Forging strong relationships that empower teams

The first thing that people tend to notice about me is that I’m always happy. I really enjoy what I do, and I think that rubs off on people. When there’s a lot of work to be done and deadlines are looming, something simple like a smile or brief casual conversation can make a world of difference. It’s important to remember that everyone here is not just an employee of Shell, but a person with needs, values and expectations. I want to bring out the real person, and build genuine friendships.

Of course, the main reason we all come to work is to do the very best we can to help Shell meet its purpose of delivering better and cleaner energy solutions to the world . However, I always try to ensure interaction and communication are at the centre of everything my team does, whether they’re designing a presentation, conducting a meeting, or liaising with a client.

I try to engage with each member of my team as often as possible. I know how competent they all are, but sometimes they might need a second opinion or want to run something by someone else. People are always working on multiple projects, so I like to check that everything is on track; sometimes there can be unforeseen complications, and it’s better if we can get those issues ironed out as early as possible.

My team recently introduced a system of having a morning and an afternoon coffee break, meaning we have two periods of 15 minutes where we step away from our desks, take a breather, gather our thoughts, and just talk. Some people want to discuss work, while others like chatting about sports or movies. It’s basically a stress-busting session which gives us the opportunity to appreciate each other’s company.

I think this photo sums me up very well! I’m smiling, proud to be wearing the Shell logo, and leaning against a wall that I’m not only fond of, but is the envy of the office!

Outside of work, I’m always looking for ways to keep active. The picture of the left is me just after I finished a race called the Pinkathon, which is India’s biggest women’s run. Each year thousands of women run to raise money for a charity, and this year it was a charity focused on raising cancer awareness.

My husband and I have been on some wonderful trips together; we both love to explore and experience different cultures, so we do it as often as we can.