Introduction: A Visionary’s Rise
The journey of Padma Luhana, a visionary entrepreneur and seasoned HR consultant, is a story of transformation, perseverance, and growth. From a shy, reserved child to a celebrated businesswoman, Padma has faced numerous challenges but has emerged stronger with each step. Her story is not just one of professional success; it is a testament to the power of balancing work, family, and personal growth while striving for excellence in all areas of life.
Padma is the founder of HeadsQuest, a global talent solutions firm specializing in recruitment across several key industries, including manufacturing, automobile, building materials, construction, and oil & gas. Her extensive understanding of these sectors, combined with a client-first approach, has allowed her to build long-lasting partnerships with top businesses. The unique selling point (USP) of HeadsQuest lies in its ability to offer tailor-made talent acquisition solutions through methods like talent mapping, competitor analysis, and employer branding—all of which come at no extra cost to the clients.
But Padma’s story doesn’t stop at recruitment. In 2016, driven by her passion for HR solutions, she also founded HiveStrat, an HR consulting firm dedicated to transforming small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups. With a focus on aligning HR strategies with business goals, HiveStrat aims to drive measurable business outcomes, such as increased productivity and revenue growth. Through this venture, Padma brings innovative HR solutions to organizations looking to grow and adapt in a competitive market.
In addition to her entrepreneurial endeavors, Padma is an influential mentor and coach, sharing her expertise with talent acquisition professionals and helping them sharpen their skills for success. She serves as the convenor for the Executive Recruiters Association (ERA), Gujarat Chapter, where she fosters a culture of knowledge-sharing and collaboration among recruitment professionals. Her leadership extends beyond her business and into the broader industry, with frequent speaking engagements at industry forums and webinars.
Balancing professional commitments and personal life is no easy feat, but Padma manages this with grace. As a mother of two boys, she is a passionate advocate for work-life harmony. Her journey is an inspiring narrative of a woman who has built her career on a foundation of strong values, industry knowledge, and a clear vision for the future.
The Birth of an Entrepreneurial Dream
Entrepreneurship often begins as a spark, a moment where an individual’s passions and experiences converge into a desire to create something meaningful. For Padma, that spark came in 2015, after the birth of her second child. She had already made significant strides in her career, but the arrival of her child led her to rethink her work-life balance. The traditional corporate world, with its rigid hours and high demands, didn’t provide the flexibility she needed to dedicate time to her family while continuing to pursue her career goals.
“I wanted to strike a balance between my work and my family life,” Padma reflects. “Being an entrepreneur offered the flexibility to structure my time around my priorities. It gave me the ability to be there for my kids while still challenging myself professionally.”
This realization marked the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey. In March 2016, Padma founded HeadsQuest with a vision to offer more than just recruitment services. She wanted to build a company that could provide truly customized solutions and partner with clients to help them achieve long-term success.
The Foundation of HeadsQuest
As the founder of HeadsQuest, Padma built a company that set itself apart from other recruitment firms. Rather than simply filling positions, HeadsQuest focused on truly understanding the nuances of their clients’ industries and needs. Their services spanned across Executive Search, Recruitment & Selection, and Recruitment Process Outsourcing, helping businesses find the right talent for their teams.
What truly sets HeadsQuest apart is its deep knowledge of key industries such as manufacturing, construction, oil & gas, and automobile. Padma’s extensive experience in these sectors gives the company a unique edge, allowing them to craft tailored recruitment strategies that others may overlook. Moreover, HeadsQuest is committed to value-added services such as talent mapping, competitor analysis, and employer branding, all offered at no extra charge. These strategic offerings enable clients to stay ahead in a competitive job market.
By consistently delivering results and nurturing long-term relationships with clients, Padma’s firm has cultivated a loyal client base that has stayed with the company for over three years. Her approach is not only about recruitment but about creating strategic partnerships that fuel business success.
HiveStrat: Transforming HR for SMEs and Startups
Padma’s commitment to transforming business outcomes goes beyond recruitment. In 2016, she founded HiveStrat, a firm focused on helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups align their HR strategies with business goals. The firm’s core objective is to drive measurable improvements, such as increasing productivity, profitability, and revenue growth.
One of the key offerings of HiveStrat is its STEPP formula, a strategic approach designed to help retail and sales-driven organizations achieve a 30% increase in sales team productivity. By aligning HR practices with organizational objectives, Padma and her team at HiveStrat ensure that HR is not just a support function but a critical driver of business success.
HiveStrat empowers businesses to build scalable HR systems that support growth, enhance employee engagement, and create a competitive advantage. Padma’s expertise in HR consulting allows her to take a holistic approach to solving organizational challenges, focusing on both the people and the systems that support them.
Mentorship, Leadership, and Industry Impact
As a mentor and coach, Padma is dedicated to helping talent acquisition professionals enhance their skills and excel in their careers. Her mentorship programs are designed to help recruiters improve their hiring processes and significantly increase their success rates. Through her Recruitment Mastery Program, Padma has helped recruiters achieve up to a 10X improvement in their success ratios, positioning her as one of the first individual recruitment trainers in India.
Padma’s passion for recruitment and HR extends to her role as the convenor of the Executive Recruiters Association (ERA), Gujarat Chapter. In this capacity, she actively organizes events and fosters a community of recruiters who are committed to knowledge-sharing and professional growth. Her dedication to improving the recruitment industry has earned her recognition as one of India’s top 10 women leaders in the recruitment industry, a distinction featured on the cover of Women Entrepreneurs magazine.
Challenges, Triumphs, and the Power of Perseverance
The journey to success is rarely smooth, and Padma has faced her fair share of obstacles along the way. One of the most challenging aspects of her entrepreneurial journey was finding skilled resources for her recruitment delivery team. Ahmedabad, her base city, lacked a strong talent pool for recruitment professionals. Instead of viewing this as a setback, Padma used it as an opportunity to create training programs for new recruits, enabling them to develop the skills necessary to succeed in recruitment. As a result, her Recruitment Mastery Program has empowered numerous recruiters to grow their careers and enhance their productivity.
Another obstacle Padma faced was changing the perception of recruitment firms in the eyes of clients. Many businesses viewed recruitment firms merely as agents to fill positions, rather than as strategic partners who can drive long-term business success. Padma has worked tirelessly to change this mindset, educating clients on the critical role recruitment plays in organizational growth.
Balancing Personal and Professional Life
Despite her demanding career, Padma is committed to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. She believes that planning and prioritization are key to achieving harmony between work, family, and social life. By scheduling time for each aspect of her life, including family time and personal relaxation, Padma ensures that she can be present for her loved ones while continuing to grow her business.
When she’s not working, Padma enjoys spending time with her family—whether it’s playing games with her kids, going on long drives with her husband, or enjoying “me-time” with her journals. These moments of connection recharge her, providing the energy she needs to continue her entrepreneurial journey.
Looking Ahead: A Vision for the Future
Padma’s vision for the future is clear. She aims to see HeadsQuest among the top three executive search firms in India within the next 10 to 25 years. Her goal is to help organizations build their “A-Team” and create people-first cultures that foster innovation and growth. Padma also strives to continue mentoring the next generation of recruiters, empowering them to thrive in a competitive industry.
Padma’s story is one of resilience, vision, and passion. From a shy child to a successful entrepreneur, she has proven that with the right mindset and determination, anything is possible. Today, Padma Luhana is not just a successful businesswoman; she is a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs, a mentor for the next generation of recruiters, and a thought leader in the HR industry.
Success Mantra:
“Success is not a destination; it’s a journey. It’s about finding happiness in the process and living life on your own terms.”
Conclusion: From Shy to Sky
Padma Luhana’s transformation from a reserved child to a leading entrepreneur is a testament to the power of perseverance, self-belief, and continuous learning. Her story is a powerful reminder that success isn’t just about professional achievements—it’s about finding balance, staying true to your values, and making a lasting impact in the world around you. Today, Padma stands as an inspiration to those who dream of taking their passions and turning them into impactful, thriving businesses.
