CommsRebel is delighted to welcome Raakhi Vadera to our growing team of associates. Raakhi has 12+ years experience within HR, from recruitment to diversity, equity & inclusion planning, and helps individuals get the best out of their job. We’re delighted to have Raakhi on board to strengthen our focus on belonging, inclusive communications and the employee experience.

What attracted you to work with CommsRebel?

The reach and approach being inclusivity focused… whilst having fun, of course. I feel like the CommsRebel’s approach is forward facing, rather than passing blame and shame, which is exactly what is needed to bring the conversation and practices forward within the DEI space.

Tell us a bit more about yourself and the work you do?

I work with small companies as a traditional HR consultant and I also work in the DEI space to deliver training, policy review and employee experience expertise. I also offer support to individuals looking for career coaching, support with CV/applications and those getting back into work after a period of time away. My favourite two words in my role are “empower” and “advocate”.

What’s your favourite part of the work you do and why?

Client and individual meetings, I love getting to know where companies and individuals need support and helping them to work towards their goals. Don’t get me wrong, I also love 5.30pm or “hometime” because my downtime is just as important to me as my work time.

How do you relax?

Binge watching a gripping series or film. My guilty pleasure is trash reality tv shows. I also love walking with a podcast.

What’s the book you recommend to your clients/people you coach and why?

The Good Immigrant by Nikesh Shukla. It’s a super powerful read that humanises lived experiences of others or those who could be considered different and it gives perspective and reality to the conversation of inclusion.

What’s your favourite movie?

Home Alone 1 and 2.

You help people gain work/life balance – what are your tips to help gain work/life balance?

• Use your calendar, automatic replies and manage expectations that don’t leave you using up time (that you usually aren’t paid for if you work for a company and not yourself) to get things done.
• It’s so easy to avoid professional boundaries but they are equally as important as personal ones and using your technology tools to support that is so important. 
• It’s super quick for your “extra mile” to just become the normal expectation from you, so setting those boundaries early on is key.

Who embodies a rebel to you? 

Every brown person that has been born to immigrant parents, particularly women. 

What’s your most used phone app?

I just checked and shamelessly Instagram and Spotify are my top two closely followed by LinkedIn and Candy Crush!

What brings you joy?

A few things: solo time, family time (blood family and chosen family), city breaks, New York City, walking and just some good old R&R.