If we take care of our employees, they will take care of our customers. A strong, engaged workforce is the foundation of any successful business, and when we prioritize their well-being, they create exceptional experiences that drive growth and loyalty.”

Bala V. Sathyanarayanan is a thought leader and human resources pioneer, now the Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Greif, the global industrial packaging leader. With a career that spans decades of work in global multinational companies like Coca-Cola, Hewlett-Packard, and Xerox, Bala has shown a unique talent for harmonizing HR strategy with business priorities, spearheading digital transformation, and building high-performing organizational culture. His leadership philosophy focused on employee health and customer centrality has established him as the force behind Greif’s growth strategy and cultural evolution. He started his professional journey in Chennai, India, and would go on to become one of the most impactful HR leaders of his time. His career has been characterized by determination, flexibility, and a steadfast passion for innovation. His first major job was as a Regional Training Manager with Coca-Cola in India, where he specialized in people development and training systems. This exposed him to the basics of workforce management, talent development, and corporate training, setting him up well for his human resources expertise.

Bala’s strategic orientation and ambitions brought him to Hewlett-Packard, where he was instrumental in aligning HR strategies with the needs of international business. While rising through the corporate ranks, he developed the skill of operating in intricate organizational hierarchies and creating agility. During his time at Hewlett-Packard, he oversaw HR operations in 30 countries, which gave him a broad global vision. Transferring to Xerox, Bala became Executive Vice President for Business Transformation and Human Resources. There, he spearheaded major transformation initiatives, putting in place measures that enhanced operational effectiveness and made a substantial contribution to the bottom line of the company. These experiences culminated in his current leadership at Greif, where he now applies his extensive knowledge and experience to drive innovation, diversity, and strategic growth.

The Fundamental Strengths That Separate Bala V. Sathyanarayanan from the Rest in the Business World

What distinguishes Bala from others in the human resources business is his rare blend of international experience, strategic vision, and people-focused leadership. His ability to align HR with the business strategy at the core makes him an extremely valuable resource for any company. His philosophy is straightforward but deep: “If we take care of our employees, they will take care of our customers.” This attitude has guided his work at Greif, where he has led the “One Greif” initiative, creating a cohesive corporate culture that cuts across geographical and departmental lines. By maintaining consistency in HR practices throughout different regions, he has been able to create a workplace culture that emphasizes transparency, collaboration, and agility.

Bala also stands out by focusing on technological enablement and digital transformation. Greif, under his direction, has invested in cutting-edge HR technologies, optimizing processes, handling hybrid teams, and using data-driven insights to improve workforce management. His skill at balancing technological innovation with people-focused leadership positions him as a trailblazer in the HR space.

Shaping the Future of Greif: Strategic Leadership, Digital Transformation, and Inclusive Culture Leading to Success

As Greif’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Bala is instrumental in driving the future of the company through strategic vision and change-driven initiatives. His experience cuts across various areas, such as digital transformation, where he has driven the adoption of state-of-the-art HR technology platforms to maximize operational effectiveness. He advocates for a single corporate strategy by encouraging the “One Greif” culture, aligning HR with business goals to build a harmonized and nimble organization. Bala is also highly dedicated to organizational culture building, creating “Greif University” and the “Lead to Last” initiative to develop leadership excellence. His diversity and inclusion efforts have resulted in major milestones, including gender pay parity and ambitious targets, including having women occupy at least 30% of leadership positions by 2025. His change management expertise also allows Greif to transition through complex organizational changes with ease. Through a focus on employee engagement, Bala has introduced leadership development initiatives and regular HR practices that improve workforce satisfaction. His strategic efforts not only fortified Greif’s people but also influenced customer interaction greatly, solidifying the company as an industrial packaging solutions leader.

One of his greatest contributions to Greif has been the evolution of HR through programs such as “Greif University” and the “Lead to Last” initiative, which has transformed leadership development and ongoing learning. His dedication to diversity and inclusion has resulted in pay parity for women, the implementation of unconscious bias training, and focused diversity programs, creating a more inclusive workplace culture. With a realization of the requirement for agility in HR processes, Bala has led digitalization by driving next-generation HR technologies, improving workforce management, and optimizing hybrid work models with data-driven decision-making. His influence goes beyond Greif—within Xerox, Bala contributed significantly to business transformation initiatives, aligning corporate strategy with HR to enhance efficiency and navigate complex market challenges. His incredible achievements have earned him international recognition, such as being included on the Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business list by the Asian American Business Development Center (AABDC) and being awarded Executive of the Year by Columbus CEO Magazine. These recognitions speak to his significant impact on the business community and his dedication to organizational greatness.

The Pillars of Inspiration: A Leadership Philosophy Based on Service and Integrity

Bala V. Sathyanarayanan’s leadership is also guided by the values his parents instilled in him, which taught him that fulfillment lies in serving others. This core belief has informed his leadership style, focusing on integrity, compassion, and the strength of collective development. Since the beginning of his career, Bala has focused not only on business success but also on the welfare and growth of those around him. His dedication to service does not stop at the corporate sphere—he actively mentors young professionals, supports diversity and inclusion programs, and promotes ethical leadership. By creating a culture of trust, inclusivity, and empowerment, Bala makes sure that people at all levels of an organization feel valued and encouraged to perform at their best. His leadership is not merely about leading change in business; it is about motivating others to build significant, enduring change in their careers and communities.

In the years to come, as Bala V. Sathyanarayanan continues to remake HR and business strategy at Greif, his leadership will go far beyond corporate achievement to shape the future of workplace culture, digital transformation, and employee engagement. His method combines technological leaps with a strong dedication to human values, assuring that innovation and accessibility walk hand in hand. Through the advancement of diversity, customer focus, and propulsive strategic change, Bala embodies the new generation of leadership—people-focused while delivering business excellence. His capacity to steer through complex challenges with strength and vision has made Greif a market leader and a role model for future-oriented organizational culture. With changing business environments, Bala’s unshakeable commitment to transformation and ethical leadership will continue to raise the bar for the industry. His saga is a symbol of the impact of visionary leadership, which will leave an irreparable footprint in corporate history for centuries to come.

Timeless Lessons for Leadership: Bala Sathyanarayanan’s Advice for Emerging Business Leaders

Young entrepreneurs and business leaders-to-be can gain much from the practical lessons of Bala Sathyanarayanan, who learned from his decades-long experience in the corporate world. He stresses curiosity, encouraging people not to ever stop being curious about questions and continually seeking clarity when learning the broader picture. In a fast-changing corporate world, resilience and flexibility are the keys, to allowing leaders to welcome change and navigate challenges with ease. Bala also points to the strength of powerful professional networks, promoting the leadership of mentors, sponsors, and coaches to speed up personal and career development. At the center of his leadership philosophy is employee well-being—he strongly believes that a successful organization is founded on a happy, engaged workforce. Transparency and authenticity are also essential since Bala sees vulnerability as an avoidance of weakness but rather as a means to build trust and develop stronger teams. He believes that leaders who prioritize people, embrace innovation, and remain unwavering in their ethical commitments will drive the most impactful transformations in their organizations and beyond.