From Tech Support to Director of Talent Acquisition India: Santosh's Career Progression Tips

I was accepted to an open role in Regional Human Resources (RHR) as a director for India. The role gave me the opportunity to use all the knowledge I had learned as part of my MBA program – the legalities, labor laws, and employee engagement. This role also provided me the opportunity to oversee the HR function for our Factory in Chennai, India.

Dell has a culture of learning and leadership development - I took advantage of our learning opportunities to grow and expand my skill set by enrolling in the Director leadership program. While in this program, I was offered an opportunity to lead the Asia Pacific & Japan Learning & Development (L&D) function.

This decision was not easy as it meant moving from a country to a regional role in a function that I have never done before! L&D was a new function to me, but thanks to encouragement and support from Vanice Hayes, Senior Vice President of Diversity, I said yes. What started as a role leading APJ Delivery expanded to include all of Europe and the United States. Moving into a global role was rewarding, and it was interesting to learn from team members and colleagues all around the world. My three years in this role were pivotal to expanding my skillsets and growing as a leader.

My journey has been one of learning, development, and discovery. Every step I took taught me something that has ultimately led me to where I am today.

• Technical Support – How to create positive experiences for our customers. 
• HR Generalist – How to enhance Team Member experience & protect Dell’s interest. 
• My L&D experience opened my eyes to how the organization is tied together and helped me discover more about our People Philosophy, Culture Code & Leadership Principles – all things that are critical to the existence of any organization. 

All in all, the 7 roles I have done over 19 years at Dell have resulted in great relationships with customers, stakeholders, and team members. 

So, How Did I Do It? 

I strongly believe that if you cultivate a “can do” attitude and are open to learning new skills, the opportunity will follow!

The four things that have helped me the most in my career and these 19 years at Dell are:

• Staying curious and being aware of opportunities
• Selling myself and being open to taking risks
• Networking
• Mentorship

My Advice for Young Professionals

• Be patient - skills and careers are not built in a day. Organizations need to see value in you for you to grow. 
• Stay curious - keep learning and upskilling to stay relevant to the organization. Use mentors as a sounding board. 

Be aware of opportunities across the broader organization, network with peers, and find mentors to seek honest and open advice on your potential, performance, and skills. Mentorship is not one-sided; instead, it is a two-way relationship where young professionals can also teach their mentors through reverse mentorship, exchanging their unique insights and knowledge. 

How I Keep My Passions Alive

Outside of my role in TA, I am the True Ability ERG Lead at Dell India and co-lead for APJ.As someone who feels strongly about diversity and inclusion, my association with True Ability is only natural. Through True Ability, we have been successful in making huge strides towards accommodating those with physical disabilities by transforming our physical space, sensitizing our organization, and changing lives by providing opportunities - But the work is never done.

Taking part in meaningful work that positively impacts the community is what I am passionate about and gives me a lot of pleasure!

In my free time outside of work, I enjoy cooking, candle-making, motorbiking, and traveling.