You know that feeling when you step into your first job, excited and ready to take on the world, only to realize that things aren’t exactly how you imagined? The rules aren’t always written down, success isn’t just about how good you are at your work, and handling feedback can sometimes feel more personal than professional. And let’s not even get started on the whole work-life balance thing because, honestly, does anyone really figure it out early on?
That’s precisely why I feel conversations like these are important. Because instead of learning all of this the hard way, what if we could get a head start? What if someone can guide us while we navigate the ups and downs of the corporate world.
With that in mind, we bring you this episode—"Corporate Survival Guide: What They Don’t Teach in College." And to help us unpack it all, we have Kriti Sarna, Senior Associate Consultant – Human Capital Solutions at AON.
Host of this Episode: Sanjeevani Saikia
Guest Bio
Currently a Doctoral Research Student with the Golden Gate University, San Francisco, Kriti Sarna is an award-winning young HR leader, recognized among the Top 200 Global HR Power Leaders (2024) and honored with accolades like HR 30 Under 30 (2023) and the CEO Excellence Awards within a career span of just 5 years. With a CIPD Level 7 accreditation, various certifications in Total Rewards, Organizational Development, Psychometric Assessment tools and global expertise across financial services, retail, and consulting sectors, she excels in performance and rewards management, talent development, and strategic workforce planning.
Certified in Total Rewards and Organizational Development, Kriti delivers innovative, data-driven solutions tailored to business needs. Her global perspective and leadership in change management have consistently driven sustainable growth, earning her a reputation as a trusted advisor and transformative HR strategist.
Connect with Kriti on Linkedin
Timestamps
(01:22) Kriti Sarna shares her corporate journey with us.
(03:38) She goes on to share one hard truth about corporate life our listeners must know before joining their first job.
(09:33) Some workplace rules that can make or break someone’s career.
(13:38) Ways our young professionals can navigate criticism without taking it personally or losing confidence
(22:24) Some critical advice for employees on how to set boundaries and avoiding burnout early on.
(29:24) Kriti helps us understand how can young professionals build meaningful professional relationships without it feeling forced.
(34:00) Kriti concludes by sharing us ways to develop resilience and pivot when things don’t go as planned.
