Tarun Sareen, Managing Director of Sunlife Global Solutions offers a unique perspective on leadership, innovation, and inclusion.
In a candid conversation on the “DiversiTea” podcast by Avtar and CII, Tarun emphasizes how inclusion isn’t just a policy, it’s a catalyst for productivity, enhanced employee engagement, and a deep sense of belonging.
A Foundation of Purpose and Fearlessness
Tarun’s upbringing instilled in him a profound sense of purpose and a lack of fear. He recounts stories of his ancestors who championed causes like India’s freedom struggle and eradicating untouchability, demonstrating selflessness and an unwavering commitment to truth and principles. This ethos taught him to dream big, maximize potential, and approach challenges with boldness. These early influences shaped his leadership style, making him a strong advocate for societal contribution, believing that every individual should contribute to the country’s growth.
Inclusion as a Lived Experience
Having personally experienced exclusion as an Asian in the workforce, Tarun is deeply committed to fostering inclusivity. He says, “There are times when I have also felt anger and I’ve even expressed it because I thought that was the tactical thing to do and to express it very clearly. I’ve taken on the CEOs of the companies I’ve worked on as well so the good thing is I don’t see the fear of doing the right thing.”
Sunlife Global Solutions, under his leadership, has made significant strides in this area, with a gender-balanced board and a high percentage of women in senior leadership roles. The company actively ensures pay parity and a balanced intake of resumes, with diverse interview panels.
Care and Empathy: The DNA of Sunlife
“Care” is a core value at Sunlife, extending to clients, communities, and the countries it operates in. This translates into a highly empathetic workplace culture that supports employees during critical life moments. Tarun’s vision is to create a “very caring community” that is performance-driven but also helps each other be their best.
Cultivating Innovation Organically
Innovation at Sunlife is the lifeblood of the company. Tarun highlights several processes that drive this culture:
- Agile Innovation Squads: Small, agile teams are empowered to identify and solve business problems, often anticipating needs before they are explicitly requested.
- Outside-In and Inside-Out Innovation: Sunlife actively seeks out external innovation by monitoring startups (50-100 at any given time) while also encouraging every employee to contribute continuous improvement ideas. Over 6,000 ideas are generated annually, with a high implementation rate.
- Wisdom in Failure: Recognizing that challenges/ failure is a part of the innovation process.
Tarun’s leadership at Sunlife Global Solutions exemplifies a holistic approach to building a thriving, inclusive, and innovative organization. By drawing on deep-seated personal values and implementing practical, empathetic processes, he is shaping a workplace culture that prioritizes human potential and societal contribution.
Inclusion and innovation begin with mindset – Tarun Sareen tells you how in this episode . Click Here
