The human resources profession has become a strategic force to be reckoned with, influencing organizational success to a large extent. From creating employee engagement and building inclusive work environments to guiding cultural and technology changes, HR professionals are now at the centre of leading firms through change. With a robust leadership development agenda, operational efficiency, and business alignment of people strategies, the profession focuses on creating resilient customer-driven organizations. Today, in the global economy, HR leaders are not only talent managers but also innovation, corporate culture, and long-term growth architects. Their capacity to harness technology, navigate workforce transformations, and sponsor diversity has made the HR role a necessity in sustainable business strategies. With the landscape still evolving, HR continues to be at the core of creating the future of work. Bala V Sathyanarayanan, Greif’s Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, is a global-minded, human-first leader who has spent decades traversing continents and industries. With a unique combination of strategic vision, operational expertise, and inclusive leadership, Bala is a transformative leader who brings people together to drive business results. As the leader of Greif’s internal communications and HR, he has emerged as one of the most important architects of the company’s business and cultural transformation, garnering industry-wide acclaim for his influence.

The Genesis of a Visionary Global Leader: Shaping Success Through Strategic Insight and Purpose-Driven Leadership

Bala’s distinguished career started in Chennai, India, where he began a professional journey that would ultimately find him leaving an indelible mark on global corporations. Early positions at some of the world’s most prestigious companies, such as Coca-Cola, Hewlett-Packard, Xerox, Avaya, Polaris Software, and United Technologies/Otis Elevator Company, contributed to his strategic thinking. Each of these experiences enabled Bala to cultivate a special skill of combining business requirements with human capital plans—an ability that became the signature of his leadership. Beginning at Otis as a Field Operations Executive, Bala was taught the fundamentals of operational execution. This was succeeded by his position at Coca-Cola as Regional Training Manager Asia, where he formulated and applied people strategies across a broad spectrum of cultures. His experiences in Avaya and Polaris refined his technical savvy, while at HP, he emphasized aligning HR with corporate global strategic objectives. Subsequently, at Xerox, he took a lead role in advising on business change within a large-scale corporate restructuring. These positions not only expanded his international outlook but also enhanced his knowledge of cross-functional leadership and cultural flexibility—abilities that still characterize his professional legacy.

Bala’s educational success adds to his professional career. He is a postgraduate in Human Resources Management from Rutgers University, an MBA in General Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the University of Madras. His accomplishments in Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program and his designation as a NACD Certified Corporate Director also prove his expertise and passion for leadership excellence.

The Cornerstones of Success: Visionary Leadership, Inspiring Innovation, and Empowering People for Lasting Impact

Three fundamental personal attributes have driven his success, Bala believes: an unrelenting passion to succeed and motivate, a keen sense of strategic vision combined with change leadership, and an abiding commitment to both customer- and employee-driven values. These qualities have influenced his leadership approach and driven his capacity to transform organizations time and again. His passion is more than personal success—Bala is committed to enabling others and creating high-performance teams. He believes leadership is a shared journey, with motivation and trust as the pillars of success. His style blends ambitious goal-setting with practical strategies, motivating individuals to achieve their full potential.

Bala’s vision to anticipate trends and drive change comes from both intellectual rigour and experience. The combination allows him to drive sophisticated transformations with simplicity and accuracy. Whether driving digital disruption or organizational redesign, he has always balanced people, strategy, and execution to drive tangible impact. His philosophy is that employee experience translates into customer satisfaction. He advocates a people-first approach, building cultures in which employees are valued, supported, and empowered. This, in turn, delivers improved customer outcomes and sustainable growth for businesses. What sets Bala apart most is his capacity to balance humility with confidence. He focuses on acknowledging the success of others as much as his own, building inclusive environments based on appreciation, collaboration, and shared purpose. It continues to influence his legacy as a visionary and respected leader.

The Core Values That Drive Exceptional Leadership and Navigate Complex Challenges with Purpose and Resilience

Bala’s core principles are strongly embedded in long-term business prosperity. His “One Greif” philosophy is a good representation of his alignment approach—simplifying global operations, cutting out redundancies, and optimizing collaboration. He believes wholeheartedly in caring for the employees so that they, in turn, can care for the customers. His work revolves around six fundamental pillars: customer-driven thinking, strategic transformation, employee involvement, operating excellence, inclusiveness, and leadership development. At Greif, these values are realized through ongoing HR practices, leadership councils, and initiatives that drive continuous improvement. He promotes inclusion and belonging through targeted initiatives such as gender pay equity and the Inclusion and Belonging Steering Committee. His approach to leadership promotes transparency and vulnerability, which helps to create environments that are fueled by trust and shared growth.

Bala’s working life has not been without mighty battles. Among the most pivotal was spearheading Greif’s worldwide cultural turnaround. He succeeded in raising employees’ engagement metrics from the 28th to the 86th percentile on a worldwide level—a change requiring profound strategic reshaping and behaviour realignment. At Xerox, Bala directed a profound organizational transformation across the company’s breakup into two Fortune 500 companies. This included business re-design, leadership structure realignment, and a radical transformation agenda to maximize efficiency and profitability. In the same way, at Greif, he was instrumental in orchestrating the company’s revenue growth via mergers and acquisitions, managing the integration complexities, culture alignment, and value creation over the long term. He also spearheaded technological and people transformations, especially amidst the pandemic, where employee safety, morale, and business continuity were concurrent priorities. His capacity to balance HR strategy and technological development has enabled organizations to stay flexible and future-ready.

A Trail of Accolades, Industry Recognition, and a Legacy of Unwavering Commitment to Excellence and Transformational Leadership

Bala’s legacy is felt throughout the international business community, testifying to the profound impact of his visionary leadership and people-first philosophy. During his tenure, Greif received the highly coveted Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award in 2025, for the second year in a row, demonstrating the company’s exceptional dedication to creating a high-employee-engagement, trust-based culture of sustainable business performance. This highly sought-after award is reserved for organizations that not only achieve outstanding results but also care for their people, building workplaces where people feel valued, empowered, and inspired to give their best. It is a testament to Bala’s capacity to create a culture where excellence, teamwork, and well-being go together, and where the workplace is an environment that encourages innovation and growth.

Aside from organizational success, individual contributions made by Bala have also received great accolades. The CXO Time identified him as its “Top Remarkable CHROs of the Year, 2025,” and placed him on its Elite Corner for making revolutionary changes to HR strategy, corporate leadership, and organizational culture. His power of merging operating wisdom with innovation at the level of strategy has established new standards in talent management and enterprise change. His leadership philosophy is built on harmonizing business strategy with values-oriented people, a balance that not only maximizes operational effectiveness but also maximizes long-term sustainability. These prestigious recognitions are a reflection of his firm commitment to leading organizational excellence, innovation, and workplaces framed by purpose, inclusivity, and resilience. Bala’s legacy is not just quantified in awards but in the lives he has touched, the cultures he has fostered, and the lasting change he continues to drive across industries. As he continues to be at the forefront of change leadership, Bala continues to push boundaries, advocating for a future where people, purpose, and performance are at the centre of corporate success.

Strategic Governance, Forward-Thinking Outlook, and a Lasting Legacy Built on Purpose, People, and Transformational Leadership

Bala’s vision for the future reaches far beyond his daily responsibilities. Along with his executive position at Greif, he serves as Chairman and Board Director of Balmer Lawrie – Van Leer Limited, and Board Director at the Columbus Council for World Affairs. He is also a member of the Center for Executive Compensation, providing input on policy issues that will mould the future of executive leadership and workforce strategy. In the future, Bala is dedicated to carrying on his impact in strategic leadership and governance. He sees himself leading more cultural changes, guiding the next generation of leaders, and continuing to influence innovative, resilient organizations that evolve with the changing global environment. His dedication to creating change and advocating for more inclusive, sustainable business practices further entrenches his legacy as a visionary.

Whether at corporate conferences or in the boardroom, Bala is a key voice within the fast-paced business environment of today. His inputs on leadership, innovation, and sustainability offer priceless advice to organizations looking to overcome complex issues. Through each transformation project, boardroom input, and mentorship experience, Bala V Sathyanarayanan is leaving a legacy based on purpose, performance, and people. His career is an inspiration of how international experience, intellectual discipline, and emotional intelligence can converge to craft organizations that not only thrive, but last. Through strategic vision, collaborative leadership, and relentless focus on employee welfare, he continues to reshape the definition of 21st-century leadership. Apart from this, Bala builds strong networks and sustains strong community involvement through several public speaking events, at which his original thoughts on transformational leadership motivate young generations. His methods are highly embedded in ethical standards, promoting accountable corporate citizenship and sustainability. In addition to this, he innovates new mentorship initiatives and engages in strategic discussions that break free from conventional thinking, hence driving progressive innovations in industries. His unwavering dedication ensures organizations remain resilient and future-proof globally.

Words of Wisdom: A Blueprint for Future Leaders

Bala’s counsel to future leaders is a mix of functional insight and philosophical thought. He believes curiosity, clarity, and grit are essential for effective leadership. Leaders must not just solve the problems facing them now, but learn the wider socio-political context that governs business dynamics so that they can provide direction in complexity with anticipation. Bala believes in servant leadership, where the team’s development takes precedence over individual success and trust is developed, particularly during tough times. He asks leaders to become coaches, empower their team members, and create powerful networks to grow together. To young professionals, Bala recommends that personal and organisational values be aligned to help individuals and corporate objectives go hand in hand. His “One Greif” philosophy ensures unity, flexibility, and cross-functional teamwork. Lastly, Bala opines that the well-being of employees is at the heart of business success, and engaged employees power great customer experiences that are the cornerstone of long-term business growth.