🩺Howard Gardening Story #33 – Kersi: Once debugging code, now debugging lives

 

“Let’s call Kersi” — this was a common line whenever there was a problem in our Bank’s software. That was some 35 years ago. Today, the same line is used when someone is unwell.

Kersi was officially a clerk in our IT department. But in reality, he was his own boss — he had coded our branch software single-handedly. The software was called ALPM (Advanced Ledger Posting Machine) because the unions did not want to hear the words software or computer in those days.

Kersi’s world was filled with coding jargon — arrays, syntaxes, arguments, variables… (and of course the famous Parsi slang like Bhejaa no dahi, Konna baap ni diwali, etc.). He once tried teaching me programming, but to his frustration, I couldn’t get beyond printf(“Hello World!”). 

Then life moved on. I shifted from banking to IT, and we lost touch.

Decades later, when I met Kersi again, he was a different person. The Gagne and Tanenbaum books had disappeared from his shelf, replaced by Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine.

His vocabulary had also changed. No more programming jargon. Instead, he spoke a new language — borborygmus, epistaxis, sternutation...

The bank had made him its welfare officer. And in that role, he became a bridge between employees and the medical world. Colleagues now go to him for guidance on the correct diagnosis, the right doctor, or even a second opinion before making anxious decisions. Debugging code has transformed into debugging lives.

But Kersi is more than one story. He is a symbol. Every organization has hidden intelligences like his — employees whose passions and networks extend far beyond their job descriptions.

Imagine if HR and CSR leaders built a Kersi Community inside companies: people who could support colleagues with healthcare guidance and extend the same wisdom to schools and villages through CSR. Preventive awareness talks, health camps, trusted doctor referrals — all powered by employees themselves.

🌱 To HR and CSR leaders: Who is your Kersi? And how might a community of such hidden gems transform both employee well-being and your CSR impact?

🫀Howard Gardening Story #32 – Hureen: The heartbeat of our organisation

 

A huge BMW arrived at our door at 6 PM sharp to pick us up for my wife’s birthday dinner at the Leela. It was such a pleasant surprise for my better half. She never expected her husband to pull off such an exquisite gesture.

Of course, I didn’t organise this. Hureen did.

That was Hureen for all of us—always one step ahead, turning simple occasions into unforgettable memories. Tell her your problem and she would resolve it—not just efficiently, but with style, grace, and a touch of magic.

Despite a stressful job, Hureen always had time for people. She was emotionally connected with almost everyone, becoming part of the family of hundreds of employees.

Before joining us as Admin Manager, Hureen had worked in the hospitality industry. It showed in her poise, her elegance, and her knack for making people feel at ease. Soon, she was more than an administrator—she became an agony aunt, a problem solver, a confidante, and a relationship builder par excellence.

If I exaggerate a little, she was:

 ✨ A bridge-builder like Eleanor Roosevelt

 ✨ Empathetic like Oprah Winfrey

 ✨ Soothing like Mother Teresa

 ✨ Resourceful like Indra Nooyi

—All rolled into one 😀. And yes, I know she’ll be hugely embarrassed reading this.

No wonder the company honoured her with the Builder’s Award—an accolade for exceptional service, reserved for only a very few. To be selected out of thousands of employees is no small feat.

💡 Dear Leaders, how would you use your “Hureens” in your organisation?

One role I would strongly recommend is teaching Executive Presence to leaders—given her impeccable English, warmth, and hospitality background. 

Imagine the impact such a person could make in shaping confident, empathetic, and people-centred leaders.

Every organisation needs its heartbeat. For us, that was Hureen.

🧑‍🍳 Howard Gardening Story #31 – Jay and Siddharth: Transforming housemaids

 

Here’s a story about two young friends from Oberoi who swapped a five-star career for a small-town experiment.

An Italian restaurant and bakery in Kolhapur — staffed entirely by local, uneducated women.

At first glance, it sounded impossible:

 👉 Could women who had never stepped into a fine-dining kitchen learn to pronounce, prepare, and present Italian dishes?

 👉 Would Kolhapur’s spice-loving palates accept mild continental food?

 👉 Could a town raised on misal pav really pay for artisanal breads, pastas, and panna cotta?

 👉 And above all, was it wise to leave behind a high-paying career in hospitality?

The spark came from a simple request. One of their cleaning maids asked if she could learn continental cooking. Jay and Siddharth said yes — and patiently trained her, elevating her from maid to cook.

Curiosity spread. Soon, they weren’t just teaching recipes but also the history of dishes, the science of baking, the art of customer experience, and the use of over 120 different ingredients.

The transformation was remarkable. From scrubbing floors to donning a chef’s hat, from daily wages to PF and mediclaim benefits — the women carried themselves with pride. They were no longer “housemaids”; they were Chefs and Bakers.

And the town embraced it. In Kolhapur, eating out once a week has become a style statement. Gen Z, always eager to experiment, loved the novelty. Pannakotta found fans, tiramisu too.

I wouldn’t be surprised if “Pannakotta” soon becomes a chain of restaurants, each run by these once-unlikely chefs.

Now imagine — what if Oberoi’s HR had spotted these hidden talents in Siddharth and Jay? The ability to elevate people. To inspire even the uneducated to achieve what they never imagined. To lead with patience, empathy, and respect.

Wouldn’t the cooking department itself have been transformed? A fresh brand, loyal employees, and maybe even an answer to attrition.

Food for thought. 🍝

🎨 Howard Gardening Story #30 – Noor: A poem whispered through lines

 

Clients visiting ‘Happiest Minds’ often left with a surprise: a beautifully framed sketch of themselves, handed over as a parting gift. The gesture not only delighted them but also left a lasting impression about the company.

This is Noor’s story.

I have never met Noor in person, but I first heard about him from none other than Mr. Ashok Soota — the doyen of the Indian IT industry and Chairman of his company.

Noor is a techie by role, but an artist by heart. He has an extraordinary talent for sketching. Recognizing this gift, Ashok would send him pictures of the visiting clients in advance. Noor would sketch portraits of the visitors. By the end of the client visits, those sketches were framed and presented as thank-you gifts. The clients were delighted, and the company was remembered not just for its business acumen, but for its innovative hospitality.

When Ashok shared this story with me, I was in awe — not just of Noor’s talent, but of Ashok’s leadership. How many leaders take the time to notice the hidden talents of their employees and create space for them to shine?

This story touched me deeply. I wanted to celebrate Noor in some way. So, I offered to sponsor his life membership at the Indian Institute of Cartoonists in Bangalore. With that, Noor could use their exhibition hall for free for fifteen days a year, for life.

Today Noor is in New Zealand, and I am certain he is still nurturing his gift. Someday, I hope our paths cross.

🌱 Friends, have you shared your ideas with your management about how your talents can be used for your Business or CSR? Won’t you like to share your story?

📣Howard Gardening Story #29 – Mustafa: The voice that rebuilt a community

 

Our company's Toastmasters Club was dead. Its founder, Amit, had left, and the once-vibrant community was a ghost town. That's when I asked Mustafa, a Test Manager in our telecom team, if he would consider taking over.

The way he rebuilt the community was nothing short of inspiring.

He galvanized a team with conviction. Even while under pressure to deliver product releases, Mustafa found time to nurture members, organize meetings, and keep the spirit alive.

On stage, Mustafa was a different man altogether. The quiet Test Manager transformed into a captivating speaker who could mesmerize an audience. Beyond speeches, he conducted one-to-one mentoring sessions with senior leaders, helping them find their voice.

I have watched his steady growth—from Test Manager to Project Director, to Practice Director, and eventually, to founding his own company. I am certain his stint as President of the Toastmasters club played no small role in shaping this journey.

But Mustafa’s story doesn’t end there. He extended his influence beyond his company. He helped client organizations nurture innovation, served on the Industry 4.0 Expert Committee of the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce and now continues to conduct pro-bono workshops on presentation skills and public speaking.

Dear HR Leaders, people say public speaking is the number one fear in the world—ranking even higher than death, heights, or spiders. Whether or not that’s entirely true, I have seen many senior professionals tremble when asked to speak in public. 

Now imagine what the young Mustafas in your organization could do to support them—mentoring, coaching, and turning glossophobia into confidence.

Try it out. This could be your greatest gift to your management team—career advancement, confidence in engaging with the world outside, and a stronger leadership pipeline. And as a bonus, you cultivate young mentors who blossom into leaders themselves.

Would love to hear your story if you are already doing this.

🧘 Howard Gardening Story #28 – Chandra and ValuFacture

 

When culture traveled across continents — in a yoga mat, not a suitcase.

🌟 Time for a corporate fairy tale

This story comes from a personalized book I created to honour N. Chandrasekaran, then CEO of TCS.

It’s about what happens when employees aren’t just empowered to deliver projects — but also to share their passions, across continents.

Here it goes - 

In 2007, a young project manager, Gyan, returned from Delaware after a two-year assignment. But what he brought back wasn’t just another delivery milestone.

He brought back a story of impact that couldn’t be measured in billable hours.

He was excited to share his story with the top man. “Chandra,” Gyan said when he secured an opportunity to meet Chandra, “I just wanted to teach yoga after work. But it became something bigger than I imagined.”

🧘‍♂️ Gyan, a certified yoga teacher, began hosting free sessions for client employees. What began with questions about snake charmers and elephants in India, it led to deeper conversations — about breath and balance.

✨ And this was the impact

• A happier client workforce
• A glowing testimonial for Gyan
• An extended assignment
• And ultimately… more business
• All without a single ‘change request’.

📘 Chandra recalled a phrase from Edward de Bono: ValuFacture — the art of delivering unexpected value. Gyan had done just that. No contracts. No scope documents. Just contribution through passion.

🌍 Could every employee become an ambassador of goodwill beyond their job role?

A lively debate followed:

• Should yoga be formalized into the service offering?
• What about certifications, legal liabilities, and expectations?
• Should this be monetized? Or kept voluntary?
• Was this scalable? Or just a beautiful anomaly?

The answer was honest: Not yet.

📣 But the story was told.

 Gyan spoke to senior leaders. His experience echoed through corridors and coffee chats.

 No policies were created. But a seed was sown.

🪷 Weeks later, the client asked for a new project. With one condition:

“Can Gyan be part of it?”

They missed his code, yes.

But they longed for his company.

🔁 Not every legacy needs a framework. Sometimes, all it takes is one person offering what they are great at — with no expectation in return.

📌 Dear HR and CSR leaders:

 What passions live within your people that could become your next brand differentiator?

Your next innovation might not come from a lab or a budget —

It might come from someone quietly rolling out a yoga mat, far from home.

--

This is just the tip of a beautiful iceberg. For the full journey, you might have to charm Chandra into sharing the book.” ❄️📘

🤣Howard Gardening Story #27 – Shraddha Jain (Aiyyo Shraddha): Aiyyo to Aha!

 

Shraddha Jain is a famous comedian, RJ, actor, director, editor, social media influencer….. with more than 10 lakh followers on Instagram and over 6 crore YouTube views.

She began as an engineer—coding at iGate in India, crunching numbers at Goldman Sachs in the USA—before spreading her wings to make the world laugh.

Now, imagine if HR at iGate had noticed her spark for comedy early on. What could they have done?

Picture this—Shraddha taking over the induction class for newcomers. Instead of dull PowerPoints, freshers would learn company culture through laughter, ice-breakers, and sketches. A boring orientation could have turned into a memorable bonding experience.

Or think of a CSR programme—employees hesitant to volunteer at a bird sanctuary on a Saturday. This is how Shraddha would have energised employees:

“Aiyyo! Listen, listen. Whole week you people sit in AC office, clicking mouse… double-clicking stress… and Ctrl+Alt+Del-ing your happiness. One Saturday, birds are inviting you to their office. Their office has no cubicles, only trees. No manager staring at you, only peacocks showing off. Free music from the koel—live concert, no ticket! And what will you do there? Just give some time, little seva, little care. The birds will not give you promotion, but trust me, your soul will get increment. Aiyyo, even the pigeons in your balcony are saying—go help our cousins, yaar!”

Suddenly, laughter would fill the room. The idea of volunteering wouldn’t feel like a chore anymore.

Friends, if you see any budding Aiyyo Shraddhas in your office, drag them to meet your HR and the CEO. They will love meeting her/ him.

🌱Howard Gardening Story #26 – Hiren: Transcendence in the Kitchen

 

Hiren is the Executive Director of his company.

He spends his weekdays with automotive products, dashboards and deadlines.

But come the weekend, he enters a completely different zone, fragrant with spices.

He doesn’t just cook.

He researches the science behind a dish, reflects on the method, and then crafts a plate of food like an artist — complete with a beautifully written reflection on why he chose that particular recipe and how he cooked.

And then we do what we always do.

We bang on his door — shamelessly — just to get a taste of the masterpiece he’s created.

“This is not cooking,” Hiren says.

 “This is my transcendental meditation.”

… we allow him to boast..

Here’s what makes the story special:

Hiren’s great-grandmother wrote a recipe book, probably a century ago, that became a must-read for every new bride.

So while love for cooking may not sit in his DNA strand, it clearly runs through his family thread.

Does his Head HR know about this secret skill?

“No,” he smiles. “I’ve kept it to myself. I don’t want it to become a community affair.”

My question to my HR/ CSR Leaders - 🧭 Should we let Hiren keep this joy to himself?

Or can we gently nudge him to share it — not for show, but to inspire?

--

Just between us...

Howard Gardner would probably say, “I would classify Hiren’s brilliance under Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence — given how masterfully he moves in the kitchen.

But since he calls it transcendental meditation, I’ll let him believe it’s Intrapersonal Intelligence. 😉”

🏃 Howard Gardening Story #25 – Asit: The Runner, The Investor, The Inspiration

 

I first met Asit over two decades ago — a detail-oriented project manager who always had a warm word and quick wit. Now a Vice President elsewhere, his voice still brings me a daily dose of joy and reflection.

One story that never leaves me: he once told me about his manager’s ritual of doing a short meditation before each one-on-one meeting—especially performance reviews—treating them like a small ceremony of connection. That wisdom stayed with me.

But what truly defines Asit is how he brings heart and discipline into everything he does. Wherever he is in the world, he never misses his running routine. Not just for fitness, he builds running communities— and later became part of a largest residential community run to raise funds for charitable work in the areas of education and women empowerment. Imagine what this could do for workplace wellness!

And then there’s his other unexpected circle: personal finance. Asit created an investment community in our company, inviting experts to guide small groups. It wasn’t just about making money—it was about shared learning, empowerment, and financial confidence.

Though finance is deeply personal, employee-led groups like his could become invaluable CSR assets. Imagine financial coaching for underserved communities or creating savings tools for families in need.

Asit embodies Kinesthetic intelligence through running, and Logical-Mathematical intelligence through financial mentoring. I sense there’s more — creativity, strategic thinking, perhaps even more dormant talents waiting to bloom.

Dear HR and CSR Leaders —

Do you have an “Asit” in your midst — someone whose passions can seed community, wellness (Physical and Financial), and impact?

Would you give them the space to run your wellness mission forward?

And could they teach financial fitness to communities your organisation supports?

Because somewhere in your workforce, a next-generation Asit is waiting to lace up — and inspire.

🪡 Howard Gardening Story #24 – Lina: Threads of passion, Patterns of reinvention

 

“Why do you want to do a story on me — an old, almost 74-year-old grandma?” Lina laughed when I first reached out to her. But her eyes softened when I explained how inspired I was by her passion — quilt art.

Lina’s story begins in the world of IT, where she spent more than three decades working on technologies like PL/SQL and C Shell etc. 

It was in the late 1980s that she first stumbled upon quilt art, and something about it instantly stitched itself into her life. What began as a quiet curiosity soon became a lifelong devotion.

Today, Lina has created more than 100 quilts, each a unique expression of patience and imagination. Many of them have travelled across the US for exhibitions, admired not just for their craftsmanship but for the stories they hold. When I asked her if she sells them, she smiled gently: “Oh no. I make them as gifts, or sometimes for fundraising. They’re meant to give joy, not sit on a shelf with a price tag.”

Her creations range from nature-inspired patterns and one-colour wonders to geometric chevrons, animal motifs, and even portraits. Every quilt carries a little bit of her world stitched into it.

Did she ever bring quilting into her IT workplace? She chuckled. “Back then, people thought quilting was only a grandma’s pastime. It’s only now that it’s being seen as true art.”

And does her IT background play a role? “Absolutely,” she reflected. “Quilting is all about choices — fabric, thread, size, design. My logical thinking and project management skills definitely help.”

🌿 Dear HR Leaders — How many Linas are quietly pursuing hidden talents in your teams? Could their artistry find a place in your CSR and vocational education programs, inspiring the next generation to see beauty in unexpected skills?

🌟Howard Gardening Story #23 – Akash, shining beyond his role

 

Have you ever seen an employee shine in ways no role could define? Akash did.

Officially, he was our Business Development Director. But in truth, he was a powerhouse of ideas, energy, and inspiration.

One of his greatest gifts was Bushido—a code of conduct for people managers that he co-created with our L&D Head. Borrowed from the Japanese samurai tradition, it translated honor, loyalty, and self-discipline into practical leadership. A masterstroke.

I will always be grateful for his steady support while we built competency centres across countries like the Czech Republic, Morocco, and the Philippines. In moments of doubt, his confidence grounded me.

But Akash’s brilliance wasn’t confined to business. He was an environmentalist whose workshops left people transformed.

I remember with deep gratitude how Akash helped me when my book was stuck at the last mile. In that moment of self-doubt, he stepped in, volunteered to be my coach, and gently nudged me past the mental blocks that finally led me to finish my book.

Though a mechanical engineer by degree, his fascination with Synaptic Transmission—the nerve-cell language of consciousness and emotion—perhaps inspired his leap into founding a leadership development company.

💡 Akash reminds us that employees are more than job descriptions. They’re treasure chests of hidden intelligences.

So, HR/CSR friends, pick up your mining tools:

 ⛏ The Pickaxe of Listening to break through silence.

 🔦 The Lantern of Curiosity to reveal hidden passions.

 🪓 The Shovel of Encouragement to unearth brilliance.

Because somewhere in your organisation, the next Akash is waiting.

🎶Howard Gardening Story #22 – Sudhir, the Leader who sang his way into hearts

 

The first thing I remember about Sudhir, way back in 1996, is his humming. Always a Kishore Kumar tune on his lips.

Back then, he was a young technical team lead on our banking product. Today, he’s a Senior Vice President managing thousands. Yet his love for music — and Kishore da — remains unchanged.

Sudhir had a rare gift: he made people his fans forever. Even when he disagreed, he did it with grace. I still recall him scolding me for endlessly polishing a functional spec. His advice: “Don’t aim for perfect. Aim for done.”. That one line has stayed with me for decades.

As a people manager, he was exceptional — nurturing people with patience, clarity, warmth and a great sense of humour to lighten even a serious discussion. 

And music was always his bridge to connection.

Sudhir must have created hundreds of song videos by now. 

I remember once in our company’s basement parking place, I requested him to sing. Without hesitation, he launched into “Hum the, woh thi” from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi — an apt song for the surroundings!

He also led our in-house orchestra, Tarang. Every monthly townhall began with a song, Sudhir’s voice setting the tone. He even led us when we recorded our company anthem, composed by the celebrity Raghu Dixit.

That’s Sudhir — the leader, the singer, ‘star-maker’.

🎶 Question for HR & CSR Leaders:

How are you tapping into the “Sudhirs” in your workforce? Have you invited them to old age homes or community events you support? Imagine the joy they could create.

🏞️ Howard Gardening Story #21 – RSP and 221B Baker Street

 

🌟 Time for a corporate ‘fairy tale’
This story comes from a personalized book I created to honour Rajendra Singh Pawar (RSP). He is the Founder of NIIT and their CEO when I created this book.

It’s a story of what’s possible when we apply the Howard Gardner philosophy of multiple intelligences at work — and invite people to bring their full selves into the workplace.

Here it goes - 

One was fiction. The other, forgotten history.

In 2010, a unique tourist center opened in the village of Pabal — not by the government, but by employees of NIIT.

Its subject?
Not Sherlock Holmes.
But Mastani — 18th-century warrior, poet, and consort of Peshwa Baji Rao.

🌸 The idea was sparked years earlier, when RSP visited Vigyan Ashram, a rural innovation school.
Amid the tech marvels, it was the neglected grave of Mastani that haunted him.

“Why does no one know her story?” he wondered.

Back in office, two bold questions emerged:
1️⃣ Can our employees support this school?
2️⃣ Can we revive Mastani’s forgotten legacy?

The first got traction. The second seemed… impossible.

Until, over coffee in London, someone mentioned visiting 221B Baker Street.
RSP asked:

“If people queue up to see a fictional detective’s (Sherlock Holme’s) home …
why not honour a real warrior-poetess?”

🛠️ That spark lit a fire.

Volunteers across NIIT stepped up:
• Historians, designers, engineers, trainers — all self-organised.
• Sound & light shows, clean water, hospitality, storytelling — all built from within.
• Some even moved to Pabal for weeks.

🎉 On April 28, 2010, the Mastani Tourist Center opened.
📜 The village sarpanch received the ceremonial key.
A forgotten legend came alive.

This wasn’t CSR.
It was a cultural resurrection through corporate compassion.

🗝️ To HR & CSR leaders:
Your employees carry heritage, hope, and hidden heroes.
What forgotten treasure might they revive — if you simply said yes?

--

Want the full story? You’ll have to charm RSP for his copy. 😉

🌿 Howard Gardening Story #20 — Umesh, the Icebreaker Artist

 

I found Umesh through a Google search. I was hunting for an artist for our Indo–French management conclave — and I struck gold.

Here’s the backstory:
Our French division’s management team was visiting to meet us, their Indian counterparts. Their goal was to break the ice and gauge comfort levels for collaboration.

I thought — why not get both teams to create something together? Painting, perhaps? The hotel staff wasn’t keen on an indoor setup, so after some persuasion, we moved it to the lawns. 

The French coordinator wasn’t thrilled about altering her meticulously planned itinerary, but I convinced her to give me just 120 minutes — right in the beer break. She agreed.

That’s when Umesh entered the picture. Passionate about painting, Umesh worked for Mindtree then as a UX expert.

Umesh thought my idea of 30 people painting a single canvas was crazy. Eventually, we agreed: one team would recreate Monet’s ‘Impression, Sunrise’, while the other painted Umesh’s ‘Fisherwoman’.

The result was pure magic. People could not believe that they, together, painted two awesome paintings in just two hours, thanks to Umesh’s guidance.

I still remember our CHRO proudly holding ‘Fisherwoman’, the French Marketing Head recreating her on the canvas while our Indian Finance Head holding the water bowl for her, waiting for his turn to paint; And the two CEOs pouring beer for everyone. 

Ice-breaking doesn’t get better than that.

Umesh, you gave your time and talent — for a total stranger, for free — and created a memory that still makes me smile.

💡 HR & CSR Leaders — One external artist changed the entire mood of a cross-cultural meeting. Imagine what a community of artists inside your organisation could do for culture, engagement, and CSR.

🌿 Howard Gardening Story #19 — Subhash, the many shades of my hero

 

Subhash was my childhood friend — and our hero. In college, he seemed unstoppable: university volleyball captain, bodybuilding champion, cricket team leader, and a top student to boot. His energy lit up every field he stepped onto.

Then life took us our separate ways. For 35 years, we lost touch.

When we finally met again, I could hardly believe the transformation. The sportsman I knew had become a charismatic singer — cowboy hat, hunter boots, and all. He wasn’t just performing; he was leading music groups where even shy, hesitant voices found courage. Subhash mentored them with patience, humour, and infectious enthusiasm. His events became confidence factories, where people proudly showcased talents they never knew they had.

But his gift went deeper. Subhash began visiting hospitals and homes, singing for critical patients — sometimes to a small group, sometimes one-on-one. For those who had lost hope, he offered something precious: moments of joy, dignity, and human connection. I saw eyes light up, hands tap along, and faces soften.

It’s fascinating how people evolve. In his youth, Subhash’s strength lay in kinesthetic intelligence; later, musical intelligence; and today, interpersonal intelligence that heals hearts. If you form different communities within your organisations, I guess Subhash will move from one community to the other seamlessly, adding value to each cohort.

Imagine if HR captured such evolving passions within their workforce. Employees like Subhash could enrich both employer branding and CSR initiatives — from team engagement to community outreach.

To HR and CSR leaders: Could there be a Subhash in your ranks right now, waiting to reveal a new shade? Are you giving them the space to shine?