Be a Leader who leads by Example : Seema Kumar
‘I am versatile, easy going, solution oriented, determined, open minded and enjoy working with diverse people.”
To lead by example is an important characteristic of a leader in today’s era.
This is what inspires Seema Kumar, the Human Resources manager at Future Farms PTE LTD T/A Rooster Poultry to press on despite the challenges.
Ms Kumar believes that there will always be challenges in the entire commercial world, but it’s the way of addressing any form of challenges and ensuring to keep the business afloat amidst difficult times, that makes a company, organisation or business resilient and versatile.
Ms Kumar was given a token of appreciation during the Fiji Business Excellence Awards for her contributions as an evaluator for the fifth year now. “This means a lot to me,” she said. Ms Kumar was born and raised in Lautoka and is married to a school teacher.
“I am versatile, easy going, solution oriented, determined, open minded and enjoy working with diverse people.”
She is a graduate in Accounting & Financial Management and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in General Management from the University of the South Pacific.
She is also a member of Fiji Human Resources Institute and a certified member of Australian Human Resources Institute.
Can you tell us about your role and experience in your role? And if you could also share with us our experiences before being appointed to your current role?
I joined Future Farms Pte Ltd T/A Rooster Poultry as an HR Coordinator, promoted to Senior HR/ER Specialists in 2018, and finally to Manager Human Resources in April 2022. Prior to joining FFL, I was employed by RC Manubhai group of companies as HR Officer.HR deals with both , people and business, in my role in brief I develop and implement HR strategies and initiatives aligned with the overall business strategy, bridge management and employee relations by addressing demands, grievances or other issues.
How do you manage the demands of professional and personal commitments?
Work – Life balance, Future Farms Pte Ltd T/A Rooster Poultry is committed to providing an environment that supports work life balance, and values family time. No matter how hectic my schedule is, I ultimately have control of my time and life.
What are some of the challenges faced by the company?
There are always going to be challenges. The entire commercial world is facing similar situations after the pandemic. From a HR perspective one of the key areas of interest is addressing any such challenges and ensuring to keep the business afloat amidst such times. In saying this, our organisation is very resilient and versatile and we have many scenario based mitigations when dealing with challenges of any nature. These challenges range from strategies to operations to skill requirements. One of the major challenges faced by the industry I work in is the technical expertise especially in the area of qualified Livestock specialists, however this is mitigated by the good training plan and succession planning in place.
What is the most rewarding thing about your current job?
This field is experiencing steady growth and being a HR professional sees me in a position of influence and a change agent, ability to change lives and develop people around me. People are our most important asset and we are the ones to ensure we have a happy and productive workplace where everyone works to realize our established mission and objectives.
SUN Did your family background or where you grew up have an influence on your career choices?
Yes it did, I grew up idealizing the professions of Pilots, unstable financial background made me to pick another profession which could either be in Finance/HR related discipline.
Promoting corporate values and shaping a positive culture is a vital aspect of my role.
Have you been inspired or influenced by anyone in particular?
I am truly inspired by the leadership of Stanley Raniga, his leadership style is truly inspiring. If I were to pick one of his qualities to emulate, I would want to lead by example as he does. i want to show my team and other members of my organisation how to accomplish a task without being micromanaged and be knowledgeable about what I’m doing, giving autonomy and ownership. I think the ability to lead by example is an important characteristic of a leader in today’s era. Personally, my husband taught me to never give up and deal with difficult situations. His encouragement and support led me to where I am today.
How would you describe yourself as a leader?
Someone who believes in clear goals/vision and two way communication. Bold and have good judgment with the ability to demonstrate emotional intelligence and empathy. I like building confidence in other people and getting them to action.
What impact has COVID-19 pandemic had on your professional and personal life?
COVID 19 professionally did not affect me because FFL did not lay off any workers and we did not see any reduction in the working hours. Agility, flexibility, and resilience were the tools that we have all had to activate during this unprecedented time . Personally it was challenging ,unemployment / inflation rose , and it was not easy to see people around suffering especially the Tourism industry.