Nishu Mahajan – The Leading Entrepreneur Transforming Industries with Innovative HR Solutions and Business Expertise

 Nishu Mahajan, Founder, NAARI

 

Could you share a brief introduction about yourself for our audience?

As the eldest child in a middle-class family, I've always carried both big dreams and significant responsibilities. Even small things required effort, but my passion and persistence fueled my drive to achieve more each day. These qualities, combined with strong persuasive skills and a proactive approach, have been the cornerstones of my success

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My professional journey began with a campus placement from an Amritsar college into a multinational corporation, where I first experienced the scope of my ambitions. After a year, I returned to Amritsar to build my career in Human Resources. Like many working women in India, I faced the challenge of balancing professional and personal life, often navigating a societal ecosystem that isn't always supportive. However, my passion and persistence outweighed these obstacles. After my marriage in 2014 and the births of my daughters in 2015 and 2020, this juggling act became even more demanding.

To better manage these competing priorities, I left my corporate job and launched NAARI, a new venture focused on bridging the gap between human potential and industry needs.

 

 

Can you talk more about your venture NAARI, and what key HR services does your venture provide?

NAARI, a team of experienced Industrial HR experts, understand that a company's most valuable asset is its people, especially for small-scale businesses and startups where the cost of human capital outweighs other investments. We created NAARI to provide strategic HR support to these organizations, helping them build high-performing teams, positive work environments and sustainable growth.

Our team combines extensive hands-on HR experience with a deep understanding of human psychology, enabling us to foster productive, happy, and stress-free workplaces.

Our core services include:

• Talent Acquisition
• Talent Well-being & Mental Health Support
• Employee Training & Development
• Goal Setting & Performance Management Systems (PMS)
• HR Advisory & Strategic Consulting

 

At NAARI, we are committed to delivering customized and impactful HR solutions that drive both workforce efficiency and organizational success.

 

Can you share the inspiration behind founding NAARI and how your leadership has driven its growth and success?

 

During my experience working with top businesses and HR consulting firms, I observed a critical gap—many large companies fail to conduct in-depth root cause analysis of organizational challenges. As a result, persistent issues remain unresolved, affecting business efficiency and long-term growth.

Motivated by a vision to offer meaningful, results-driven support, I founded NAARI. We realized that while businesses rely on expert professionals for critical assessments, many limit HR functions to payroll and attendance management in an effort to cut costs. This approach neglects the strategic role of HR in fostering business success.

To bridge this gap, NAARI was established to provide cost-effective, strategic HR solutions, specifically designed for startups and small businesses. The idea of NAARI has brought together a team of expert professionals committed to providing customized HR solutions tailored to client needs. Our mission is to help businesses recognize that human resources are an asset, not a liability.

Under my leadership, NAARI has built a highly skilled team across India and internationally. Our expertise, coupled with a strong sense of responsibility, allows us to deliver impactful HR solutions that drive organizational success. Additionally, our remote work model enhances cost efficiency while ensuring continuous support and accessibility, helping businesses of all sizes achieve sustainable growth.

 

 

Can you outline your key roles, responsibilities, and areas of expertise in HR, and how they've contributed to your success in the field?

 

My approach to HR has always been solution-oriented, ensuring that businesses leverage human resources as a strategic asset rather than just an operational function. I have consistently focused on identifying root causes, implementing data-driven strategies, and fostering a people-centric culture to drive organizational success.

1. Talent Acquisition: Finding the Right Fit, Not Just Filling Positions

Rather than following a conventional hiring process, I have developed customized talent acquisition strategies that align with a company’s long-term goals and culture. By analysing market trends, conducting competency-based interviews, and implementing structured hiring frameworks, I have ensured companies not only hire the right talent but also retain them effectively.

2. Organizational Structuring: A Data-Driven Approach

To optimize workforce efficiency, I have used organizational mapping, job role analysis, and workforce productivity metrics. By reviewing existing structures, identifying inefficiencies, and restructuring teams with clear accountability, I have helped businesses scale without unnecessary overhead or redundancies.

3. Performance Management: Making Feedback Actionable

Instead of annual reviews that often lack impact, I have implemented real-time performance management systems where feedback is continuous and linked to measurable KPIs. I introduced goal-setting frameworks like OKRs and KPIs, ensuring employees have clear expectations, growth paths, and performance-linked rewards.

4. Business Process Review: Bridging Gaps for Efficiency

Understanding that many businesses struggle with inefficient HR processes, I have taken a consultative approach to analyze gaps in policies, workflows, and employee experiences. By benchmarking best practices, automating manual tasks, and aligning HR functions with business strategy, I have optimized HR’s contribution to bottom-line growth.

5. Employee Well-Being & Engagement: Creating a People-First Culture

Rather than focusing solely on policies and compliance, I have prioritized building an empathetic, inclusive, and engaging work environment. By introducing mental wellness programs, mentorship initiatives, and leadership development workshops, I have helped organizations foster high-performance cultures with minimal burnout and high retention.

6. HR Advisory: Enabling Small Businesses to Treat HR as an Investment

One of the key challenges I identified was that small and growing businesses often perceive HR as an expense rather than a strategic function. Through NAARI, I have designed cost-effective HR solutions, ensuring these businesses get the same level of HR expertise as large corporations—without unnecessary overhead.

Key to My Success: A Problem-Solving & Strategic Mindset

My success in HR comes from my ability to understand business challenges beyond HR, align HR strategies with organizational goals, and implement scalable, sustainable solutions. By blending data, psychology, and industry insights, I have transformed HR from a back-office function into a growth enabler, ensuring companies not only attract and retain top talent but also drive long-term success.

 

 

Can you highlight a few key projects that NAARI has successfully executed and their impact?

 

NAARI: Transforming Businesses Through Strategic HR Solutions

NAARI is more than an HR consulting firm—it is a mission-driven initiative that has empowered businesses to see human resources as a strategic asset rather than an operational necessity. Our journey is built on a deep understanding of industry challenges and a passion for solving them with tailored, impact-driven HR solutions.

Building Sustainable Workforces: Success Stories from Startups

One of our most fulfilling achievements has been successfully partnering with over seven startups, each struggling with workforce planning, hiring inefficiencies, and high attrition rates. We didn’t just provide recruitment solutions—we took complete ownership of their HR function, from:

·         Strategic manpower planning

·         Cost-benefit analysis of hiring decisions

·         Designing retention strategies

·         Creating structured employee engagement models

The result? Each of these startups experienced a 30-40% improvement in workforce stability, leading to higher productivity and lower hiring costs in the long run.

 

Bridging the Skill Gap: Industry-Linked Training Initiatives

Understanding that many businesses struggle to find job-ready talent, NAARI spearheaded a pilot project in collaboration with a skill development center. We introduced industry-linked courses, ensuring that candidates were trained not just in theory but in real-world applications tailored to business needs. This initiative helped companies:

·         Reduce onboarding & training costs

·         Hire talent that was productive from Day 1

·         Improve retention by aligning employees with industry demands

This project proved to be a game-changer, ensuring businesses had skilled employees while providing job seekers with real career opportunities.

 

Diverse Industry Expertise: A Customized Approach for Every Sector

NAARI’s success isn’t limited to one industry—we have tailored HR strategies across multiple sectors, including:

·         Manufacturing – Optimizing workforce structures for efficiency

·         Technology – Sourcing and retaining high-demand tech talent

·         Healthcare – Building HR frameworks for compliance and workforce well-being

·         Retail & E-Commerce – Scaling teams for rapid business growth

·         Service Sector – Enhancing employee engagement & customer experience

Each industry has unique challenges, and NAARI has built its expertise in crafting customized solutions rather than applying generic HR practices.

 

Before & After: The NAARI Impact

To highlight the transformative power of our HR interventions, here are a few real-world examples:

Case 1: From Chaotic Hiring to Structured Workforce Planning

·         A fast-growing e-commerce startup faced a 70% annual attrition rate.

·         Hiring was reactive, and job roles lacked clarity.

·         NAARI redesigned their hiring process, implemented role-specific training, and introduced performance-based retention strategies.

·         Within six months, their attrition rate dropped to 30%, and employee satisfaction increased significantly.

 

Case 2: Aligning HR with Business Goals in a Manufacturing Firm

·         A mid-sized manufacturing company struggled with high absenteeism and low productivity.

·         HR was limited to payroll processing and compliance—employee engagement was nonexistent.

·         NAARI restructured their performance management system, introduced incentive-linked KPIs, and revamped company policies.

·         The company saw a 20% boost in productivity and a significant improvement in employee morale.

 

NAARI’s Vision: HR That Drives Business Growth

At NAARI, we don’t just manage HR—we transform it into a strategic pillar of business success. Our hands-on approach, deep industry insights, and passion for building people-first organizations have made us a trusted partner for businesses that want to scale efficiently and sustainably.

With NAARI, HR is not a cost—it’s an investment in success.

 

 

How do you stay current with industry trends, and what advice would you give to entrepreneurs looking to start their own HR or consulting business?

To stay ahead in the rapidly evolving HR landscape, I actively integrate technology-driven solutions into our processes. At NAARI, we leverage HR tech platforms, AI-driven recruitment tools, and data analytics to enhance decision-making and streamline operations.

Some key ways we incorporate technology for continuous improvement:

·         Tech-Enabled Hiring & Talent Management: We use AI-powered applicant tracking systems (ATS) to optimize candidate screening and ensure a faster, bias-free selection process.

·         Remote HR Support & On-Demand Consulting: We utilize cloud-based HR systems and digital collaboration tools to provide seamless 24/7 support to clients across industries—eliminating location constraints and ensuring efficiency.

·         Skill Development & E-Learning Initiatives: Partnering with LMS platforms and industry-linked courses, we help employees upskill in alignment with business needs, closing the skill gap effectively.

By adopting agile, tech-driven strategies, we ensure HR is not just a function but a catalyst for business growth—helping organizations adapt, scale, and stay competitive in a digital-first world.