National Engineers’ Day: Stories from Engineers turned HR Leaders

September 15, the birthday of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, the first civil engineer of India who is popularly known as Sir MV, was declared as the National Engineers’ Day in 1968.

On this National Engineers’ Day, ETHRWorld unveils the stories of HR leaders who quit their engineering profession by chance or by choice to become a ‘people’s person’, as their love for ‘people‘ surpassed their love for infrastructure or technology.

Manish Patil, Director – HR, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)

Manish Patil is a Mechanical Engineer.

Patil began his story by telling us ‘why’ he switched from engineering to HR.

“In one’s professional career comes times when attitude, approach and focus on work generates interest by seniors who are constantly looking out for the right guy,” Patil said.

So, in his case, being a Mechanical Engineer and working in an operating supply distribution location at Kandla in Gujarat, introduction of computers in the working of the organisation was the first trigger for Patil.

“This was around the years 1991-1992 when the need was felt for an officer who would be capable and could assist the computer programmers to develop the right code programme which would cater to the requirements of the field,” Patil said.

Thus, was the beginning of Patil’s journey to first IT, and then on similar lines to HR. The change to HR happened during 2010 and continued till 2020, with a break for two years when he handled Consumer Sales Business in southern India as HoD.

“The year 2021 onwards I am into HR, making efforts in HR based on my experience and learnings of the past 30+ years,” Patil said.

He shared, “First it was by chance why I started liking HR because I felt HR is at the root of all accomplishments. HR is more of an art than science. Performance and productivity of people goes up or down depending on the leader who leads them.”

Patil strongly believes that it is the attitude or approach rather than pure knowledge, which is behind every success.

“Every change has enriched me because every function, every discipline has something to teach you and enables you to find solutions knowing the boundaries very well,” he said.

Being in HR for over 12 years now and with a working experience of about 34 years, Patil feels he can contribute to the business best in the role that he is playing right now.

“It was the faith and belief of those who moved me, sometimes suddenly i.e. without asking or telling me beforehand about it. And it made me say to myself- why not? I believe that I am a professional who should contribute in any role to the best of my capability,” Patil said.

When he moved from a general engineering role to IT in 1992, he realised that in order to contribute, he needed to know programming or coding and hence, learned that.

Similarly, when Patil moved to HR around 2010, he decided that in order to understand it better, he should do some Post Graduation course in HR and he did that as well.

“Industrial relations, personnel, and dealing with subjects of discipline and policy matters being the core of HR, I realised that unless they are handled directly by me, the learning would not be complete and that is what I did – worked as Employee Relations Head and then Regional HR Head,” he added.

Looking back, Patil sometimes feels had he remained in the same field that he started with, maybe life would have been different – in terms of career within or opportunities outside.

“I also doubted whether my transfers and movements to different areas were done with the right intentions, or only for making adjustments; but I never tried to find out and never asked why. I accepted every challenge and worked with honesty and professionalism, and all of the rest fell in place, with the grace of Almighty,” Patil concluded.

Shiv Kumar, HR Head, Merck India

Shiv Kumar is a Mechanical Engineer.

For Kumar, the shift to HR was again by chance. According to Kumar, he had never charted a course for an HR career during his engineering days.

“I was more focused on technical challenges back then. But life has a funny way of unfolding. This career shift was not by design; it was a spontaneous decision driven by curiosity and a willingness to explore the unknown. It’s a reminder that being open to unexpected opportunities can lead to amazing experiences,” Kumar shared.

Kumar had made the leap from Engineering to HR not long after he finished his engineering degree.

“Thanks to a random phone call from a recruiter, it was one of those moments in life when curiosity got the better of me. I asked the recruiter what this job was all about, and we ended up meeting for coffee,” Kumar recalled.

To his surprise, Kumar found himself drawn to the world of HR. It was like him discovering a hidden passion he never knew he had.

Kumar’s engineering background equipped him with logical thinking and problem-solving skills, and it turned out they were just as handy in HR too.

“So, without any grand plan, I jumped into this adventure. Sometimes, life has a way of surprising you, and this was one of those pleasant surprises,” Kumar said.

The recruiter’s phone call, followed by the coffee meeting, changed the trajectory of Kumar’s career completely.

It was during their conversation that he discovered that HR was not just about recruitment, but also about tapping into people’s potential and helping an organisation reach its goals.

“My engineering background, which encouraged me to think creatively and challenge norms, unexpectedly prepared me for this journey. It’s funny how a casual conversation over coffee can shape your life’s direction,” he said.

Moreover, Kumar’s engineering days taught him the importance of building – be it structures or strong teams. In HR, he found himself building positive work environments, fostering collaboration, and helping individuals realise their potential, all in line with the organisation’s vision.

“It has been a journey full of surprises and self-discovery,” Kumar said.

“Looking back, I feel really grateful for that serendipitous coffee meeting that introduced me to HR. It allowed me to unlock skills and qualities I never knew I had, and it opened doors to a people-centric, dynamic profession,” he added.

The journey from engineering to HR has been an unexpected and enriching experience for Kumar. It reminds him that sometimes, the best path is the one you didn’t plan.

He concluded, “I wouldn’t change a thing about my career journey. It’s a testament to the power of staying open to life’s twists and turns, and it has shown me that the most exciting opportunities can come most unexpectedly.”

Suresh BR, Country Head – HR, Bosch India

Suresh BR is also a Mechanical Engineer.

As a company, Suresh said, Bosch has always encouraged its employees to push the limitations people place on themselves, actively navigate challenges, and scale new heights with an eye out for growth.

“Looking back at my career journey that spans a period of over 37 years, and 10 different stints, a transition to the functional role of HR in August 2014, felt like a natural next step that was synchronised with the organisational pulse,” said Suresh.

What essentially helped Suresh with this transition was exposure to a diverse portfolio of functions in various professional capacities, including R&D, Quality, Operations and Customer Management at Bosch – all of which required him to have a fairly intense engagement with People Management for nearly two and a half decades.

“At first glance, the offer seemed to me to have occurred by chance, but you could say that I made the choice to take it up. When it was made to me, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to tap into a field that I had dipped my toes in many times before but never had the time to dive into fully,” Suresh said.

According to Suresh, since the time he joined Bosch, if there was one aspect of every single one of his roles that he gravitated towards, that would be interacting with the people who make the work happen.

On several occasions, Suresh had worked closely with the company’s former CHRO on consulting and mentoring assignments for talent acquisition and placements. He was the COO of Bosch’s biggest business in India, when the CHRO role was offered to him by the then CEO and CFO of the company.

The proposed role would see a considerable reduction from overseeing an 8,000-member team, to a 40-member team with the transition.

“This realisation put doubts in my mind, and the team reassured me, stating that the reason they chose me was due to the trust and connection that I had forged with our associates across the organisation, as well as the valuable networks that I had built at Bosch, globally,” Suresh recalled.

This response primed Suresh to take on his new role and responsibilities.

“This is and has always been the Bosch way of bolstering associates to continue to believe in themselves and climb greater heights by re-orienting their perspectives,” he said.

Suresh feels wonderful, and believes he could not have been more glad to have taken this leap of faith.

“I am someone who loves to go with the flow, and so far, the flow has been a fulfilling and rewarding one. It has been nine years now since I stepped into this role, and I learn something new every day. I enjoy the freedom to shape organisations and cultures, support business transformations and help individuals achieve their dreams,” Suresh said.

As an HR practitioner, Suresh explained that he gets to immerse himself not just in the business but in conversations with colleagues across the functions.

He is thankful as the role gives him access to people from a breadth of backgrounds across the organisation; another game changer he considers that has been the eclectic bunch of thoughts and ideas that he gets to connect with on a regular basis.

“Be it from the industry, academia, or society, the valuable learnings borne by this connection remain imprinted long after I have shaken hands,” he said.

Suresh concluded his story by sharing an incident when an old friend had once light-heartedly quipped, “Your previous nine roles, engaging with people across three continents, were all preparing you for your ultimate role – as HR!”

Shishir Agarwal, Chief Human Resources Officer, PNB MetLife

Shishir Agarwal is an Electronics Engineer.

After completing his engineering degree, Agarwal gained practical experience on the shop floor of a manufacturing company for six months.

However, even during this time, his passion for business and management was evident. The turning point came when he decided to pursue management education.

Agarwal said, “I received invaluable advice from a senior business leader, a close friend of my father’s, which guided my choice. Based on their counsel and my own aspirations, I set my sights on XLRI for a specialisation in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations (Post Graduate Diploma in PM & IR).”

This decision not only opened doors but also ignited a deep connection with the field for Agarwal. The curriculum resonated with him, and he found himself engrossed in the subject matter.

“Consequently, I pursued a career in HR, building upon the foundation laid during my studies. In retrospect, this transition was a natural evolution, merging my engineering background with a newfound passion for HR and management,” Agarwal said.

Looking back, he described his entry into the field of HR as a fortuitous start, driven by a mixture of curiosity and circumstance.

He said, “Initially, it was more of a chance, as I didn’t have a complete understanding of what the HR field entailed. However, as I delved deeper into the education and course curriculum at XLRI, it quickly transitioned into a well-considered choice.”

The experience kindled in Agarwal a genuine passion for HR, making it a clear and deliberate decision.

So, in essence, while it began as a chance occurrence, it swiftly evolved into a conscious and enthusiastic choice driven by his growing understanding and appreciation of the HR domain.

“I’m not only happy but deeply satisfied with my decision. As my career has progressed, this feeling has only grown stronger. Engineering education, in my opinion, shapes one’s thinking and mindset, which is valuable across various fields, not just in engineering roles,” Agarwal opined.

According to Agarwal, the HR role, over the years, has enabled him to form meaningful relationships, whether on the shop floor during his early days in manufacturing; collaborating with technical professionals in the oil and gas sector, or in his current leadership role at PNB MetLife.

“My engineering education provided me with a strong foundation for understanding processes and systems, guiding my decision-making through logical reasoning and equipped me with qualities that have proven invaluable in my role as an HR head,” Agarwal said, adding, “I am able to approach complex challenges with a structured mindset, fostering efficiency and innovation in HR practices.

Agarwal believes that both his engineering and HR qualifications have been instrumental in his career growth and have helped in shaping a well-rounded professional journey for him.

“Education influences our thought processes, and how we apply that learning is, of course, a personal choice.” Agarwal concluded.

Here is wishing all engineers, engineers turned HRs, and engineers who have switched to any other role- a very Happy Engineers’ Day!

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