🎙️ Getting Real with Utkarsh ft. Martin Dinesh Gomez | Ex-Zepto

Getting Real with Utkarsh is a candid conversation series where we sit down with People & Culture leaders, CHROs and Admin Heads to explore what truly makes a workplace thrive—beyond just the physical space.

In this episode, Utkarsh Kawatra sits down with Martin Dinesh Gomez, a seasoned HR leader with over two decades of experience across global giants and fast-growing startups. From shaping Amazon Operations India for 11+ years to leading Zepto’s hypergrowth as CHRO, Martin shares candid insights on building organizations, scaling culture, and navigating the evolving role of HR.

🔑 What you’ll learn in this episode:

How Martin’s journey into HR began and what’s kept him excited for 25+ years.
Lessons from Microsoft & Amazon and the “unlearning” required to thrive in startups.
The inside story of scaling Zepto from 1,600 to 4,000 employees in just 6 months.
How global companies should think about setting up in India (GCCs, org design, culture).
Why moving from Talent Head to CHRO requires a different playbook.
The Amazon leadership principle that continues to shape his approach to building teams.

Whether you’re a founder, HR leader, or someone curious about building organizations that scale, this conversation is packed with practical advice and honest reflections.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to the episode
02:20 – Early career at Titan: Building the foundation
05:18 – Jumping into IT with ADT Technologies
06:43 – Startup learnings: Wearing multiple hats
07:47 – Working in the US & lessons from early exposure
08:09 – Transition to mid-to-large organizations (Sapient, Accenture, Microsoft)
09:18 – Joining Amazon: Setting up logistics in India
10:47 – 11 years at Amazon: Key highlights & culture
12:34 – The “Day One” theory explained
16:50 – How Amazon built culture at scale
20:22 – Switching from Amazon to Zepto: The mindset shift
24:40 – Scaling Zepto: Growing from 1,600 to 4,000 in months
29:12 – Balancing speed & culture in hypergrowth
34:05 – What makes a true CHRO vs. function head
38:27 – Talent strategy: Hiring for scale vs. sustainability
42:55 – How leaders should prepare for high-growth environments
47:30 – What organizations often get wrong while scaling
51:05 – Leadership lessons from 3 decades in HR
55:10 – Personal reflections & advice for young professionals
58:00 – Closing thoughts & key takeaways

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