Subhasmita Nanda, a quiet and reserved woman from a humble village near Balasore, Odisha, harbored a dream: to forge an independent life and career beyond the familiar confines of her home and small town. She understood the inherent challenges of this ambition, particularly for women in Odisha, a state historically marked by low participation rate of women in the workforce. Across 2017-18, for instance, only 15.2% and 13.4% of women in respective rural and urban areas were part of the state’s workforce. To earn her own income and build a career, Subhasmita knew she would need to challenge the prevailing status quo.
This quiet determination, joined with her passion to help others by improving their workplace environments, propelled her to pursue an MBA in Human Resources at Bhadrak Autonomous College. Yet, as she progressed through her studies, she realised that while academic knowledge was undoubtedly valuable for her growth and independence, it might not be enough on its own to secure a fulfilling job or an upward career trajectory. To be offered a job as an HR professional and progress in her career, she envisioned she would need strong interpersonal skills, a confident demeanor for interviews, and the adaptability to excel in a role that involves supporting employees of a company, ensuring they are safe, motivated, and able to grow as they fulfill their tasks within and contribute towards a healthy work culture.
In March 2024, her journey took a pivotal, positive turn when she enrolled in Naandi’s Employability Skills Training course, which was being offered at her college as part of the Mahindra Pride Classroom (MPC) Initiative. She expected this course to offer her practical skills, such as resume-building techniques and interview strategies, and a certificate of completion. But she was pleasantly surprised that its curriculum, teacher, and mode of delivery instilled in her something far more valuable: a sense of confidence and a belief in her own capabilities. The training helped her articulate her thoughts with clarity, understand professional etiquette, and approach work challenges with a sense of composure.
Armed with this fresh confidence and polished communication skills, Subhasmita attended one of Naandi’s Job Utsavs held at F.M. Autonomous College, Balasore, on 7 December 2024. Her demeanor and focused determination stood out among the hundreds of candidates, and she was offered the position of HR Executive at Lifelight Career Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Bhubaneswar. Luckily, relocating was not an obstacle when it came to her career. Her move from Balasore to Bhubaneswar was instead an important step towards her independence – a fresh start which complemented her new role.
After she joined the organisation on 3 January 2025, Subhasmita quickly proved her capabilities. From efficiently handling onboarding processes to actively assisting in talent acquisition, she blossomed into a capable and dependable HR professional. But what truly marked the full circle of her journey occurred just one month later.
On 7 and 8 February 2025, Subhasmita returned to one of Naandi’s Job Utsav, but this time, her role had shifted significantly. She returned as a recruiter, proudly representing her company at two separate locations: Sarbati Devi Women’s College in Rajgangpur and Sushilabati Government Women’s College in Rourkela. At each college, Subhasmita was on the other side of the interview table, helping to recruit fellow MPC beneficiaries and guiding them toward the same kinds of opportunities she had once pursued.
Subhasmita’s story is a reflection of a broader, positive transformation unfolding across Odisha. The state has seen encouraging improvements in regards to women being part of the workforce, as between July 2023 and June 2024, 41.7% of all women of working age were recorded as formally employed. This represents a significant step forward, signifying that more women like Subhasmita are being educated, getting jobs, and following their own journeys towards independence. Naandi is humbled to have played a role in fostering such transformations, and we hope for many more similar successes, not only in Odisha but across the 19 other states in India where our employability programmes are enabling conscientious young women to access the learning support and tools they need to enter into the job market.
