Exploration Leads to Elevation: One Employee's Growth Journey

Career growth isn’t just about climbing the organizational ladder – it’s often a dynamic and personal journey that involves curiosity, discovery, and stepping into the unknown to explore what’s possible. For some, it could mean stepping outside of core responsibilities to take on new challenges, learning from others, and gaining hands-on experience in areas of interest. For others, it could be about guidance from leadership, mentorship, and empowerment to learn about potential paths. In this article, we’re excited to share the experiences of one Sprinklrite whose professional story embodies all of this and more.

Shruti Tahiliani, Culture & Talent Manager at Sprinklr, started her career journey at Sprinklr during an uncertain time - she joined as a contract Recruitment Coordinator at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic seeking a stable opportunity and a place to grow. With previous experience as an HR Recruitment Coordinator, the role was a natural fit and what stood out to her was the potential within Sprinklr’s Culture and Talent organization. “I hoped that being here would allow me to find my niche within Human Resources,” Shruti shared. “And over the years, I feel that it has helped me see what roles I would enjoy doing.” Over the past four years, she has embraced flexibility, sought out development opportunities, and ultimately transitioned into a leadership role.

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Shruti and learn more about her career trajectory – from being mentored and immersing herself in cross-functional projects, to stepping into leadership and supporting her team’s career growth today.

Mentorship

Mentorship relationships in the workplace often create a safe space to ask questions, reflect on goals, and gain insight from someone who has walked a similar path. For Shruti, being a mentee was a transformative experience that helped her see new possibilities for her career and gave her the confidence to work towards them.

How did your mentor relationship come about and what did you experience as a mentee?

Shruti’s manager introduced her to her mentor when she expressed interest in growing into the role that her mentor was in, Culture and Talent Business Partner (more commonly known as HRBP). “He made a similar career move from Talent Acquisition to the Business Partner role so what began as a quick 30-minute networking call – turned into a long-term mentor-mentee relationship,” she shared.

How did your mentorship influence your perspective on career progression and leadership?

“My mentor has helped me keep an open mind and seek opportunities that will allow me to gain skills that will help with transitioning into a business partner role in the future,” Shruti said. She has been able to gain exposure by participating in cross-functional projects.

What advice would you give to others looking to seek out a mentorship relationship or other avenues to delve into potential career paths?

“Don’t be scared to ask around,” she advised. “Ask those that you are already working closely with for introductions to people within their networks. You never know who people know! As an example, if you have a desire to be an HRBP, find someone within that job function to form a mentor relationship with.”

Cross-functional Experience and Career Pursuit

One powerful way to gain insight is by getting involved in cross-functional tasks. These opportunities offer hands-on experience outside of one’s core role and can help build relationships and broaden perspectives to uncover new career possibilities. For Shruti, this played a key role in shaping her journey.

How did you choose which types of projects you wanted to pursue and what types of opportunities did you get involved in?

“During my interview process, the leader of the team I was joining shared about projects outside the scope of my role that I would be able to assist with. I took her up on the offer,” Shruti shared. “I raised my hand for deliverables that were already in progress where I sought to learn something. I had networking calls within the Culture & Talent team and sought out initiatives that other teams were working on where I could gain exposure,” Shruti explained.

How did you balance your core responsibilities while working on these cross-functional projects?

“My main priorities have remained focused within the realm of my role. As long as I’m completing my core responsibilities, my manager has always encouraged me to use my time to commit to additional activities which innovate and solve inefficiencies within our team,” she explained.

What advice would you give to others who want to explore career paths within their current role or want to seek out opportunities but don’t know where to start?

“Everyone is working on something,” she said. “If you’re curious about what your colleagues are working on, ask them if they would let you shadow them. See how it goes, and if you’re interested in getting more involved, have a discussion with your leaders to consider how you can rebalance your workload to allow for some time to learn and grow your skillset,” Shruti suggested.

Transitioning into Leadership

Stepping into a leadership role is a major career milestone. The shift from individual contributor to people leader brings new responsibilities. And it requires a change in mindset and development of your own leadership style: from focusing solely on your own work to supporting, guiding, and empowering others to thrive. For Shruti, this transition marked a new chapter in her career evolution at Sprinklr - one built on the foundation of exploration, mentorship, and a deep commitment to helping others grow.

How did you navigate the transition into leadership?

Shruti shared that transitioning from being a peer to her colleagues to their people leader was relatively smooth because she had already built great relationships with her team members. “We had a mutual respect for each other, and we shared the common goal of doing our jobs well and a desire to help each other succeed,” she said.

How have your experiences shaped your approach to leadership in the role you are in today?

“I’m grateful to have had experienced leaders to learn from who are passionate about investing in their teams, not only at Sprinklr but at previous companies as well,” Shruti shared. “Today, when my team comes to me with any situation, I make sure that I understand the issue, allow them to propose a solution and can coach them from there, which is what leaders have done for me in the past,” she continued.

Paying It Forward & Supporting Career Advancement

One of the most impactful ways leaders can support their teams is by recognizing each person's potential and actively investing in their success. This means empowering them to venture into new interests, learn new skills, and build long-term career goals. Balancing individual interests with team priorities can be challenging, and when done intentionally, it cultivates a culture of trust, engagement, and continuous learning. As a people leader, Shruti is committed to sharing the support she’s received by helping her team grow in meaningful and personalized ways.

Now that you’re in a leadership role, how do you approach supporting your team’s career growth, encouraging them to seek out opportunities for mentorship, skill-building, or leadership development?

“I would like to see them seek out mentors and learn from their colleagues as well,” she explained. “If you combine the experience of everyone you work with, you’ll find decades of experience with the people you interact with day to day. Why not learn from them?” she proposed.

“When they would like to discuss how they can gain experience that will help them develop, I act as a sounding board and I’m always in their corner,” Shruti shared. “I mimic what I’ve learned from my leaders and connect them with opportunities, projects and people I think they would be interested in learning from,” she continued.

How do you balance giving your direct reports the autonomy to seek opportunities while ensuring they still meet the needs of your team?

“We can always find time to spend on additional activities, and I’m able to support their work giving them time to commit to them. I check in regularly with my team members to gauge their current workload so I’m aware of when they may be feeling overwhelmed and need me to step in,” Shruti explained. “If they share a project they are interested in with me, I help them find time in their schedule to get involved. This allows my team members to be more engaged.”

Reflection and Future Goals

As Shruti reflects on her journey – from starting out as a contract Recruitment Coordinator seeking stability to becoming a people leader shaping the careers of others - her story is a powerful example of how curiosity, mentorship, and a learning mindset can open unexpected doors. Her experiences have helped her define her own career path and also shaped the way she supports others in finding theirs.

What are some of the biggest challenges leaders face when trying to empower their teams, and how do you navigate them?

“I think it’s difficult when the next big step is not readily available for your team members, and you don’t want them to lose motivation in their goals. Be cognizant there is space for us all to succeed and continue to grow even if it’s not in the path we imagined. Continue to show, not just say, that you’re interested in their desire to develop and help them seek alternate methods to set them up for success. Do what you can to lift them up, create space for learning, and open doors whether it’s on your team or elsewhere,” Shruti recommended.

What would you say to others who are starting out in an entry-level position and still unsure of what their long-term career aspirations are?

“The job you want may not exist yet! As a child when asked, What do you want to be when you grow up?, I wouldn’t have known to say, “I want to be a Manager of Culture and Talent at a leading enterprise software company,” because the industry wasn’t large enough to be well known. Growing up, most children say jobs like we see on TV: doctor, teacher, lawyer, firefighter, etc. I briefly wanted to be a sanitation worker so I could see how the trucks worked,” Shruti exclaimed.

“In the right role and with the right support, you can see to it that you’re always learning, exploring and thinking about long term growth while having a balance with your current role & responsibilities,” she added.

Shruti’s experiences are a testament to what’s possible when eagerness meets opportunity - and when leaders invest in both themselves and the people around them. Her story reminds us that career progression isn’t always linear; it’s often shaped by experimentation, mentorship, and venturing into new areas. Something to consider when searching for your next role is to look for a company with leaders who invest in their team. As she continues to evolve in her own path, Shruti remains committed to lifting others up along the way - creating a ripple effect of empowerment and career transformation within her team and beyond. Her story encourages us all to stay open, motivated, and inquisitive to keep building the kind of careers, and cultures, we believe in.

About Sprinklr

Sprinklr is a leading enterprise software company for all customer-facing functions. With advanced AI, Sprinklr's unified customer experience management (Unified-CXM) platform helps companies deliver human experiences to every customer, every time, across any modern channel. Headquartered in New York City with employees around the world, Sprinklr works with more than 1,800 valuable enterprises — global brands like Microsoft, P&G, Samsung and more than 60% of the Fortune 100. Sprinklr’s value to the enterprise is simple: We un-silo teams to make customers happier.