Shamita Ghosh, Head-Human Resources at BookMyShow, is a seasoned HR leader with over 18 years of experience in shaping organisational culture and people practices. She firmly believes in the pivotal role of Human Resources and culture-building in fostering sustainable growth for businesses. With a diverse background spanning Performance Management, Talent Acquisition, Employee Engagement, Learning & Development, Organisational Behaviour, and Employee Health & Well-being, Shamita brings a wealth of expertise to her role. 

In this interview, we aim to explore her insights into the intersection of HR practices, culture, and business success at BookMyShow.

Here are some excerpts.

As someone with extensive experience in leading People Practices and Culture across various industries, what is your take on how the HR function can drive sustainable business growth?

HR has developed a significant role in shaping strategic business decisions within organisations, over the years, reflecting the growing recognition of the pivotal role human resources play in steering organisational success and aligning strategy with human capital management. HR recognises employees as a company's greatest asset, emphasising the necessity of addressing their needs alongside overarching business goals. For sustained growth, it's crucial that the Human Resources function is synced with business and industry dynamics. It must stay in tune with larger market trends and challenges within the entertainment ecosystem which is significant when recruiting individuals who not only align with the company's culture but also possess the necessary skill sets. 

To genuinely contribute to the organisation's overall growth, it's important to have a deep understanding of the business, its day-to-day operations and the intricate details. This understanding also plays a pivotal role in shaping the organisational structure and crafting employee-friendly policies that prove invaluable in strengthening the company's resilience through both prosperous and challenging times.

Understanding the pulse of an organisation involves grasping its dual nature, encompassing both business imperatives and human dynamics.

It's about fostering a seamless integration between these facets to propel organisational objectives forward. Having said that, robust succession planning must be prioritised to ensure continuity, systematic growth, and risk mitigation amidst personnel transitions.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are integral to fostering a thriving workplace culture. How does BookMyShow prioritise diversity and ensure equitable opportunities for all employees, especially in talent acquisition and management processes? 

Ingraining Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) goes beyond simply hitting targets or discussing it within isolated initiatives or groups. It is in fact something we must normalise as part of everyday practices, inculcating fair and unbiased ways of working across the board.

At BookMyShow, DEI means creating equal opportunities – be it for hiring, professional development, health and personal growth. We implement inclusive hiring practices, ensuring fair opportunities for all candidates regardless of background. We aim to foster a culture of inclusion and belonging in a way that DEI principles are woven into continuous learning and development initiatives, promoting diverse perspectives and experiences that enrich the learning environment. This approach creates a space where all employees feel valued, leading to collective growth and innovation. Additionally, we create an environment that supports employees in focusing on innovation and performance and ensures that formal procedures do not stifle innovation and free thinking.

Learning and Development (L&D) plays a pivotal role in shaping employee capabilities and driving organisational success. Could you share some innovative L&D initiatives implemented at BookMyShow to empower employees and align their skills with the company's strategic objectives?

At BookMyShow, we believe that learning and development takes a pragmatic yet innovative approach, where L&D doesn’t feel enforced but is tailored to the needs of individual teams and their focus areas, as also for individual employees looking to upskill. We encourage self-driven learning, recognising that motivated individuals are best equipped to expand their skills autonomously.

A key aspect is cultivating a culture of learning at every level, where each step is an opportunity for growth.

Imbibing a culture of growth, we emphasise a lot on impactful learning opportunities, created to learn on the job or through short break-aways from work. These include insightful discussions that capture their attention and accommodate external learning opportunities for employees like relevant conferences, seminars, and management development programs. We host a series of engaging workshops and masterclasses bringing industry experts to share their views and educate employees about aspects critical to and on the periphery of their roles and industry, as well as interactive mental health workshops to foster awareness, education and drive normalcy. We also love our entertainment and encourage employees to indulge in some healthy competition over table tennis, inter-team cricket leagues and more!

The effectiveness of these L&D initiatives is measured through an impact analysis which is driven through concrete feedback obtained from the managers on the improvement in the employee performance and assessments conducted before and after the training is imparted to gauge the effectiveness of the skilling program.

Looking ahead, what do you envision as the future of HR at BookMyShow, and what steps do you believe are essential for sustaining a culture of continuous learning, diversity, equity, and inclusion in the organisation?

At BookMyShow, one of the ways to measure HR success is in terms of employee happiness, engagement, overall performance growth and productivity. Our core ethos revolves around providing ample opportunities for personal and professional development to all our employees. We actively recruit interns, students seeking on-the-job experience, fresh graduates and volunteers for specific projects, injecting our organisation with fresh perspectives and investing time and resources to nurture their growth.

Celebrating 25 years of infinite entertainment of our parent company, Bigtree Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., we still maintain a culture characterised by energy, enthusiasm for experimentation and a relentless pursuit of growth.

This culture of continuous growth applies both personally and organisationally and one such evident example is the evolution of our long-standing office staff into front-end execution roles across diverse verticals, achieving remarkable success along the way. 

We envision the future of HR as a seamless blend of continuity and evolution, at BookMyShow. We build upon our current successes while constantly evolving, ensuring that each day presents an opportunity for refinement and excellence. We also emphasise inclusivity, recognising the richness that diverse perspectives bring to team dynamics. Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is woven into the fabric of our culture, ensuring that everyone has equal opportunities for economic and personal growth, alongside a strong focus on mental and physical wellbeing.