APAC Businesswoman Awards 2017

, Since inception in 1976, PageGroup has established the track record and expertise to be a worldwide leader in specialist recruitment. Michael Page International has since grown and, nearly four decades later the firm has more than 5000 employees and a global office network, while growing its UK market coverage too. With offices from Aberdeen to Bristol and Cardiff to Cambridge, and more than 25 specialist businesses the company have the track record to handle any clients’ recruitment requirements or job search. The firm combine local knowledge and global expertise to provide a specialised service to both employers and candidates. Divya discusses her career progression and how she has risen through the firm to the position she enjoys today. “Personally, I began my career in recruitment in 2011, when I joined Page Personnel Singapore as a trainee consultant after completing my Bachelor of Engineering in Nanyang Technological University (NTU). This was my first full-time employment after undergraduate studies and it has been a very rewarding one. I later moved within the Group to Michael Page India in 2016 as a Senior Consultant in the Mumbai office. Here I specialise in middle to senior-level placements across the consumer and media industries. “Previously, I interned for 6 months at a Pharmaceutical Services MNC as part of my undergraduate studies, where I led process engineering projects across the manufacturing floor at a plant in Singapore. Here, I had the opportunity to both work with employees at the blue collar worker level and influence courses and outcomes of projects with the Commercial and P&L head. The experience allowed me to work cohesively with people at all levels and learn how to influence key business decisions through effective communication.” Drawing on her vast experience in the region, Divya has a strong understanding of the recruitment market in Singapore, which she is keen to share with us. “In the Asia Pacific, specifically Singapore, the corporate landscape remains encouraging for women looking to fulfil their career goals with ample support from their families and organisations. While this awareness is steadily catching on in India, we have a long road ahead in breaking barriers. We are pushing the envelope on a daily basis to garner acceptance ABW17002 Youngest Businesswoman of the Year & Best Specialist Recruitment Consultant of the Year - Singapore Michael Page International, part of PageGroup, is an international specialist recruitment firm supporting a wide range of clients. We invited Divya Patel to talk us through the firmand her role in its success. before we reach out and ask for support. The encouraging part is to see multinationals in India take a strong lead in making workplace culture more inclusive for women before and after childbirth. With the introduction of day-care in or near the offices, flexible working arrangements and company-wide initiatives to hear our challenges and brainstorm for solutions together, it is certainly becoming easier to fulfil duties at work as well as at home. “Internally, the industry has seen a steady growth in the number of females entering recruitment, it is also encouraging to see a resulting higher percentage step into management positions in the last few years. Within the Group, there have also been global campaigns in 2016/2017 to support International Women’s Day. There is a strong international Women@ Page network where we are all connected through internal communication. New mothers returning to continue their careers with Michael Page India can do so on flexible working arrangements and a pre/post Maternity Coaching programme was introduced to improve the retention of women returning from maternity leave. These supportive initiatives have made it easier for women to achieve and retain top leadership roles, and work towards continuous growth in the organisation. The recruitment industry is fairly gender neutral at the entry level and initiatives such as these will go a long way in empowering capable females to assume top industry positions.” Overall, Divya’s advise to anyone looking to emulate her phenomenal success in this area is to work collaboratively and support others, as she proudly concludes. “Ultimately, I would advise women to work together and first be supportive of each other. While we work towards thriving in a competitive environment, we must keep in view that we need to be there for one another. Trust that if you stay strong together, the world will lend its support. Resilience, team work, focus and a solutions-driven attitude are vital attributes to scaling heights in the recruitment industry, or for that matter – any industry.” Contact: Divya Patel Contact Email: [email protected] Address: 5th floor, 2 North Avenue, Maker Maxity, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra, Mumbai, 400051, India Phone: 00 91 22 4236 3365 Website: www.michaelpage.co.uk/