Exploring Hospitality, Beyond Hotels

Exploring Hospitality, Beyond Hotels With Prachi Kulkarni HR Director, Sodexo India

Could you tell us about the Young Leaders Program and its significance for Sodexo India?

The Young Leaders Program is a strategic initiative aimed at nurturing fresh talent from various IHM campuses across India. We have selected 26 Management Trainees who will undergo a rigorous 12-month training program. This program is designed to equip them with the necessary skills and experiences to handle suitable site leadership roles. Being the industry frontrunner, we are confident that the program shall set new benchmarks in the talent space, as we leverage our scale and magnitude to shape the future of the industry by nurturing talent and designing new-age career options.

The market today is experiencing a significant skill crunch. How does Sodexo India plan to address this through the Young Leaders Program?

The skill crunch is indeed a pressing issue, particularly in the hospitality and facilities management sectors. Our Young Leaders Program is designed to bridge this gap by providing comprehensive on-the-job training and catching them young. Trainees will rotate through various departments, gaining hands-on experience in operations, client management, and leadership. With the implementation of this program, we intend to create an exclusive talent bank to address the persistent challenge of high attrition for frontline roles especially in the service industry.

What specific skills do you focus on developing in the Young Leaders Program to prepare trainees for future challenges?

We focus on a blend of technical and soft skills. On the technical side, trainees learn about operational excellence, safety standards, and sustainability practices, which are critical in today's market. On the soft skills side, we emphasize leadership, communication, problem-solving, and adaptability. Given the fast-paced nature of our industry, the ability to quickly adapt to new situations and technologies is crucial. We also encourage innovation and strategic thinking to prepare them for future leadership roles.

How does Sodexo India ensure that the program stays relevant and up-to-date with industry trends and requirements?

Staying relevant is of utmost importance, and hence we ensure that the program’s course modules are very closely aligned with the developmental dynamics at our client sites. This upgradation and adaptation take place at regular intervals across food services and facilities management sectors. Additionally, our training modules are periodically reviewed to incorporate new technologies, best practices, and regulatory changes. We also encourage our trainees to bring in fresh perspectives and ideas, which helps in keeping the program dynamic and relevant.

How do you envision the Young Leaders Program to positively impact your broader organizational goals?

The Young Leaders Program is poised to make a significant impact both within Sodexo India and across the industry. For Sodexo, it ensures a steady stream of well-trained, motivated leaders who are ready to take on critical roles and drive our mission forward. For the industry, it sets a benchmark for talent development and emphasizes the importance of investing in young professionals. Ultimately, we hope to see our graduates not only excel within Sodexo but also lead the way in innovating and improving industry standards, contributing to a more skilled and competent workforce overall. We're very enthusiastic about the future and confident that the Young Leaders Program will play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of industry leaders.