Meet Kumari, who learned early that the best innovations happen when tradition meets progress. That lesson has guided her remarkable 18-year journey at Acara, from recruiter to Senior Manager, where she has discovered that matching the right talent with the right opportunity isn’t just about filling roles, it’s about changing lives. 

The Foundation: Where Technology Meets People 

Kumari’s academic journey began with a Diploma in Computer Science & Engineering from the Karnataka Technical Board, followed by a Bachelor of Computer Applications from Madurai Kamaraj University. That technical foundation became her secret weapon, allowing her to truly understand what companies need and find the people who can deliver it. 

When she started her career at Khodays Technologies as an HR Executive, Kumari discovered the powerful intersection of technology and human potential. Later, leading HR outsourcing engagements for enterprise giants like Infosys and Wipro immersed her in high-scale, SLA-driven environments where her technical background became invaluable for speaking the language of both hiring managers and candidates. 

Discovering Acara: An 18-Year Love Story 

Kumari first heard about Acara (then Superior Talent – Summit HR – Career Graph) through a colleague’s glowing referral. What caught her attention was the visionary leadership team from IIMs and a rapidly growing IBM business. Eighteen years later, she’s still here, and that says everything about both Kumari and the company that invested in her potential. 

Leading with Strategy and Heart 

Today, as Senior Manager of Recruitment, Kumari leads end-to-end core IT recruitment across lateral hiring, volume recruitment, RPO, and senior leadership searches for global clients spanning GCCs, Products, and Startups, from Travel-Tech and Fin-Tech to BFSI, E-commerce, and beyond. 

But her role goes deeper than titles. She serves as a strategic partner to HR leadership, managing senior stakeholder relationships and delivering scalable, SLA-driven hiring solutions that balance quality, speed, and impact. 

Champion of Diversity and Inclusion 

One of Kumari’s most fulfilling achievements has been championing diversity, equity, and inclusion. She’s designed DEI hiring programs that achieved 40% gender diversity, brought back 25%+ women returnees and career-break hires, and reached 10% representation for persons with disabilities. 

“These aren’t just numbers,” Kumari reflects. “They represent real people getting real opportunities and organisations becoming more innovative and representative of the world we live in.” 

What Makes Her Journey Unique 

While Kumari had valuable experience in both permanent and contract staffing, Acara offered something unique: the opportunity to work with core product development and GCC organisations, with a sharp focus on DEI and leadership hiring. But more importantly, it was the trust. She joined as a Senior Recruiter and grew into leadership because Acara invests in people. 

The Passion and the Challenge 

Ask Kumari what excites her, and her eyes light up. “Understanding customer challenges, crafting solutions, and delivering quick closures,” she says. “Every day brings interactions across industries and the continuous opportunity to upskill in multi-domain, GCC-centric environments.” 

The challenges? Balancing speed, quality, and inclusivity in high-scale environments while managing complex hiring models and aligning diverse stakeholder expectations. “It’s demanding work,” she admits, “but that’s what makes it impactful.” 

A Front-Row Seat to Industry Evolution 

Kumari has witnessed the complete transformation of talent acquisition, from newspaper advertisements and landline calls to today’s AI-powered, digital-first recruitment. “Acara has kept pace beautifully,” she notes, “embracing technology and continuously upgrading processes.” 

Looking ahead, she believes AI, automation, and data-driven decision-making will make staffing faster, more predictive, and more candidate-centric. “The future belongs to organisations that remain agile and future-ready.” 

When It Gets Personal 

The COVID period stands out in Kumari’s memory as a defining moment. “Despite physical distance, our team stayed connected through regular check-ins and genuine concern for one another’s well-being. That phase reinforced the human side of what we do.” 

But the most personal moments come from the work itself. “There’s profound satisfaction in placing the right hire with the right customer,” she shares. “The gratitude expressed after successful closures reminds me that beyond metrics, our work meaningfully impacts people’s lives and careers.” 

Life Beyond the Office 

Kumari is an early riser, beginning her day before 6 AM with gratitude and meditation practices that help her stay centred and focused. Many people may not know this, but while she genuinely enjoys socialising and connecting with others, she also highly values her alone time for spiritual exploration through meditation. 

Outside work, she’s passionate about continuous learning and contributing to industry transformation. “But what excites me most,” she says, “is helping people secure their dream jobs and enabling companies to hire the right talent.” 

Her ideal day off? Quality time with family, cooking, watching movies, reading, listening to music, or exploring new places. And if money and time were no object? “I’d travel the world, experiencing different cultures and perspectives.” 

The Art of Balance 

How does she balance such significant responsibilities? “By prioritising high-impact tasks, delegating effectively, and using data-driven tracking,” Kumari explains. “Regular check-ins help me address challenges proactively while maintaining quality, team collaboration, and everyone’s well-being.” 

Built for Impact 

What makes Kumari exceptional in her role is her unique combination of technical hiring expertise and strategic stakeholder management. Her ability to operate across complex hiring models, delivering speed, quality, and inclusive outcomes, while maintaining a data-driven, client-centric approach, has been key to consistently delivering critical talent solutions with sustainable business impact. 

What Keeps Her Going 

“Every day, I look forward to my team and customers,” Kumari shares warmly. “Their trust and cooperation enable me to achieve targets efficiently while fostering strong relationships. After 18 years, I’m still learning, still growing, and still excited about what comes next.” 

Describing Acara in One Word? 

Without hesitation, Kumari answers: “Purpose.” 

For Kumari, this is more than a job; it’s about believing that the right person in the right role can change everything. And after 18 years of proving that belief true, she’s just getting started. 

The All-In at Acara series tells the real stories of people who’ve found their place in Acara. Each story is different, but they all share one thing: the experience of being part of something bigger than themselves. 

Connect with Kumari on LinkedIn.