How Is Peoplefy Started By An IIT-Kharagpur Alumnus Rajesh Bharatiya Leading India’s HR Industry?

In 2024, India's rapid economic growth and technological advancements have further propelled the HR industry's transformation. With businesses embracing digitalization and hybrid work models, HR has become a critical driver of innovation and cultural alignment. As the competition for top talent intensifies, HR leaders are focusing on strategic recruitment, employee well-being, and fostering purpose-driven workplaces to stay ahead in this dynamic landscape. Acquiring and retaining Talent is the top most priority of more than 80% of CEOs today.

Enter Peoplefy – an innovative recruitment solutions provider that is revitalising how Indian companies source talent. 

Spearheading this transformational venture is Rajesh Bharatiya, CEO and visionary leader whose forward-thinking approach is revolutionizing the HR landscape. He completed his Bachelor of Technology (BTech) from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, in 1996 and went into the IT Industry to develop software for HR needs.

Rajesh Bharatiya's foray into the recruitment and talent solutions space is rooted very deeply in his experiences. Having an illustrious career that cuts across various leadership positions in human resources as well as global HR tech firms, Rajesh has firsthand known how integral talent is to the functioning of an organization – and thus Peoplefy became the culmination of his vision and expertise. 

Before establishing Peoplefy in 2011, Rajesh worked in the United States with Peopleclick Authoria, where he managed complex, multi-country implementations of talent management systems. These experiences solidified his understanding of the profound impact that strategic recruitment could have on organizations, inspiring him to return to India and address the evolving talent needs of its rapidly growing economy.

Rajesh reflects, “Through my time in the U.S., I learned the importance of talent in sustaining any organization. I wanted to bring that expertise to India, where the demand for skilled professionals was about to explode.”

Founded in Pune, Peoplefy is a technology-driven, process-oriented recruitment firm offering executive search, recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), and HR outsourcing services. Specializing in IT, engineering, R&D, manufacturing, and KPO/BPO hiring, Peoplefy partners with top global MNCs and leading Indian companies to meet their hiring needs.

The company’s proprietary cloud-based technology platform ensures streamlined, efficient recruitment processes, enabling organizations to hire the right talent swiftly. This combination of technology and a highly accomplished team has earned Peoplefy numerous awards for its best-in-class talent services.

For Rajesh, the company’s success is not just about numbers but about building a culture that prioritizes quality and growth. 

He shares, “The most rewarding part of leading Peoplefy has been watching our team members grow from entry-level roles into leaders in the recruitment industry. Their success is intertwined with the success of Peoplefy.”

At its core, Rajesh's long-term vision for Peoplefy is to "transform the way organizations hire talent." A transformation that is driven by a passion for leveraging technology and innovation to create impactful hiring solutions. He is particularly enthusiastic about tech-driven hiring processes and sourcing talent through unconventional channels, which he believes are the future of recruitment.

Rajesh goes further than operational excellence to present. He is also a passionate advocate for the ever-emerging and renewed role of HR in India, saying: "Acquiring and retaining quality talent is on every CEO's mind. HR can no longer be seen as just an auxiliary function—it is a strategic partner in business success."

In a post-pandemic world where remote and hybrid work is the norm, Rajesh thinks that flexibility at work will be in balance. He feels that hybrid work models strike the ideal balance between productivity, company culture and employee’s other responsibilities & lifestyle. This adaptability has positioned Peoplefy as a trusted partner for businesses navigating the complexities of modern workforce management.

With Rajesh Bharatiya at the helm, Peoplefy is not just keeping pace with the industry’s evolution—it is setting the standard. His unwavering focus on innovation, strategic thinking, and a people-first approach ensures that Peoplefy will remain a key player in India’s HR revolution.

In his own words, “Whenever a company is newly setting up in India or expanding their teams, Peoplefy should be top of the mind of India’s Business & HR leaders.”