In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast, we explore how employee feedback can be a powerful lever for shaping people policies and strengthening engagement across organizations.
Host Riha is joined by Pooja Malhotra, Head HR India at StoneX Group Inc., to discuss why listening to employees is no longer a reactive HR activity, but a strategic imperative. Together, they examine how structured feedback mechanisms help leaders uncover real issues, design relevant policies, and build workplaces where employees feel genuinely heard and valued.
About the Speaker
Pooja Malhotra is a seasoned HR leader with over 20 years of experience across diverse HR and business roles, spanning global capability centers and large multinational organizations.
She currently serves as Head of HR for StoneX India GCC, where she is responsible for building and executing people strategies aligned with business priorities. Her role includes evolving HR policies and processes, ensuring competitive compensation and benefits, strengthening employee relations and engagement, and driving talent and leadership development for the India GCC.
Prior to this, Pooja worked as VP – Chief of Staff with the Platform Solutions division at Goldman Sachs, Bengaluru, where she partnered closely with senior leadership to support business and people strategy, while ensuring operational effectiveness and organizational agility.
She has also led the HR function at the British Council Shared Services Centre (SSC), the GCC for the British Council, UK. As Head of HR, she managed end-to-end HR operations including recruitment, learning and development, compensation and benefits, compliance, global and local DEI initiatives, and employee engagement. A core member of the leadership team, she played a pivotal role in building the HR framework and policies for the organization from the ground up and driving multiple organization development interventions.
Across her career, Pooja has contributed to GCC organizations winning several industry recognitions, including an execution award for the 4 Disciplines of Execution by Franklin Covey South Asia. She is known for successfully reducing attrition through strong HR practices and engagement initiatives, achieving consistently high employee satisfaction scores, and improving internal job mobility through effective cross-skilling and recruitment strategies.
Timestamps
(3:17) We often hear about the importance of employee feedback, but what does it actually mean to truly listen? How does this differ from just collecting data?
(7:12) Can you give an example when feedback led directly to a major policy change?
(12:22) One of the challenges with employee feedback is ensuring employees feel their voices are heard. How can organizations build trust so that employees feel safe enough to share honest feedback?
(17:54) How are tools like AI or employee engagement platforms changing the game, and what role do they play in turning feedback into meaningful action?
(23:35) How can organizations use feedback to predict trends and behaviors within the workforce?
(27:57) What can leaders do to actively encourage and integrate feedback into their decision-making process, rather than just passively accepting it?
