People: Asians around the business
Our success depends on people and we're all different and diverse. Around the business, there are many examples of Asians supporting and driving key activities and functions.
Atul Bhardwaj
Name: Atul Bhardwaj
Department: International Operations Development
Role: Operations Director
Joined Tesco: February 2007
Having a career in Tesco can be very rewarding for any smart, career minded, energetic individual whatever their ethnic background. We are now a huge international business and the opportunities are endless for anyone that wants to get on.
About me
I joined Tesco after a long spell as a Management Consultant. This role took to me to Asia, where I spent 7 years, living in Hong Kong and working throughout the region from Korea all the way down to Australia.
My Current Role
I am currently responsible for Tesco’s International Operations Development. This is a team of about 150 professionals who are tasked with providing the know-how and tools required to make all of our countries around the world work in the same way.
To do this we work with approximately 250 Information Technology professionals and 500 people from our countries around the world.
My role is really that of a good general manager. To do what I do, I need to have a good understanding of all aspects of our business, to be able to understand and drive change and to be able to motivate, lead and influence people.
Why I enjoy working with Tesco
During my career I have spent a lot of time working for many different retailers, but as a consultant and not as a key member of the management team. I joined Tesco to get operational experience and where better to do this, than with one of the best retailers in the world!
Tesco is, without doubt, an organisation that values its customers and its people. It thrives on its operational expertise and, in my role, I am in a unique position to be able to understand it, package it up, enhance it and transport it around the world. This is really exciting as there is a lot of work to do in our different businesses which will play a big part in our future success.
How Tesco has helped me develop and what next for my career
Tesco has played an instrumental part in my life. It is where I started my working career (albeit as Saturday helper!) to where I would like to end my working career. I have brought with me skills in managing large change programmes and am now honing my management and operational experience through the role that I do. I do feel that I have grown both personally and professionally through the experience that I have gained.
I hope one day to play a role in running one of our businesses across the world.
Why Asians should consider working for Tesco
Having the opportunity to manage stores that turnover more than 1 million pounds per week or a Supply Chain that manages millions of items every week or a commercial team that buys millions of pounds of goods every month, is what excites me! Who would not be excited about doing that whatever background they are from?
What advice would you give people wanting to develop their career with Tesco
My advice would be to work hard, be bold and take chances. As with any organisation to get on, you need to stand out and make a difference.
Kulvinder Kandola
Name: Kulvinder Kandola
Department: Store Management
Role: Personnel Manager, Tesco Gallions Reach Extra store
Joined Tesco: May 1989
When I was younger, my parents didn’t want me to work in retail, they couldn’t understand the different working shift patterns, or the industry itself. As time went on and as I kept on developing and progressing in my career, my parents have become very proud of what I have achieved.
About me, my role and why I joined Tesco
I am a Personnel Manager at our Gallions Reach Extra store which has a team of 500 people. The role I perform is an amazing experience. I face many interesting challenges and through my experiences and knowledge, my confidence has grown and I have become a stronger person.
I joined Tesco, aged 19, as a part time cashier. This was my first job and I needed to pay towards my education. At the time I had low self esteem and lacked in confidence. So I also wanted a job that would help build my confidence and allow me independence.
How has Tesco helped me develop and what next for my career
I was promoted to the Customer Service Desk within a year. I then became a Checkout Controller within 6 months. I held this role for 7 years.
My Store Manager at the time recognised my talent and appointed me as the store’s full time Training Manager. After being in the same store for some time, I felt it was time to broaden my career. I had the opportunity to go to a new store that was opening in South Woodford. It was a wonderful experience, as I was able to combine the roles of both a Training and a Personnel Manager. Two years later, I went to Southend Superstore, as an Assistant Personnel Manager.
A year later, I was promoted and 5 years ago moved to Gallions Reach Extra as their Personnel Manager.
Throughout my years with Tesco, I have gained so much experience and knowledge. One of the greatest things about my job is the people. I enjoy meeting, developing and coaching others. I have achieved an education as well as having a successful career.
Tesco has given me great opportunities throughout my career. Tesco provide great staff benefits, development opportunities and best of all a successful career path.
I have had many doors open for me and 19 years on, I look back to how I was at the beginning and I cannot believe what I have achieved.
I am not the same person as when I first joined!
What does the future hold for me? Having only worked in stores, I would now like the opportunity to work in Head Office which involves using my expertise and knowledge gained over the years.
What advice would you give people wanting to develop their career with Tesco
The most important skills you need to become a success are: teamwork, self-motivation, planning and organising and be able to live the values. Treat others with respect and you can achieve whatever goals you want.
Reena Ruparelia
Name: Reena Ruparelia
Department: Legal Services
Role: International Legal Services Manager
Joined Tesco: August 2006
Meeting people from different parts of such a huge, successful business is probably the most exciting part of the job. Working in an environment where you can learn how a diverse business operates, develop management and leadership skills as well as grow my knowledge of the law, is very rewarding.
About me & my current role:
I studied Law with French Law at university (spending one year at Université Jean Moulin in France). I also obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in EC Competition Law from King’s College London. I then completed a traineeship at the European Commission, Brussels.
Before joining Tesco, I worked in the competition department of a city law firm as a professional support assistant for four years.
My current role is working for Tesco’s International Legal Services. This involves supporting our overseas legal teams, working on pan-European and global projects. The areas of law I mainly deal with are competition, intellectual property and commercial contracts.
Why I joined and enjoy working at Tesco
When people think of Tesco the first thing they think of is it’s a grocery business. But it’s a diverse company. And that’s reflected in each of the roles you do as part of your training contract – competition, intellectual property, contracts, trading law, litigation, data protection and disability discrimination.
My first role was in the contracts team. This gave me excellent experience, drafting interesting sponsorship and magazine publishing agreements, contracts with celebrities and liaising with the press team on stories that have made headline news. I then moved to the intellectual property team which involved protecting our trade marks and other intellectual property both in the UK and worldwide. We also try and make sure that we don’t infringe the intellectual property rights of others – it’s great to see all the new products that are about to be launched and advise on packaging or clothing ranges.
The work is hugely varied and you learn how to prioritise a continually expanding and changing workload. I deal with a variety of people on a daily basis from store staff to members of the Board. In the legal team you’re always given an opportunity to get involved in whatever appeals to you. I’ve helped set up two new community projects – pro bono work and helping with conservation projects in Lee Valley Park.
How has Tesco helped me develop and what’s next for my career with Tesco
The interaction that the legal services team has with other business areas means that you will work in a high profile team that has great opportunities for you to really make a name for yourself. As an in-house lawyer you need to develop a detailed and thorough knowledge of the business and be a good manager in addition to knowing the law. You also need to build good working relationships with colleagues and managers.
Training is excellent and I have been given a high level of responsibility from day one, for example, I now regularly present our department business plan to 150 people! We are encouraged to take on a variety of responsibilities to develop our skills. For me, such an environment is the ideal place to work and learn in terms of job satisfaction.
I couldn’t have hoped for a better training contract. There are many different jobs at Tesco and although I have qualified into one area, I know that if I want to change my specialism, I can. I also know that if, at some point I decide that I don’t want to be a lawyer any more, I can explore opportunities elsewhere in the business.
What advice would you give people wanting to develop their career with Tesco
Make the most of the fact that Tesco is a diverse and constantly evolving global business. You are surrounded by very talented people from whom who you can learn valuable skills.
If you want a challenge and variety, Tesco’s the place. You never know what project or role you may be working on next. You may even find yourself relocating to a different country! It really is all up to the individual to work hard, be proactive, seek opportunities and deliver results.