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Malvieka Joshi 10 Most Innovative HR Leaders 2025
Leader at a Glance
Malvieka is a people-centric leader with over three decades of experience in HR and coaching. Guided by empathy, she has championed women returning to work, youth seeking direction, and individuals rediscovering their worth. Today, she drives social transformation by building bridges of trust, empowerment, and opportunity.
Name: Malvieka Joshi
Designation: Global CHRO
Company: NIRMAAN (An NGO)
Industry: Non-profit Organisations
Country: India
Designation: Global CHRO
Company: NIRMAAN (An NGO)
Industry: Non-profit Organisations
Country: India
Malvieka Joshi 10 Most Innovative HR Leaders 2025
Every career has turning points, but some are less about promotions and more about purpose. For one HR leader, the defining moments were in conversations with employees who were unsure of their worth, with women struggling to restart their careers, and with young people who had dreams but lacked direction. Each dialogue revealed a truth: people don’t just need jobs; they need someone to believe in their potential. It was this realisation that shaped the path of Malvieka Joshi, Global CHRO at NIRMAAN. Over the course of more than three decades, she has built her career around that belief, moving from corporate corridors to coaching rooms and now into the heart of an NGO dedicated to social transformation. Malvieka has worked in organisations including Osram, Ciena and F5 Networks as their CHRO and this journey is about building bridges, not climbing ladders—bridges of trust, empathy, and empowerment. At NIRMAAN, she continues to prove that when leaders focus on people, communities thrive and nations rise. Her story serves as a reminder that true leadership lies not in authority, but in the ability to bring out the best in others. In a candid interview with the Portfolio, she spoke about her journey, people strategy, her vision for HR and Malvieka beyond the work.
“People may forget your name or title, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”
With 30+ years in diverse roles from talent acquisition to coaching, what key experiences shaped the leader you are today?
My growth has always been shaped by people— mentors, colleagues, and communities who helped me evolve into the leader I am today. From navigating emotions and handling difficult conversations to unlocking human potential through coaching, the journey has been full of highs and lows. But that is what life is: a mosaic of experiences, each one nudging you towards a better version of yourself.
“At NIRMAAN, our social impact goals are by people, for people.”
What personal or professional gap did you identify that led you to champion people-centric strategies in your roles?
I’ve always been drawn to people, their stories, struggles, and growth. That instinct became my guiding light. I truly believe that people may forget your name or title, but they will never forget how you made them feel. This belief has led me to focus on creating experiences that are meaningful and memorable, and moments that leave a lasting imprint and inspire others to rise higher.
Leading HR in an NGO like NIRMAAN comes with its own set of complexities. How do you balance social impact goals with organisational structure, compliance, and HR best practices?
When an organisation is genuinely human-centric, everything else including policies, practices and compliance falls into place. At NIRMAAN, our social impact goals are by people, for people. When individuals embrace human values and give their best, they don’t just maintain structure; they embody the spirit of giving back in ways that make a real difference.
Can you share an ongoing project or initiative at NIRMAAN that excites you the most right now and why?
One initiative very close to my heart is Impact Hiring, which reimagines the way we look at recruitment. Instead of focusing solely on résumés, we see the person, the promise, and the possibility. Our approach includes candidates from underserved and non-traditional backgrounds, economically disadvantaged youth, women returning to work, people with disabilities, and those without formal education but immense potential. Supporting this mission is NIRMAAN itself, with its 56+ skill development centres across India. Here, underprivileged youth are trained not only in technical expertise but also in soft skills that boost confidence and employability. Through MoUs with leading corporations, we ensure smooth transitions from training to employment. That bridge, from hope to livelihood, is what excites me the most about this work.
With a 10,000+ volunteer network and multiple stakeholder partnerships, what’s your strategy for developingz collaboration and alignment across such a large ecosystem?
Our strategy is simple yet powerful: Educate. Empower. Give Back. Every individual we train becomes empowered, and many in turn uplift others. This ripple effect sustains momentum, strengthens collaboration, and deepens impact. It is this cycle of empowerment that takes us closer to our mission: The Rise of a Great Nation.
Besides being a fractional leader at NIRMAAN, what else do you do?
After stepping away from the corporate world, I founded EvokeEdge to help organisations transform through capability building. We combine industry experience with academic rigour to enhance skills, develop personalities, and strengthen leadership—with results that are visible and lasting. As an ICF-certified coach, I’ve seen how coaching can unlock human potential, and that remains the heartbeat of everything we do. The mission of EvokeEdge is simple yet impactful: Evoke Your Power, Unlock Your Edge.
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