When Priyanka Mishra began her career nearly twenty years ago, she never imagined she would one day become one of the leading voices shaping diversity and inclusion, both within her organisation and across the manufacturing industry. What started as a quiet, introspective personality gradually unfolded into a purposeful HR career across ABB and Hitachi, and into the work that platforms like SheMaker proudly recognise today.
Priyanka often describes herself as the introverted one, the kind of person who didn’t picture herself in HR but always felt drawn toward understanding people. That instinct, combined with a deep sense of empathy, slowly pushed her from writing into human resources. She understood how difficult it can be for people to speak up or express themselves, and that realisation became her motivator. Helping others find their voice became her way of growing, contributing, and giving back. Over time, she turned that quiet strength into a powerful sense of purpose.
Her early years at ABB were built on learning through action. Whether it was recruitment, business partnering, or HR operations, Priyanka volunteered for every opportunity, even when she didn’t have prior experience. She believed that every assignment had something to teach, and that belief shaped her career. The confidence she carries today was built on those years of saying “yes,” learning on the job, and trusting her resilience.
A major turning point came when Priyanka began leading Diversity & Inclusion for ABB India. Entering a space that was still new to the industry, and especially challenging in a male-dominated sector, meant she had to unlearn old ideas and rebuild her understanding of inclusion from the ground up.
Her journey intersected with SheMaker in 2019, when ABB began collaborating with platforms working to empower women in manufacturing. Through this partnership, ABB’s inclusion efforts: equitable hiring, sensitisation programs, supportive policies, and more, gained visibility at the SheMaker Summit. The recognition that followed, including the SheMaker Award, was the result of collective effort across teams, leaders, and individuals who believed in meaningful change.
For Priyanka, the most powerful part of this work was watching a heavy manufacturing organisation embrace inclusion not just as a concept but as a commitment. It proved that culture change is possible when people believe in it, and it encouraged others in the industry to view diversity as a discipline rather than an aspiration.
Beyond D&I, Priyanka has played a key role in strategic HR transformation, global process optimisation, and talent development. At Hitachi, she continues to shape HR strategy in ways that support both business goals and people experience. Her work in digital transformation, employee experience, and capability development reflects her belief that organizations grow when people do.
Her personal philosophy: be a better human before being a better professional, runs through everything she does. Balancing motherhood, caregiving, and leadership has strengthened her empathy and patience, making her approach to HR not just strategic but deeply human.
As SheMaker prepares for its next edition, stories like Priyanka Mishra’s remind us why such platforms matter. Her journey shows that when women lead with courage, empathy, and purpose, they don’t just break barriers- they reshape industries. Priyanka’s work stands as a quiet but powerful reminder that progress is built on persistence, belief, and the willingness to keep learning.
