In the dynamic HR landscape, where innovation and distinctiveness reign supreme, one professional has not only carved a niche for himself but has also woven a unique thread of success – Ankiet Dangi, a seasoned HR business partner with an excellent track record of driving HR initiatives and fostering a flourishing culture.
With over fourteen years of expertise across various industries and verticals, Ankiet is a respected thought leader in the HR landscape, delivering value to the business and creating a positive impact on the employees and stakeholders. As the Head HR Business Partner at FEC, Ankiet’s narrative unfolds as a testament to his unwavering commitment to fostering positive work environments and championing employee well- being.
More about the Visionary
Ankiet Dangi is an accomplished HR leader with a strong focus on aligning human capital strategies with business objectives to drive sustainable growth. With extensive experience across diverse industry verticals, Ankiet has successfully led critical HR interventions that have redefined workplace culture, improved operational efficiency, and empowered leadership teams. His core expertise lies in crafting high-performance cultures, implementing robust performance management systems, and designing organizational development frameworks that future-proof the workforce.
As an advocate of transformation-led HR, Ankiet has a proven track record of driving large-scale change management initiatives—be it restructuring, scaling, or digital evolution— while maintaining a strong focus on employee experience. His approach combines data-driven decision-making with deep empathy, enabling the design of targeted employee engagement programs that enhance retention, morale, and productivity. From culture diagnostics to leadership alignment, from process reengineering to employee listening strategies, Ankiet has consistently delivered measurable impact by placing people at the center of business success.
Early Years and Academic Foundation
Ankiet embarked on his professional journey in human resources with a robust academic foundation. He did his graduation with a Bachelor of Engineering from the prestigious Pune University, where he was honoured as a Gold Medalist. While doing his engineering, Ankiet found his passion for team management mainly when he took on the role of Head Event Manager for the Technical festival – TECHUNIQUE 2010. This experience demonstrated his leadership and coordination skills and he became a go-to resource for his batchmates.
A Thriving Career in HR
Ankiet kickstarted his career after pursuing an MBA in HR from Pune University. This led to an internship at SenseHR, which turned into a six-month journey and finally a leadership role in six years. Throughout the journey, Ankiet gained expertise in different facets of HR, including end-to-end payroll processing, performance appraisal, and establishing a comprehensive HR setup for a prominent port and shipyard project. These working experiences provided him with practical skills, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to creating a positive workplace experience. These early experiences laid the foundation for his deep understanding of HR operations, which would later become a cornerstone of his leadership approach.
Key Services: Creating an Impact
Ankiet’s work is not just about offering HR services but it is about empowering organisations and people. As an HR expert, he has served as a trusted partner to varied businesses in building strong foundations and achieving their goals. Ankiet comes up with his expertise to support others in success, whether preparing an organisation for growth or mentoring HR teams. His work portfolio includes:
1. Human Resource Partnerships: Acting as an in-house HR head for organisations, providing strategic guidance and support
2. HR Audits & Set-up: Conducting HR audits and setting up HR operations from scratch, ensuring compliance and efficiency
3. Talent Acquisition & Senior Level Hirings: Providing expert senior-level hiring services, finding top talent to drive business growth
4. Training: Offering customised training, including leadership training, recruitment & selection, interviewer skills, etc., to enhance employee abilities.
5. Strategic HR Interventions: Fostering a positive environment that nurtures collaboration, innovation, and employee well-being.
6. Culture Management: Proven ability to cultivate and nurture high-performance, inclusive cultures that drive innovation, accountability, and collaboration across all organizational levels.
• Performance Management Systems: Expertise in designing and implementing performance frameworks that drive clarity, continuous feedback, and development-oriented reviews—ensuring alignment of individual goals with broader business objectives.
• Organisational Development (OD): Skilled in driving OD initiatives to enhance organizational agility, restructure teams, optimize workflows, and build future-ready capabilities through targeted learning and development.
• Change Management: Successfully led people-centric change strategies during transitions such as mergers, restructuring, and digital transformation—ensuring minimal disruption and high employee adoption.
• Employee Engagement: Adapt at crafting and executing engagement programs that align with employee aspirations and business needs—resulting in higher retention, productivity, and employer branding.
Overcoming the Challenges
Ankiet had to go through numerous challenges while setting up HR operations from scratch in different industries like Media & Entertainment, IT, Logistics, Retail, and various startup SMEs. He was disappointed after observing that HR was often perceived as a peripheral function, limited to documentation and backend support instead of a strategic partner. To address this obstacle, Ankiet implemented a multi-faceted approach and focused on digitalisation, streamlining the process and data management through an innovative solution. He established KRAs and KPIs, transforming HR’s role and fostering collaboration.
Building a High-Performance Team: Ankiet’s Take On
As a visionary leader, Ankiet approaches his team through a set of strategies focused on harnessing the team’s potential and supporting the company’s overarching goals. He focuses on shared purpose, outlining the team’s role in driving the organisation forward. Ankiet believes in empowering his team by encouraging work ownership, decision-making, and accountability. He invests in continuous learning and development opportunities, ensuring the team remains at the forefront of the latest industry trends. Additionally, Ankiet often celebrates every small and big achievement and nurtures a culture of appreciation and motivation.
Key Learnings and Advice
Ankiet’s journey as HR head offers valuable insights on building a strong HR team and driving organisational success. To accomplish this, it is vital to set a clear vision and develop a complete plan to establish HR operations. Ankiet’s approach focuses on the importance of data-driven decision- making, harnessing data analysis to explore industry trends, skill gaps, and areas that need improvement. When going through obstacles, he works on problem-solving and devising innovative solutions. He further emphasises the importance of adaptability, assessing and refining the HR process to address the evolving business needs.
