In the dynamic world of manufacturing, where processes and precision often take center stage, it is the human element that truly defines organizational resilience and progress. In this Leaders Speak conversation, Dr. Sunil Singh, Editor-in-Chief of HR TODAY, engages with Amit Prasad, Chief Human Resources Officer at Hettich India, to explore how the company’s bold and human-centric HR strategy is reshaping one of India’s leading global brands. From pioneering DEI initiatives and family-focused policies to fostering continuous learning and embedding sustainability into the people agenda, Amit shares how Hettich is transforming “people-first” from a policy into a lived experience that drives culture, innovation, and business success.
- Hettich India’s HR vision is described as ‘’people-first’’. What does this mean in practice, and how has it shaped your HR strategy?
At Hettich India, ‘people first’ is neither a slogan nor a philosophy. It is a lived principle. It defines how we show up for our employees each day by ensuring they feel cared for, heard, and empowered to grow.
Through Hettich Care, created in partnership with Doc Online, we provide 24×7 doctor consultations, unlimited access to dieticians, mental health support, discounted diagnostics, and wellness programs for employees and their families.
With Hettich Akademie and Ignite, we equip our people to shape their careers and prepare for leadership. With KickBox, the spark of an employee idea finds structure and support to drive change across product development, process optimisation, sustainability, and organisational excellence.
Ishara builds opportunities for differently-abled colleagues, while My Daughter My Pride extends our circle of care to employees’ families by supporting the education and empowerment of daughters.
All these initiatives carry a single thread: when our people thrive at work and in life, Hettich thrives with them.
- What steps is Hettich India taking to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion are not mere policies, but lived experiences?
Diversity, equity, and inclusion cannot live in policy documents alone. They must be visible in culture, in daily practices, and in the opportunities people experience.
At Hettich India, Ishara, our ongoing DEI initiative, focuses on creating an inclusive workplace for differently-abled individuals, ensuring equity and dignity at work. Female representation in our manufacturing workforce is being advanced through structured mentorship, skilling, and safe, enabling environments.
Beyond gender, our approach to hiring, career progression, and leadership development is consciously designed to ensure fairness and equal access.
The intent is clear: to make diversity a lived strength of Hettich India, one that fuels innovation, collaboration, and lasting progress.
- The “My Daughter My Pride” initiative stands out in the manufacturing sector. What inspired this policy, and how has it impacted employees and their families till today?
The inspiration arose from a simple yet profound question: how can we, as a responsible employer, extend the circle of care beyond our employees to embrace their families?
From this reflection came ‘My Daughter My Pride,’ a program born from the conviction that supporting the education and empowerment of employees’ daughters creates an impact that lasts for generations.
Through this initiative, we contribute a substantial amount towards a Sukanya Samriddhi Account for up to two daughters of every employee, strengthening not only our commitment to families but also empowering a key government initiative dedicated to securing the future of the girl child.
The response has been deeply moving. Families now see Hettich as more than an employer—they see a partner walking beside them in shaping a brighter tomorrow for their children. Because when we invest in daughters, we are not only supporting families… we are shaping the legacy of tomorrow.
- Increasing female representation in the factory workforce is a bold move. How are you sustaining this push toward gender equity?
Change of real consequence does not arrive overnight. It demands vision, patience, and the willingness to take bold steps that carry weight in practice, not only in promise. At Hettich, this philosophy guides how we approach equity and inclusion.
We have built more than hiring practices—we have built systems. On-the-job training, structured mentorship, and infrastructure designed with women in mind. To sustain this momentum, we are steadily nurturing women into supervisory and leadership roles within manufacturing.
Our commitment to women’s equity runs deep. Through empowerment and mentorship platforms, senior female leaders engage with women across our plants. These sessions go beyond guidance; they create safe spaces to share challenges, exchange experiences, and draw strength from one another. They build confidence, foster growth, and remind every woman that her journey is valued and supported.
This is the path that shapes lasting change at Hettich.
- Akademie has now become a flagship program, with 250+ applicants for 21 seats. What does this mean about the aspirations of your workforce?
The overwhelming response to Hettich Akademie – with over 250 applicants for just 21 seats – reflects the ambition and hunger for growth within our workforce. The impact of Akademie has been so profound that it paved the way for Tech Akademie, a unique program that allows employees to pursue a bachelor’s degree while continuing their professional journey. It is our way of enabling aspirations to take flight.
Hettich Akademie has shaped leaders who think beyond silos, who understand the strength of cross-functional collaboration. For employees, securing a seat has become a coveted milestone, a defining step in accelerating their careers.
These programs embody a larger truth: our people are deeply invested in upskilling, in embracing new challenges, and in shaping their own growth. They stand as a testament to Hettich’s commitment to structured opportunities that empower individuals to rise in tandem with the business.
- Sustainability is a big part of Hettich’s agenda. How does HR contribute to ESG goals?
At Hettich, sustainability is a responsibility, a commitment, and a way of life. The responsibility of ESG is shared across the organisation, with every function carrying a role in making it real.
From the HR perspective, we make sustainability part of employee goals and leadership KPIs. Our training emphasises sustainable practices, and ESG awareness is being embedded into Hettich First, our HR platform.With manufacturing units already operating as zero-discharge facilities and carbon neutrality in sight, HR’s role is to align people with this purpose and keep it alive in everyday action.
Because when people and purpose move together… progress becomes permanent.
- What was the vision behind HPWWI, a CSR initiative to power India’s woodworking sector?
Woodworking… has always been at the very heart of Hettich’s journey. And with HPWWI – the Hettich Poddar Woodworking Institute – we took that heartbeat and gave it a larger purpose.
Our vision was simple, yet profound: to give back to the community to uplift the carpenters who have built the backbone of this industry.
Through modern skills, through opportunities, through dignity of work – we are not just training individuals, we are shaping futures.
And this year, HPWWI created history – an all-women batch of 30 students, led by a woman trainer. A first for the industry. A moment of pride for us all.
This is more than an initiative. It is a salute to tradition… and a promise to the future. A promise that the craft of woodworking, and those who bring it alive, will always stand tall in India.
- You’ve received recognitions like “CHRO of the Year” and Great Place to Work certification with more than 95% employee participation. What do these external validations mean for your employer brand?
Awards and recognitions are affirmations of the journey we’re on, but more importantly, they reflect the trust of the people. The fact that 95% of our employees chose to participate in the GPTW survey is a recognition we value deeply, as it tells us that they’re engaged and committed.
For our employer brand, it signals to current and future talent that Hettich is not just a place to work, but a place to build meaningful careers.
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