Project Shakti – Diversity the HDFC Ergo Way

HDFC ERGO General Insurance, India’s leading non-life insurance company in the private sector, announced the launch of ‘Project Shakti’ – a diversity initiative towards creating an all inclusive workplace with equal opportunities and making the Company a preferred employer of choice for women. Acknowledging the power of women and leveraging their strength in the corporate sector, the Company plans to unleash the power of diversity and will ensure 20% of their workforce is represented by women by 2023.

The Company has been working towards nurturing an equitable environment and believes diversity is not only about gender, but also about the diversity of mind, skill, as well as the thought process. HDFC ERGO strongly believes that when people from different backgrounds and regions come together, they create an wholistic organisation with multiple perspectives.

Sharing his thoughts on the journey ahead Mr. Anuj Tyagi, Deputy Managing Director, HDFC ERGO General Insurance said, “We are excited to launch the first pillar under the umbrella of Project Shakti through our series of gender diversity initiatives. We believe that each one has a unique ability – the Shakti within and HDFC ERGO aims to be the melting pot for unleashing this power by creating an equitable workplace for all.”

We are determined to nurture and grow all those who join us on this incredible journey.”

Ms. Surbhi Goel, Head - Reinsurance & Commercial Underwriting, HDFC ERGO General Insurance and a representative of the Diversity Council, reflecting on her journey with HDFC ERGO shared, “As an organization we have evangelized diversity all across. I am a living ambassador of how the organization anticipated my needs as an employee and created equitable workplace for employees like me to build a long term career with HDFC ERGO. I owe a lot to my internal mentors to have groomed me to be in the leadership position today. I am proud of my journey with HDFC ERGO and Project Shakti will only further strengthen the power of diversity in creating a multicultural organisation.”

The Diversity Council at HDFC ERGO works directly with the senior leadership team and has drawn out clear plans that are focused towards creating the required impact. The company aims to strengthen the ongoing mentoring programs for women and introduce a series of new avenues to ensure the organization provides the right ecosystem for colleagues to reach the best of their potential.

As part of Project Shakti’s launch, a Diversity Conversation was hosted which witnessed coming together of some key internal and external women leaders, wherein Ms. Anamika Aggarwal and Ms. Nishitha Rodrigues from HDFC ERGO spoke on HDFC ERGO being the wind beneath their wings and propelled their professional and personal growth. Ms. Mimi Nicklin, Empathetic Leader & Business Coach, author of the book- ‘Empathy Everywhere’, and Ms. Shalmoly Kheera, TV Presenter and author of book ‘Bedazzle’ brought to the fore front various opportunities to truly unleash the power of diversity and creating an equitable workplace.

HDFC ERGO has always been committed towards building a performance driven, values led organization. An organization that believes in the power to coach, to mentor, embrace failures with utmost dignity and  now also to redefine the untapped Shakti of diversity. HDFC ERGO’s Project Shakti believes in celebrating the similarities while respecting the differences and being more together.