In the world of leadership, where innovation and resilience define success, one individual is eager to leave an indelible mark. Bala V Sathyanarayanan, the Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, embodies a spirit of transformation, bringing a dynamic vision to the forefront of Greif’s journey. Known for his ability to inspire teams and spark creativity, Bala’s drive stems from a relentless passion to push boundaries and craft solutions that truly make a difference.
Through initiatives like the digital customer platform—a project that seamlessly blends technology with practicality—Bala demonstrates how excellence and innovation can redefine industries. His leadership is not just about guiding teams but empowering them, creating an environment where trust, collaboration, and personal growth thrive.
Bala’s story is one of determination, where every challenge is an opportunity to show his mettle and every achievement a stepping stone to greater impact. As Greif’s journey unfolds, his commitment to nurturing talent and fostering a culture of excellence continues to shape the company’s legacy in India and beyond.
A Journey of Resilience
Bala’s journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and a relentless drive for excellence. Before joining Greif, he made significant contributions to the HR landscape at several globally renowned companies, including Xerox Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Inc., Avaya Inc., Coca-Cola Inc., and United Technologies Inc. Beginning his career in Asia and later transitioning to the United States, Bala’s rise from technical roles to leadership positions reflects his determination and ability to adapt to new challenges, including mastering English as a non-native speaker.
His entry into the dynamic world of HR and leadership was fuelled by a passion for achieving outstanding results in high-energy, fast-paced environments. Known for his entrepreneurial spirit and enthusiasm for competitive challenges, Bala has developed a leadership style defined by high energy, determination, and a talent for inspiring those around him. He is driven by a commitment to overcoming obstacles, driving progress, and fostering a sense of excitement and purpose within his teams.
Bala’s journey showcases his dedication to personal and professional growth, as well as his passion for leading with authenticity, innovation, and a focus on meaningful impact.
Leadership, Innovation, and Sustainability
Bala’s leadership philosophy, which drives Greif’s success, is a seamless blend of innovation, operational excellence, and a steadfast commitment to quality. Under his guidance, Greif India has achieved remarkable milestones, including obtaining ISO certifications for their Daman and Ankleshwar operations, signifying their adherence to the highest international standards. This commitment to excellence is further exemplified by groundbreaking innovations like the award-winning CRTESS cap, a revolutionary solution that has garnered global recognition, including the prestigious WorldStar Award 2024. These accomplishments underscore Greif India’s focus on delivering superior solutions that enhance the entire supply chain.
At the heart of Greif’s enduring success is a dedication to sustainability, innovation, and reliability—core values that shape their unique selling propositions and robust market positioning. With a legacy spanning over 147 years, Greif consistently leverages its expertise to provide industrial packaging solutions that protect, transport, and store essential goods and materials safely and efficiently. This relentless focus on quality and innovation ensures that Greif not only supports its customers but also contributes to keeping society and the world moving forward.
Empowering Teams and Transforming Customer Experience
Bala’s leadership at Greif is firmly grounded in the principles of servant leadership, with a focus on empowering and uplifting team members to perform at their best. By championing the “One World, One Greif, One Team” philosophy, Bala promotes a culture of unity, collaboration, and inclusivity. His approach breaks down organizational silos, ensuring that every colleague feels valued and connected while working together toward a common vision.
This commitment to collaboration extends to customer-centric innovation, exemplified by the Greif+ platform. Designed as a state-of-the-art self-service tool, Greif+ revolutionizes customer interactions by offering 24/7 access to critical services such as order management, invoice retrieval, shipping details, and real-time analytics. Automating routine tasks, the platform enhances operational efficiency and minimizes administrative burdens, allowing Greif to strike a perfect balance between streamlined processes and exceptional customer satisfaction.
For customers, Greif+ is a game-changer. Its secure and personalized interface empowers users to independently manage tasks with ease, reducing downtime and improving operational fluidity. The integrated FAQs and help centre provide instant answers, further enhancing the user experience while minimizing the need for direct support. Designed to accommodate diverse customer profiles—from small businesses to after-hours operators—Greif+ ensures accessibility, simplicity, and reliability for all.
Through initiatives like Greif+, Bala’s leadership reflects a forward-thinking vision where employee empowerment and customer satisfaction drive success in a seamless, interconnected ecosystem.
Commitment to Innovation and Sustainability
One of Greif’s most transformative projects, the digital customer platform initiative, underscores the company’s unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence. Piloted successfully in 2023, this platform revolutionized the customer experience by streamlining online ordering and operational processes. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from customers has spurred plans to expand the platform across the U.S. in 2024. This forward-thinking initiative demonstrates Greif’s dedication to delivering efficient, cutting-edge solutions that enhance customer service and satisfaction.
Complementing their technological advancements, Greif’s sustainability efforts are equally remarkable. The company achieved zero waste to landfill at 49 facilities and is progressing ahead of schedule in multiple markets to meet its 2025 goal of 90% waste diversion. These achievements highlight Greif’s steadfast commitment to sustainability and circular manufacturing, reinforcing its focus on long-term environmental responsibility alongside operational and business transformation.
Through initiatives like the digital customer platform and ambitious sustainability milestones, Greif continues to exemplify innovation, efficiency, and a dedication to building a better future.
Key Lessons in Resilience, Growth, and Leadership
Bala shares an instance where the Greif India team demonstrated remarkable resilience and ingenuity during their journey to achieve ISO certification for their operations in Daman (Unit 2) and Ankleshwar (Unit 3). This significant milestone showcased the team’s dedication, hard work, and commitment. Despite the challenges posed by rigorous international standards, the team, under the leadership of individuals like Sunil and the meticulous efforts of the Quality Assurance teams led by Tarakant, successfully navigated the certification process. This achievement not only highlights their ability to overcome operational hurdles but also sets the foundation for further growth and continuous improvement in their operations.
Bala Sathyanarayanan’s advice to budding entrepreneurs looking to venture into the business world includes several key principles:
- Adaptability: Entrepreneurs should always be ready to embrace change, as it is the only constant, bringing new opportunities.
- Self-Advocacy: It’s important to take a seat at the table, advocate for oneself, and seek out mentors, coaches, and sponsors who will champion their growth.
- Curiosity and Learning: Constant curiosity and a commitment to learning are essential. The moment one stops learning is the moment growth stagnates, both personally and professionally.
- Comfort with Discomfort: Entrepreneurs must step outside their comfort zones, embrace discomfort, and push themselves to grow without reaching a breaking point.
These principles are fundamental for anyone seeking to succeed in the entrepreneurial space.
Driving Growth and Innovation
Bala’s vision for Greif centres on driving growth in local markets while delivering legendary customer service on a global scale. This goal is to be achieved through digital and supply chain transformation, ensuring that value is created for customers while maintaining operational excellence. Bala underscores the importance of leveraging advanced technologies like AI to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and support the company’s strategic objectives.
Bala’s approach involves building a flexible, modular digital architecture that can adapt as the business evolves, ensuring resilience and adaptability in a rapidly changing world. Sustainability is also a core focus, with efforts to improve energy efficiency, minimize raw material usage, and embrace renewable energy. Bala is equally committed to leadership development, ensuring a continuous pipeline of qualified candidates for future leadership roles, thereby fostering an inclusive and engaged workforce.
In terms of making a significant impact on India’s business landscape, Bala’s strategic initiatives at Greif are aligned with a broader vision of business transformation through technology and sustainability. This includes enhancing supply chain management, optimizing logistics, and driving digital innovation to create a competitive edge. Through these initiatives, Bala aims to position Greif as a leader in customer-centric growth and operational efficiency, contributing to the broader business ecosystem in India.
Read Also: The Most Influential Leader Revamping the Business in 2025
