The biggest problem in communication is we do not listen to understand. We listen to reply.

Our methodology is simple. We don't teach or sermonize soft skills.  We just let the group thrive and get inspired through the knowledge we share in various formats, the challenges we pose, the way we explain the answers, through peer learning and group activity. We conduct Master Classes on many important aspects of Communication and certain expectations from corporate you need to know about. We explain about generational differences and why what you say would be interpreted differently. We talk through experiences and stories. All this in a fun, interesting and engaging online sessions.

In short, we create a safe space for you to learn without even realizing it! 

We have curated a 40-week package. Every week we send you content on one interesting aspect that you should know about the workings of a corporate environment. Meraee Mentor is a fully online community and can be accessed from anywhere, all the time. 

Every week we will send you one aspect of soft skills. The content we send you could be in any form, right from a video note by the Mentor or an interview with someone from corporate or a HR etc. We gve you many real life examples too. 

Every week, we will pose a small challenge too, which you can work in groups. You can try these challenges to the best of your abilities. We will explain the answers clearly to you, in the community group. Its ok if you feel you dont have time to do the work. Just be there in the community and watch how others do. You will be able to learn a thing or two.

We will also share interviews with senior folks from the Industry and their joirney from the college campus all the way to where they are now. It will leave you with many thoughts for yourself and for your path ahead.

Senior HRs and Leaders will answer the questions I pose (you could also ask the questions) on anything you wish to know about corporate life. Including how to attack the interviews. 

The community group will be a thriving place for positive energy and knowledge sharing. You will work in small teams throughout the one year to get inspired, learn, act and change. All this will happen without you realizing it..

We will take you virtual tours around some companies. We will talk to the people who work there. We may get some time with the leaders too. You can see how things work, and how people interact, speak, listen and behave. 

I studied in Good Shepherd Convent in Chennai and as a school kid was very interested to teach what I knew. Later in 2000, I graduated with a B.E. Computer Science Engineering degree from Madras University (Sathyabama Engineering College). When I was in final year, I got placed at Sathyam Infotech. At that time, we were only 4 students that placed out of our entire batch. I will share that story in the community, once you get onboard :)

I could not accept the Sathyam offer and quickly got a job with Infosys through an off-campus interview. Another funny interview story which I will share. I started ground-up as a developer. In a short period of time, I could see many career advancements coming my way due to my strong communication skills, positivity, and passion for my job and high energy. I asked a lot of questions, never feared to speak up, yet knew when to keep quiet too! I could sense based on my strong performance ratings that I had an edge.  I was placed in St.Louis Missouri in the US, in charge of a large client, and the learnings from working with the teams with the US were immense.  Shortly after that, I took a short break in career for personal reasons.  During this break, I decided to study and pursued my Masters in Human Resources at the University of Urbana Champaign, IL.  Using a personal break wisely (That's one week content for you!)

As soon as I finished the course, I was ready to jump back to the work force. Again a great story how I got my first job in HR, as the Head of HR.  From there, I took up many different positions in corporate multinational companies as Head of HR, Head of Learning and Organizational Development, AVP HR, AVP & Head of Corporate Communications, VP of Marketing and so on. In every position, every interview, every change, there was immense learning. I met so many different people, many of them added so much value to me. 

In my HR career, I have visited many campuses across TN, for guest lectures and as a chief guest to address the students. I have conducted thousands of HR interviews for students and have been part of so many transformational journeys and success stories. I will share them all with you in the Meraki Mentor Community.

My last stint recently was as a Director HR, for a great engineering college where I could see the grass root transformation of students up close. I was fortunate to be the Chief Mentor for the student leaders and really enjoyed analyzing how students must be taught. When are they open to learn, when do they stay shut, and this got me thinking that I should do more for the student community across the board. 

My career had come full circle and it is time now for me to share my knowledge and experiences gained over the years, to help inspire as many students as I can to be successful. That is my passion.  Even today I randomly bump into people who walk up to me and say I hired them many years back and that they are doing extremely well now. There is no greater joy for a HR than to see the students we picked, to be excelling in their lives. 

However, this generation and the coming ones are different than what we were, back in the day.. Students need a different approach to learning. As a mother of two teenagers, I face this everyday! First we gain our respect, through the knowledge and experience. Once we gain their trust and respect, they will be ready to listen to us and take us on as their mentor unconditionally. 

I am confident that with the right mentorship and just enough nudges here and there, these students will do wonders in their careers! I wish to be a part of many such transformational journeys through the Merakee Mentor.  Hope to see you all in the MM Community soon!