Katyayani Krishna, Area HR Head - South Asia, Maersk: Agility, Flexibility and Resilience are the "˜SUPER FOODS' for Corporate Success

Katyayani Krishna is the Area HR Head - South Asia, Maersk. Prior to leading HR for the Cluster Katyayani was the HR Business Partner for Operations and Group Analytics at Maersk GSC. Katyayani’s breadth of experience prior to Maersk covers various facets of HR (Business Partnering, Rewards, Global Mobility, Recruitment, Cultural Transformation and Start ups) in industries such as IT Enabled Services, Consumer Durables and Training & Consulting across India, Europe and North America.

In this exclusive interaction with Higher Education Review magazine, Katyayani Krishna highlights  on the changing dynamics of HR sector and the future of hiring post-pandemic.

Tell us about yourself. What is it that inspired you into the HR industry, especially in Logistics and Supply chain industry?

Hi. My name is Katyayani (though most people call me Katy). I have been a part of the HR fraternity for almost two decades and have been fortunate to experience diverse industries and conglomerates which has helped me in developing a balanced, progressive and inclusive approach to people management.

The initial decision to pursue Human Resources was primarily on the recommendation of parents. But gradually I feel in love with the field. I realized that it beautifully complimented my passion and love for enhancing the human potential.

My foray into the Logistics and Supply Chain industry happened through the world of Shipping. When I was first approached for a position with Maersk, I did my research and spoke to people around. I was amazed to hear about all the good things everyone had to say. I couldn’t pass the opportunity to work for a global organization with such a rich culture ; a company which is grounded and at the same time reaching for the skies.

As I grew into the role, I learnt more about the nuances of the Logistics and Supply Chain industry. The fact that this industry has an impact on anything and everything that happens around the globe – was a sublime feeling, which motivated me to everyday to learn, enjoy and work harder.

• What is the impact of COVID-19 on Logistics and Supply chain industry in terms of jobs and skill development?

While Covid-19 did cause some blips and lulls, Logistics and Supply Chain as an industry, being an essential service has managed to thrive even in this pandemic. It has helped to continue as well as revive trade in these difficult times. Post COVID-19, the global logistics market size is projected to grow from USD 2,734 billion in 2020 to USD 3,215 billion by 2021, at a Y-O-Y of 17.6%.

In terms of skill development, we have adopted newer ways of working (remote or digital teams) which seemed like an unthinkable concept in the past. Skill sets such as digital comfort (leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning-powered entity resolution platforms), virtual team management, emotional intelligence, safety have gained prominence.

Another key change that has come in the Logistics industry is transforming the last mile by ensuring higher safety for employees and customers. Contactless last-mile delivery solutions have been crucial to the industry’s covid-19 response. And given that the last mile typically constitutes around 30% of the cost, optimizing that element is on the critical path. Hence, innovation and cost ownership will be the key differentiators in the post pandemic world.

Most importantly, capabilities such as agility (speed of adapting to change or ambiguous conditions), flexibility and resilience have come to the centerstage.  These are the “SUPER FOODS” which are industry agnostic and a must to remain immune and grow stronger in the post-pandemic business environment.

• In the post-pandemic days, there may be jobs that might get lost forever. Which jobs do you think are more prone to these risks?

Unlike a lot of other industries, we have not witnessed a major impact on jobs in ours.  However, with the increased penetration of technology, manual intensive roles will gradually make way for semi or fully automated processes.

I strongly believe in the saying that challenges are what makes life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.

• With Logistics and Supply chain industry being a sector that promises a lot of job opportunities, according to you, what are the most important skills that students should give importance to when looking for jobs in this sector?

The Logistics and Supply Chain Industry has enormous growth potential and is undergoing rapid transformation. Hence, in order to be successful, one should have the agility and flexibility to adapt, learn (and even unlearn) things at a quick pace and be open to new challenges / opportunities.

The second aspect is the complexity perspective in this industry. Knowledge about concepts such as trade, supply chain management will help students appreciate the dynamics and nuances in a better manner. Moreover, as the industry moves from a fragmented presence to a more organized one, specializations such as intermodal transportation, warehouse and distributions will gain prominence.

• The shortage of skills and talent in the industry has been a long-standing issue now. What do you think are the skills (soft skills and hard skills) that are going to gain prominence in a post-pandemic era?

Given the dynamic nature of this business, flexibility and adaptability has become one of the most sought-after skill in the industry. Change Management expertise is the need of the hour.
Learning agility and inclination  follows a close second, especially because development is now no longer a class-room activity and has been largely democratized.

Skills such as technological expertise and adeptness, resilience and emotional intelligence are industry agnostic are a must have, especially in order to survive and thrive during these unprecedented / evolving business conditions.

• According to you, which are some of the courses that job seekers can pursue to strengthen their resume? What would be your advice to job seekers today?

The demand for niche specializations, creative problem solving, tech savviness, predictive analytics is on the rise. Courses that help build these skill sets will be beneficial. Demand for futuristic roles such as cloud logistics experts, Artificial intelligence Warehouse Experts, blockchain or cold chain experts, etc. will be on the rise.

• In terms of people input, what is the one thing that you believe today’s businesses cannot do without? 

There are three aspects that I feel every business needs to focus strongly on:

Purpose – Workplace dynamics have undergone a massive transformation. In order to attract, retain, enable and develop the brightest Gen Z minds, employers must align the organizational purpose with the needs of this new workforce and must be ready to adopt a speed of evolution that matches the external environment. Greater personalization, flexibility, quality of work and life, leveraging expertise of Gen X, Gen Y, and Boomers to help mentor Gen Z into strong leaders will gain key importance.

Agility and Adaptability – Disruptions are the new normal and they come without any warning. So, the only thing we can do is ensure that we are agile, flexible and adaptable to whatever crisis comes our way. Making lemonade when life throws lemons is the only way to success.

Sustainability – Our decisions today have a far-reaching impact on the society and environment. Incorporating sustainability into our business strategy is no longer an option but rather a necessity. We need to ensure that our decisions today do not adversely impact our future generations. For instance, at Maersk we are working hard to accelerate the transition to carbon neutral shipping and by 2023 we will be operating the world’s first carbon neutral liner vessel, seven years ahead of schedule!

• You have certainly displayed some stoic optimism and growth in over your career, what has kept you going? What is it that motivates you to go beyond your limits?

I strongly believe in the saying that challenges are what makes life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. The thought of doing something new, challenging and outside my comfort zone and challenging keeps me motivated, charged-up and raring to go. Moreover, I have a philosophy of “one day at a time”. This simple funda has helped me remain calm even during the stormiest times and saved me from getting overwhelmed or giving up.

• What would your advice be for leaders and students as they reset for the new normal?

Bruce Lee had once said, “Learning is never cumulative. It is a movement of knowing which has no beginning and no end.” Whether you are a student or a leader, continuous learning should form a core part of your life and being.