From a Small Town to a Global Talent Leader: The Inspiring Journey of Pooja Rao
- Prafulla Deori
- Jul 20, 2025
- 2 min read
From a Small Town to a Global Talent Leader: The Inspiring Journey of Pooja Rao 🌟
I’m excited to share Pooja Rao (She/Her/Hers)’s story as I AM A RECRUITER™ podcast guest — a true talent acquisition leader with 18+ years of courage, passion, and perseverance. Perfect motivation for anyone who needs a boost! 💪✨
Watch I AM A RECRUITER™ podcast today at 8pm IST - https://youtu.be/_k0x9Em24Mg
Pooja grew up in Bilai, a small steel city in Chhattisgarh, India. From humble beginnings, she now leads global recruitment teams across IT, aviation, and pharma. 😊
After marriage, she moved to Bangalore and surprised herself by choosing to work. Starting as a consultancy adviser, a friend encouraged her to try recruitment. “Why waste my qualifications? Let me try.” 🔥
She learned recruitment is more than matching resumes — it’s understanding people, business, and culture across countries. “Without data, you can’t tell your story.” 📊
Facing biases and huge hiring challenges, Pooja’s self-belief and hard work helped her deliver 85% hires on time. 🙌
She’s passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion — working with differently-abled and LGBTQ+ communities. “Diversity is more than gender. It brings innovation and growth.” 🌈
Outside work, she’s a marathoner and cyclist, running with blind athletes — proving true determination. ❤️
Her advice to recruiters:
✅ Know your hiring metrics
✅ Be a strategic partner
✅ Set clear expectations
✅ Use data to build trust
✅ Speak up and ask for help
✅ Keep learning and mentoring
For women taking breaks, she says, “Prioritize yourself and build confidence step by step.” 💪
Today, Pooja leads a major tech center in Hyderabad, inspiring many and always growing.
A quote that inspires me:
"Self-realization, confidence, trust, zeal for learning, and a clear goal — with these, you can reach anywhere." ✨
Success takes time, effort, and lifting others as you climb.
👉 Tag someone who inspires you
👉 Share with someone who needs a boost
Let’s spread light and support each other! 🌟💼