Ruchika Bhatnagar

Ruchika Bhatnagar is originally from India but she has been raised in the Middle-East and The Netherlands in the last 35 years. She had planned to start her career in Corporate Finance however due to a tragic event in her family and having to take on the responsibility of a family business and finance next to her Master’s degree, she started her career as a temp in an HR administrative function. 15 years later, she has been able to achieve a successful career in HR & People Management heading a Corporate HR function.
In her current function as Head, HR Staff Services & Support at one of the NATO bodies, she holds responsibility for the HR Administrative function managing a total of 1700 civilian and military staff members across 34 locations. In this role she manages a complicated personnel function with the aim to bring about a real cultural shift in an organization that is looking to become more customer focused.
Throughout her career, she has established a position of trust with senior leaders, providing support and advice that improves team performance and builds confidence whilst delivering in times of change.
Her greatest learning has come through perseverance, dealing with adversity on a professional and personal level and to fight for her beliefs. Creating an even playing field in the corporate world for women with an ethnic background has been a tough battle albeit her struggle is one of endurance and capability. She lives by the following two motto’s ‘never giving up’ and ‘knowledge is power’ and her greatest achievement will be to empower other women to believe in themselves, encourage and motivate them to achieve the best for themselves in their professional and personal lives.