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Bala Sathyanarayanan

Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources OfficerGREIF Inc

Dublin, OH

Member Since October 2022

Skills

Leadership
Digital Strategy
Corporate Development

About

I lead global human resources and communications at Greif, Inc. (NYSE: GEF, GEF.B), a 145-year-old Global multinational industrial manufacturer with more than 290 operating entities across 45 countries. Over a two-decade global career honed at Xerox Corporation, Hewlett Packard, Coca-Cola, and United Technologies Inc, I delivered an engaged workforce that defined and executed these firms' business strategies. My passion is leadership, purpose-driven teams, and leveraging digital technologies to deliver agile world-class global organizations. As an NACD Certified Corporate Director, I'm committed to advancing the highest standards of boardroom excellence.

Published content

17 Factors to Consider When Building a Safer Workplace Environment

expert panel

Inviting employees to share their input in workplace changes helps ensure the creation of an inclusive and empathetic space. The idea of what constitutes a safe working environment has changed significantly in today’s global business environment. Where before the focus was primarily on physical safety, many organizations have evolved to now include well-being and psychological safety as well, resulting in increased productivity and decreased turnover.  While many businesses are committed to creating and maintaining a safer work environment, knowing where to start and what to focus on can be challenging. To help, 17 Newsweek Expert Forum members each offer one essential factor business leaders should consider when working to build a safer working environment in a business.

13 Steps for Leaders to Take When Making Internal Cultural Changes

expert panel

To make lasting, sustainable change, leaders have to be willing to throughly examine their existing culture and make needed changes. A business’s culture is its organizational backbone. As potential customers and employees have become increasingly interested in learning what a business is all about beyond its product or service offerings, culture can set an organization apart from its competitors on the market.  Leaders, however, have to be mindful of the culture that is created and preserved. Maintaining the wrong kind of culture is an action that can devastate a brand long term, but the damage can be reduced if leaders seriously commit to making a change. To help, 13 Newsweek Expert Forum members each share one essential step leaders must take when they begin the work of cultural change.

15 Strategies to Find New Business Opportunities in a Market Downturn

expert panel

Though an uncertain market can be challenging for entrepreneurs, it can also be an opportunity to grow. While market downturns can devastate companies across industries, they can also be full of potential. By leaning in on being agile and flexible, business leaders can effectively navigate uncertainty, find new opportunities and execute needed change.  As experts, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum members have dealt with their own share of market challenges. Below, 15 of them each share one way companies can look for new business opportunities in a market downturn and secure a bright future.

Finding Your Calling: Clear Vision Is Essential for Your Leadership and Business Success

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A calling gives you the passion and purpose to weather leadership challenges, while a clear vision provides the strategic direction necessary for you and your team.

20 Seemingly Harmless Habits That May Hinder Leadership Success

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Doing a thorough examination of their own habits can help leaders see which behaviors are holding them back. Leaders play an essential role in organizations, helping to establish workplace culture and acting as examples for employees to model their behavior after. When leaders have good habits, it results in increased satisfaction, productivity and morale in employees. However, when leaders have bad habits, even when the intention isn’t to set a bad example, it limits and decreases the amount of success a leader and business can achieve. To help leaders identify which habits they should consider eliminating completely, 20 Newsweek Expert Forum members each share one seemingly harmless habit that can actually hinder leadership success.

20 Key Strategies for Building a Customer-Centric Culture

expert panel

Committing to building a culture of unwavering customer centricity can effectively transform your business for the better. From Fortune 500 companies to startups, companies that prioritize customer centricity stand out in the market. They understand that customers are more than just revenue sources—they are the foundation of business survival and expansion. A customer-centric culture places the customer at the heart of every decision, fostering trust, loyalty and long-term relationships. But how can businesses truly embed this philosophy into their culture? Below, 20 Newsweek Expert Forum members explore the most effective strategies to cultivate a customer-centric culture within an organization and delve into the reasons why these approaches are vital for sustainable growth.

Company details

GREIF Inc

Company bio

Greif (NYSE: GEF, GEF.B), is a global leader in industrial packaging products and services and is pursuing its vision: be the best performing customer service company in the world. The Company produces steel, plastic and fibre drums, intermediate bulk containers, reconditioned containers, containerboard, uncoated recycled paperboard, coated recycled paperboard, tubes and cores and a diverse mix of specialty products. The Company also manufactures packaging accessories and provides filling, packaging and other services for a wide range of industries. Greif also manages timber properties in the southeastern United States. The Company is strategically positioned in more than 35 countries to serve global as well as regional customers. Additional information is on the Company's website at www.greif.com.

Industry

Business

Area of focus

Packaging Services
Customer Service
Industrial

Company size

10,001 plus