KUSTOMER | Business/Growth • P. 3 KATCH UP | Employee Spotlight

KAPTURE

Leveraging Diverse Talent for Cross Functional Projects

In bid to promote talent development, involve employees in org-level strategic planning and in the process, provide them exposure to areas beyond their regular scope of work, the India Leadership Team identified 5 key themes that are the core to enabling Kennametal India realize its aspirational growth: Identifying new high growth spaces in India, Building Kennametal as a Top-of-the-Mind brand among relevant stakeholders in India, Improving Customer Experience on Delivery and Response Time, Creating New Product Development Process and Ensuring Commercial Launch Success, Effective Talent Management, and Improving Learning and Development Process.

Cross functional teams were formed for each theme involving close to 30 employees , who worked on these projects for three months and presented their respective detailed plans, which were then handed over to the concerned businesses / functions for implementation. The final presentations were made to the ILC followed by Franklin Cardenas, President, Infrastructure during his visit to India. “It was a great experience to be a part of the initiative that helped me gain knowledge in new areas and bond with my colleagues from other domains,” said one of the team members.

A couple of the cross-functional teams

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In this edition, we’re ‘katching up’ with Rajesh V- DGM, Manufacturing. Read on to find out more!

Rajesh V

DGM, Manufacturing

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself, your educational background, and your professional journey at Kennametal.

I have always been interested in the field of engineering. I studied to be a Mechanical Engineer, and I joined WIDIA in 1995 as a graduate trainee in PU5. Then, after receiving confirmation from the company in 1997, I moved to a role in the grinding department, reporting to Mr. Shivashankar, who was leading the operations at the time. Subsequently, I worked under close to 10 different leaders till 2007 and I got the opportunity to lead the insert manufacturing plant in 2008. So, I have been with the company for close to 27 years now, and currently hold the position of Deputy General Manager, Manufacturing. I would like to mention that Mr. Bhaskara played a crucial role in my progress and development at Kennametal, as he guided me closely throughout, and was a great mentor, every step of the way.

2. What does your job entail?

The routine elements are visiting all the departments, ensuring machines are running properly on the shop floor, take stock of operations, gauge performance/ output and inform supervisors if something needs their immediate attention. However, every day can be a surprise! In this role, it is very important to think quickly on your feet, and be ready to deploy Plan B or C if there are some issues in executing Plan A. As I have worked in several roles in the company, my responsibilities have changed accordingly, but putting customers’ needs first, focusing on performance,

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planning thoroughly, and doing course correction as and when needed have remained a constant.

3. What do you like the most about working at

Kennametal?

For me, it’s the work culture that stands out the most—this is the reason I have continued my professional journey at this company since 1995. I am grateful for the encouragement provided to think out of the box, be a self-starter, and add value.

4. What is the best career lesson you’ve learned so far that you would want to share with the younger lot who are starting out in the company?

I would say—please be patient! There is tremendous scope to learn at Kennametal, work with some of the best minds in the business, and also develop crossfunctional knowledge and expertise. It will be worth your while, gaining invaluable experience overtime rather than seeking new opportunities too frequently. I also involve myself in charity work as much as possible—I sponsor education and basic amenities for underprivileged children, and support orphanages as well.

7. What is your motto or personal mantra for the workplace?

Focus on continuously learning and improving yourself, and whatever recognition needs to come your way or whatever growth you aspire for at the workplace will align automatically.

8. If you could meet anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Actually, I lost my mother a few years ago, so if given the opportunity, I would definitely like to meet her again. She was a tenacious person who raised me and my sister really well, despite enduring a lot of hardships. She has always been a very motivating and inspirational figure in my life.

5. What would you do (for a career) if you weren’t doing this?

Interestingly enough, I may have been Dr. V Rajesh if I had not missed my medical seat by a few marks. I was initially quite interested in the medical field, but when that did not work out as expected, I focused all my attention on pursuing engineering.

6. Do you actively pursue any hobbies? What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I enjoy playing cricket a lot and have also participated in quite a few tournaments back in the day, representing WIDIA and Kennametal. I have a keen interest in music as well, especially classical.

9. Three words to best describe you:

Patient, dedicated, helpful.

10. Coming back to Kennametal, any final thoughts on Kennametal as a brand today and how it can continue to keep up with changing times?

I think Kennametal has really good brand perception among our customers and distributor base, as the brand is synonymous with good, consistent quality. Emphasis is also placed on innovation, so we are able to provide products that are in demand. There is scope to further our modernization initiatives, going forward and continue on our R&D efforts to keep up with changing times.

Participating in an inter-department cricket tournament in 2001.