award on Surya. Popular HR Journal, Human Factor featured him in their 2016 Listing of Best HR Heads in India. His articles have been published in various journals and magazines in India and abroad.
In a tete-a-tete with Mamata Sahoo, Surya Prakash candidly narrates his incredible journey that will surely inspire millions.
Q: You have rich experience from Human Resources to Talent Skilling in large global organizations. How do you look at your career journey?
Ans: My career began a as part time librarian in a training institute in Bhubaneswar more than 25 years ago. Later I joined a publishing house in Cuttack as the Circulation Manager for an Odia literary magazine. Then I started an English Language training Institute in Bhubaneswar. I failed miserably as a small-time entrepreneur. Then I worked for another IT training institute for some time. A few years later, I moved to Bangalore in search of better job opportunities. Initially I worked there for a few years with a couple of small organizations before having a breakthrough in a company called Hewlett Packard. It was my first entry to a large global corporation which gave me exposure to world class processes, methodologies and practices. I have never looked back since then. I built the next phase of my career brick by brick from there. It has been a dream run since then. I feel very nostalgic when I reflect on my journey from a librarian to the global head of talent skilling function in the largest business unit of a large multinational organization.
Q: What was in you that made you so successful in your Career?
Ans:I am an ordinary man and I come from a very modest background. I am neither superlatively intelligent nor extremely talented. However, deep inside me I have an indomitable will power, a never-say-die attitude, humility, diligence and a hunger to touch lives around me. Maybe these qualities have taken me to where I have reached today in my journey.
Q: You are a senior business leader and at the same time you have a strong inclination towards Spirituality. How does being Spiritual help you in your professional life?
Ans:If we look at life holistically, we get to know that family, business, profession, spiritual practice etc. are different facets of life. And they are complimentary to each other. Some people believe that one cannot become a business leader and a spiritual practitioner at the same time. Many believe that one needsto be aggressiveto succeed in business and corporate life and Spiritual people are generally not aggressive. However, such beliefs have no base. In fact, my spiritual side has enabled me to become successful in my professional life. Spirituality teaches us to become calm, focused. empathetic, respectful, caring, resolute, diligent and honest. Doesn’t one need these qualities to become successful in business and professional life?
Q: According to the latest research, the world of work is changing. We shall only be as good as the skills we possess. What is your take on developing a continuous learning culture in an Organization?
Ans: Learning is like breathing. We won’t survive, ifwe stop breathing. Similarly, we won’t survive as modern age professionals, if we stop learning. Professionals must gear up to become life-long learners. New technologies and new business models are emerging and older ones are becoming obsolete all the time. Professionals must keep learning and adapting to new ways of working always. The good news is that there are plenty of opportunities available to professionals to build new skills with easy access to content and courses.
Organizations need to work as enablers. Their role is to facilitate skilling of their people. They need to build the right eco-system where self-learning, peer to peer learning and social learning can happen seamlessly. Leaders in organizations need to ensure that learning is celebrated and rewarded.
Q: What organizations should do to keep employees engaged when they are working from home?
Ans: Now most organizations have moved to a hybrid model. Many employees have started going to office at least for a few days a week. When employees work from home, the most important thing missing is ‘human connection’. Organizations need to ensure that the human connection is maintained during work from home. After all humans are social beings. Managers need to connect with their team members regularly. Their conversations should not just be restricted to work. A manager should demonstrate empathy and care in those conversations.
Today technology has reduced many physical barriers. There are powerful tools that can enable seamless collaboration and engagement among colleagues across the globe. Organizations should efficient and agile technologies for this purpose.
Q: Who has been the greatest influence of your life?
Ans: My Spiritual Master, Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra has been the greatest influence on my life. We all need a Guru or Guide in life. In the midst of the pulls and pushes of life, one can easily get distracted and go astray. However, with a Guide in life, one need not worry about that. Because he gives us clarity of vision, sense of purpose and sense of direction. Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra is my guide and I attribute all my success to his presence in my life.
Q: What is your advice to HR professionals?
Ans: Not my advice but my request to HR Professionals is: “Keep the ‘Human’ element alive in the ‘Human Resources’ function. Believe that every employee in your organization has infinite potential. Find ways to discover the unique potential of every employee in the organization and tap into their potential. Believe that every individual is talented. Create an environment where their talent can flourish. Don’t reduce yourself to administrators or order takers. Be a pathfinder to your people and your stakeholders.
