Constant Quest For Learning

Lekha Sishta, Director-HR and Performance Development, SumTotal
Systems

Job Profile

Sishta is responsible for heading the HR and performance development department
at Hyderabad-based SumTotal Systems, a company engaged in developing learning
management software. She is in charge of HR functions, performance management,
training and career development of the company's personnel across various
functions and levels

Lekha Sishta

Background

Sishta is the daughter of an army officer and had the opportunity to travel a
lot in her childhood. She did her schooling from La Martiniere in Kolkata and
pursued Economics from the Delhi University. She was the student of the fifth
batch of IIM (Bangalore), when management was not considered as the right choice
for women.

Her career is adorned with many facets where she has always executed her
best. She feels that a woman can do anything irrespective of the nature of job.
She started her career with NTPC in 1980 where she was in manpower planning. She
then moved to the public sector and later tasted the flavors of HR, commercials,
marketing, and business development.

She has been the GM of CnK Networks where she headed multiple functions like
content marketing, CRM, quality and sales operations. As a trainer, she imparted
training to corporate giants like Idea Cellular, Indian Airlines, CMC, BHEL,
Infotech, Wipro e-Peripherals, Escorts JCB, Orbit Technologies, SHV Energy, LIC,
New India Assurance, Coca-Cola, Ramoji Film City, PowerGrid, Malayala Manorama,
Shri Shakti, Times of India, Nagarjuna Group, APSRTC, Far n Par, Neospark
Pharmaceuticals, Brigade Solutions, RMSI, NTPC and many others.

Challenges

Sishta took all the challenges that came her way as an opportunity to add
different shades in her life. She never let herself fight the war of feminism in
the male dominated industry. Which is probably why she did not face much hassle
in her personal as well as professional life. Another reason for this is also
the support and understanding her parents and family gave to her.

Strengths

She is a person who speaks her mind. Her centricity to people enables her to
create a space around where she generates potential to empathize and understand
them very well. She has an undying quest for learning and always tries to learn
from everything around her. Sishta's days in IIM helped her develop a blooming
personality and gained strength to rub shoulders with men in all walks of life.

Family

Sishta tied the knot when she was in IIM in 1980 and is blessed with two
daughters-Sanyukta and Anandita-who are treading on the path of their mother.
She considers her daughters to be her biggest sources of inspiration and who
make her feel energetic. Her parents have showered all their support to take the
challenges and gave her liberty to do whatever she wanted. Sishta is extremely
close to her mother who is now 70 years old and has been actively inspiring her
to do the best.

Hobbies

Sishta loves spending time with her daughters during her free time and goes for
shopping and movies with them. Weekends are generally spent having fun with
family and friends. She likes watching Bollywood movies and her favorite ones
are 15 Park Avenue and Woh Lamhe. She adores Amitabh Bachchan for his voice and
personality. In her free time she decorates her home, reads books and is just
herself.

Future Plans

Within the next three to four years, Sishta is planning to retire from her
hectic schedule and travel around the world with her daughters. Her favorite
destinations are Canada and Scandinavia, known for their scenic beauty and
courteous people. Sishta has achieved whatever she dreamt and is

content with her life. Her only wish is to get recognized as mother of her
daughters.

-DQC News Bureau

New Delhi