Harshada Patil: Pioneering Value-Based Initiatives That Create Great Leaders, Responsible Employees, A Safer Workplace,

By: Harshada Patil ,Director | Wednesday, 27 July 2022

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Harshada Patil has closely embraced the wise words of Ralph Waldo Emerson. While we prefer to host down a career path that gives riches and luxury, Harshada decided to become a professional social worker; she believed that a better society is the precious luxury we can have. Although the decision seems easier than done, it takes volumes of perseverance, grit, determination, and most importantly passion to make a mark in the sector. Harshada is one such lady of passion and dedication; continuously striving to set new benchmarks in everything she does.

And it's time to celebrate her journey. A social scientist, a Professional Counsellor, CSR expert, and POSH consultant with more than 40 years of professional experience, Harshada's life can be summed in a word – Meraki (doing something with soul, happiness, and love – by putting herself into whatever she’s doing, be it a profession, passion, or purpose. Marching forward with the mantra of making the world a better place, she is manifesting a workplace that's free of abuse and harassment, a society where there is happiness, and a country where there is growth. In short, she is striving to contribute her best part as a citizen. To deduce the accomplishing journey of Harshada, Women Entrepreneur India presents an exclusive interaction with her. Below are the inspiring excerpts of the conversation.

Give A Brief Introduction To Your Expertise And Profession Before Apex Consulting.

I am a professional social worker from Nirmala Niketan. I have been in the domain for nearly 4 decades. Out of my 40 years of illustrious professional journey, I was with Bharat Petroleum for over 27 years. In fact, the first social worker to be hired in the gas & oil industry. Subsequently, I moved to (Tata Institute of Social Sciences) TISS' CSR hub; monitoring CSR projects for 250 public sectors of India.My work has been very challenging as I came across very difficult mindsets be it Addiction or POSH at all the stratas of the society. I was also consulting a few companies on the Vishaka guidelines of sexual harassment.

When the Act to protect against sexual harassment of women in the workplace was announced in December 2013, I began my journey in the sexual harassment domain by concentrating more on POSH consulting. As an external member, I have worked with a lot of corporates and I continue to consult and train companies to comply with this law for women's safety in the workplace. Apart from this, I am a CSR specialist, helping several institutes and NGOs align with the CSR initiatives of the Indian government.

Throw Some Light On Starting Your Journey With APEX Consulting. How Are You Leveraging Your Expertise In The Firm?

In 2011 I took VRS and joined Tiss the next day. After my stint withTISS, I joined APEX Consulting, which was started by my husband who is an HR professional. To give you a gist, Apex is an Executive search firm started nearly 30 years ago; equipped for talent acquisition and other HR services. After I joined, we diversified the company into the social sector under my headship. I also play the role of counsellor; helping executives with their personal problems, family issues, addiction, and work-life balance. Through APEX, I want to reach to society at large and not confine our work to corporations. The first and foremost thing is to create awareness of the importance of counselling and letting people know they need to seek help for personal problems.

Another vital role I play is helping executives overcome the addiction to alcohol or smoking, which ultimately leads to productive workplaces and happy families. I have slowly begun focusing on drug addiction, especially weed because the addiction is rampant. It’s my dream to launch day care centers to help them understand the problem in a day and a helpline for women on sexual Harassment as is not very easy for women to complain.

"A safer workplace should be both for men and women. It’s high time we learn how to be safe and not be unsafe for others"

Apart from this, I deal with marriage counselling and also guide parents & students to make them realize that marks are not everything and to figure out a kid's true potential. We have now started a concept called “HAPPY TO BE AROUND“where people are never asked why they come and never questioned what they do. You can come and talk your heart out here. We are just a listening ear! Such concepts would work really well and solve many issues. I wish every organization brings such initiatives.

As The Majority Of Your Work Is Into POSH, Please Help Our Readers Understand Its Relevance In Our Life.

POSH is the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, well made by the government of India for Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal of The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace December 2013. The core of this is that women should feel safe in any workplace; be it corporate offices, schools, hospitals, hotels, or even homes with maids for that matter. Now, this includes anything and everything that makes a woman employee whether a permanent or contractual or vendor or any third party uncomfortable; physically, verbally, or non-verbally at a workplace.

This act is well-made because it is now the employer's responsibility to declare that they are providing a safe workplace. It gives a lot of understanding about the structure that you carry as an employer by recognizing hostile workplace symptoms. Now, when you ensure safety as an employer, leader, or colleague, I am sure it will indeed contribute to a safer workplace and safer India, over a period of time.

What Do You Think Are The Most Crucial Elements To Consider During Your Consultations?

From my perspective of being a POSH consultant for 8+ years now, a social scientist for 40+ years and having handled more than 500 cases of sexual harassment it’smy special contribution thatthe law is here to give legal solutions and a matured compliance is the need of the hour. If women should be safe, we have to connect with the men in the organization as well and, help them understand the importance of keeping themselves and the women around them safe; so that the entire organization is safe. I ensure the same in every organization I am attached to.

Harshada Patil, Director, Apex Consultants

A veteran in the social sector with nearly 4 decades of experience in POSH, Community, and People aspects, Harshada has played a significant role in diversifying Apex from HR to the social sector as well. As the Director, she is leading the organization with great efficiency by designing initiatives to support the current trend of Careercompetition, increasingfinancial status whether individually or organisationally which I am totally okay with but the only difference is that it is growth with values and ethics. I am sure all my readers are with me in this mission of creating a better world for us and for the next generations too.