Up close and personal with Coca-Cola’s HRD

In this edition of Up Close and Personal, we speak with Gaurav Sharma, HR Director for Coca-Cola Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei. 

Who is Gaurav Sharma? How would you describe yourself?

I’m a regular guy with my feet firmly planted on the ground; someone who thinks out of the box and possesses the skills to get things done!

Complete this sentence. HR is…

A seat at the table to do maximum good for your company. It is people, it is culture, and it is your community.

What’s the best part of your job?

Leading change, and building strong teams by helping the individuals in those teams to realise and achieve their full potential.

What’s the worst part?

Letting go of people during retrenchment exercises. So I make it a point to ensure that the change for impacted employees is as harmonious as possible.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

I have gained a broad spectrum of business experiences, from leading new green field business operations to closing existing business operations during different stages of my career.

Was HR always on the cards for you?

I am an HR professional by design. I earned my Masters in HR.

What would you be doing if you were not in HR?

I would still be working closely with people, perhaps as a doctor.

How do you unwind after work?

I have diverse routines to renew myself after work and on weekends. I enjoy reading books, staying closely connected to my family, playing badminton, exercising, running every alternative day, and taking part in a weekly boot camp with my buddies at West Coast Park in Singapore.

Who is one person you would most like to trade places with for a day?

This would be my mother, so I can learn from her how one person can accomplish so much in one day with so much precision, while taking so little help from anyone else!

If you were stranded on an island and could only keep three items, what would they be?

A knife to help cut and shape stuff for survival, a thick book to read and then use to make fire, and finally a can of Coke Zero.