Every culture has its pulse.
At IT By Design, I’ve always felt that our pulse doesn’t come from policies or posters on the wall. It comes from the stories of our people: how they grow, what they learn, and how they show up for each other every day.
I recently viewed Culture and Career Corner hosted by the always-amazing Anamika. In this episode, I witnessed two real-time stories unfold: one of the first female Operations Leader (Akansha Bhatt) and the second of Swati Singh’s transformation from a traditional “HR Professional” to a strategic “People Leader” in less than a year.
Their journeys reminded me of something simple yet powerful: when culture is real, growth feels natural.
From Enterprise to MSP: Akansha’s Courageous Shift
Akansha’s story begins in the enterprise world. With over a decade of experience behind her, she made a bold move into the MSP space and joined IT By Design. She didn’t sugarcoat it. The transition was different, fast-paced, and full of new challenges.
What made the difference for her was not just the work, but the support system around it.
Leadership that listened.
A team that stood beside her.
A culture that didn’t just welcome her as the first female leader in Operations in 21 years, but celebrated it.
In just 1.5 years here, she’s experienced what it means to be in an environment where learning is continuous. From technical trainings and in-house certifications for engineers to structured programs like TCW (The Culture Workshop), she has seen how seriously ITBD invests in people.
The part she kept coming back to was how approachable everyone is, whether someone sits in India, the US, or the Philippines. No hierarchy wall, no closed doors, no “you can’t talk to them.” That accessibility isn’t just convenient; it accelerates learning, builds confidence, and makes people feel like they truly belong.
For Akansha, culture here is a blend of people-first thinking, collaboration, and growth orientation, all anchored around teamwork and shared goals like our current focus on AI By Design.
Growing Across Pillars: Swati’s Multi-Dimensional Journey
Where Akansha spoke of courage in transition, Swati’s journey shone a light on curiosity and ownership.
When she started at IT By Design in December 2022 as an Executive HR Business Partner, she quickly immersed herself in many HR disciplines — operations, recruitment (including the Philippines), talent management, employee engagement, HR metrics, and organization development.
As time passed, she started transforming her position from an operational function to a strategic role with business leaders regarding workforce planning, culture initiatives, and business partnership development. Today, she is the Assistant Manager (HR Business Partner)—although the title only tells half of her story.
The other half is her attitude: she firmly believes that if you have the hunger to learn, this is the place where opportunities find you. You don’t wait around for growth; you spot it, lean into it, and create it.
She also highlighted one of ITBD’s core identity markers: H.A.P.P.Y: Humility, Accountability, Passion, Positivity, and Community. It’s not just a catchy acronym; it’s a daily checklist for how we show up for each other.
Culture as a Living Experience
When asked to describe IT By Design’s culture, both Akansha and Swati didn’t quote policies; they spoke from lived experience.
For Akansha, culture is about feeling heard and supported, being surrounded by a team that collaborates instead of competing, and knowing that leaders trust you enough to let you learn, make decisions, and grow. She has seen how technical trainings and certifications are treated not as perks but as essentials.
For Swati, culture is collaborative, people-focused, and growth-oriented. This shows in our open communication channels, empowerment to take ownership, and leadership’s willingness to let employees explore rather than restrict them.
She also connected culture to our Life by Design sessions, which happen every Friday.
These sessions don’t talk about deadlines or metrics. They focus on:
Health, Career, Relationships, and Legacy. Many, like Swati, admitted they had never consciously reflected on their “legacy wheel” before.
These sessions remind us that we’re not just building careers; we’re building meaningful lives. They spark awareness, provide perspective, and help us reset after a hectic week.
Life Lessons That Quietly Redefine Leadership
The life lesson segment is where the real gold lies.
Akansha’s three guiding lessons were drawn from 10.5 years of working across five organizations:
- Leadership is about influence, not authority.
Real leaders listen, guide, and stand beside their teams, especially in tough times. - People perform best when they feel valued.
Recognition, empathy, and support directly impact morale and performance. - Your team’s success is your success.
Wins are collective, and a leader’s work shines through the team’s achievements.
Swati’s three lessons reflect her own evolution:
- Stay curious and keep learning.
Don’t wait for someone to chart your learning path; design it yourself. - Take ownership of your growth.
Growth happens when you lean into discomfort. - Be proactive, not reactive.
Especially in service-oriented roles, anticipating risks is a game changer.
Together, their insights echo a powerful truth: leadership at ITBD isn’t defined by position—it’s defined by mindset.
Embracing AI as an Opportunity, Not a Threat
As the conversation shifted towards AI, both leaders shared refreshing perspectives.
From Akansha’s service-delivery lens, AI is an enabler—reducing manual work, minimizing errors, and increasing time available for customer-facing value.
From Swati’s HR perspective, AI boosts efficiency, improves output quality, and frees HR bandwidth for strategy, culture, and people development.
Both agreed: AI isn’t here to replace us; it’s here to redefine how we work.
And with AI By Design and AI-focused L&D programs, ITBD is ensuring our people don’t just adapt—they lead.
Closing Reflections: Where Culture Truly Thrives
As I reflect on Akansha and Swati’s stories, one thing is clear:
IT By Design’s culture is not written — it is lived.
It shows up when a first-time leader feels supported stepping into a new world.
It shows up when curiosity turns an HR role into a multi-dimensional career.
It shows up when leadership is approachable and growth is shared.
It shows up when AI becomes a tool for empowerment, not fear.
Most of all, it shows up in the way our people talk about this place—with pride, gratitude, and belonging.
Because at IT By Design, culture is not a policy.
It’s a heartbeat.
And stories like Akansha’s and Swati’s are what keep it alive.
