Rising beyond loss

At just 17, she lived through the loss of both parents in quick succession, a dual tragedy that could have been a nosedive into an abyss. Instead, she chose to pick herself up, focusing on earning a living and gradually working her way up. From survival to success, it has been a humungous journey for this professional. Ayesha Vijaysingh Barse, who heads Human Resources at ITC Maratha, a five star luxury hotel at Andheri, has lived a life that is a testimony to the dignity of a woman and her never-say-die spirit. Winner of the HR Leadership Award for 2025 presented by the World HRD Congress, hers is a story as moving as it is motivating

Sometimes the strongest foundations are built from the rubble of our greatest losses.

It was 1995. Everyone expected the bright 17-year-old at Pune’s Nowrosjee Wadia College to do the next logical thing: score good marks in her HSC, possibly make it to the merit list, and even collect some awards for sports along the way. Ayesha Barse, was after all, an all-rounder, with aspirations to be a lawyer.

Instead, the news got around campus that she wouldn’t be appearing for her boards at all—jaws dropped, eyebrows were raised. In those pre-mobile days, it was hard to fathom why. Gradually, the true picture emerged: Ayesha had first lost her mother, Zubeida Barse to cancer, and two months later, her dad Major Vijaysingh Barse to a heart attack. The only child of her parents, and brought up in a nuclear home… what would she do next?

“In a way, I was prepared for losing mom because she had been sick for a few months, suffering from incurable cancer of the blood vessels. But losing dad was a body blow,” she reminisces. “They were soulmates in every sense. Though dad tried his best to be strong for me, he kept telling me that he felt like she was calling for him,” she added.

And, just like that, following a massive heart stroke, he was gone too. “I had no time to grieve mom, because I had to look after dad. And then, I had no time to grieve dad, because I had to earn a living,” she says. Easier said than done, for she was yet a minor. “I could not access their bank accounts because I was a minor, and could not get a job for the same reason,” she says.

A month after her dad’s death, she collapsed. “I was barely conscious, unable to move. A few friends took me to hospital. The doctors surmised correctly that the dual loss had taken its toll,” she shares.

Relatives offered help off and on, but folks were wary of taking her on. Her values and upbringing were such that she was too proud to ask for financial support. “Someone thought that marrying me off would be a great solution, right after I had lit my father’s pyre. I was flabbergasted. Marriage is a serious business. I was not ready. I had work to do.

Well, said the relative—how are you planning to eat then? Luckily, I had a friend who took up for me. If regular meals were the only reason that I was supposed to marry, he would send me meals every single day from his restaurant. And he kept his word, till I begged him to stop,” recounts Ayesha.

“It helped that my parents had brought me up to be an independent and rough and tough girl. I was a sportsperson, I rode bikes, I took no-nonsense from anyone, and that deep-no-nonsense from anyone, and that deep- seated self-respect made me stand up,” says Ayesha. “I first worked odd jobs that gave me a few hundred rupees daily. This was critical to survival. From door-to-door sales to running a STD booth, an ice cream parlour and a fast food restaurant—I did it all. And, I would scan the papers for newer opportunities to earn.” Working and completing her studies left her with no time for play.

One such job on offer was at a BPO. “However, the work included a night shift, and I wasn’t too comfortable with the timings. So, the interviewer suggested I work as a recruiter instead,” she says. “I was intrigued. What was I supposed to do, I asked. Not much, he said. Find me people who speak as well as you do.”

“That was the proverbial turning point offered by my first boss and guru, Ajay Nagotkar,” she reminisces. Ayesha worked as a recruiter and picked up valuable people skills along the way. Bit by bit, a combination of ability and determination, had her standing on her two feet. It was 2005 by now. “I made a call to relatives, telling them that I had found a job that would pay me Rs.25,000 a month in hand, a healthy sum for a person in their mid-twenties to be making, back then. An aunt scoffed over the phone that she couldn’t believe anyone would pay me so much.”

By way of response, Ayesha sent them a copy of her offer letter.

From strength to strength

Ayesha’s formal work experience kicked off with a stint at First Connect HR Consultants, where she headed the entire operations, ranging from the hiring to training of recruiters. Moving on to Planman Consulting and later successfully taking on a role as Manager HR at INBPO Pune, followed by stints at hotel chains including Royal Orchid Hotels, Marriott International, Atmantan and Kenilworth Hotels & Resorts, her career grew bit by bit.

Given how challenging her journey has been, what guidance would she like to give to young women out there? “As a woman, and mother to a young girl, I would like to tell parents: Bring up your girls to be strong and independent. Let them play a sport, take a fall, learn real-life skills like driving and taxation. Parents, to this day, tend to be far too protective of their girls, which does not do the children in question, any favours. I would say, worry more about her abilities, and less about her looks or skin colour. Marriage will take place in its own time, if it has to. But, it is not the answer to life’s questions,” she says.

“To all the young women out there, I say, learn to tell the difference between what people say and what they mean. Go by their actions and not words. Take your time before you trust people. Having said that, not trusting people is not the way to go either. Life is about people and relationships. It’s a fine balance, but one can achieve it,” she says. “My biggest supporters have always been my closest friends and their families. I am thankful to my mentors, bosses and peers, who have moulded and guided me.”

“Over a period of time, my relatives also proudly started getting in touch, and everyone shares a wonderful relationship,” she says.

"During my struggle peri od, I had minimal to little guidance when it came to choosing the right path for me. And so, I believe HR is where I can make a difference"

— Ayesha Vijaysingh Barse

Women at the workplace

In 2014, Ayesha found love and companionship in Merajuddin Ansari, currently a cluster chef at Marriot International. Marriage and motherhood followed. Taking a break for three years post the birth of their daughter Mayesha, was both a blessing and an eye-opener. “I wanted to be around for my child, and took a tough call to take a sabbatical,” she recounts. However, getting back to work was hard. “Workplaces have to evolve more in order to understand that maternity breaks are not an anomaly,” she says, sharing the experience of an online interview that left her reeling. “First of all, the interviewer called me 45 minutes past the scheduled time. Nevertheless, we started chatting. A few minutes into the chat, my little girl woke up. I picked her up on my lap, and requested we continue. To my shock, he ended the interview abruptly, saying: I have no further questions. He never got back to me thereafter.”

Hurt and shaken, Ayesha nevertheless continued her hunt and soon found an opening post Covid pandemic. “I had to compromise on my designation as well remuneration, and kickstart my career again,” she says. “To top it, I was hugely anxious about how my little one would adapt to a day care or a nanny.”

Ever the realist, it did not take her long to come to terms with the fact that millions of mothers undergo this phase and multitask fabulously. Soon, she moved on to join Jio Institute at Navi Mumbai, where she worked for some time.

As current HR head at ITC Maratha, Ayesha is all praise for the company’s accepting workplace policies. “It is an equitable and inclusive workplace, where they take the challenges of childcare into account. In fact, they are pretty supportive, and this allows you to do your job without stress” she says. “It’s a fine way to retain and attract talent.”

All of six, her daughter Mayesha, is schooling with Podar International, Powai. “I want to bring her up a strong and self-reliant girl,” says Ayesha. “No matter what googly life throws at her, she ought to be able to take it on.”

" My biggest supporters have always been my closest friends and their families. I am thankful to my men tors, bosses and peers, who have moulded and guided me"

Why human resources?

“During my struggle period, I had minimal to little guidance when it came to choosing the right path for me,” she says. “And so, I believe HR is where I can make a difference.”

Her genuine care and empathy, people handling skills, ability to make the staff self reliant and to excel in service standards, are her ace cards. Motivation and encouragement come naturally to her, and employers have always sought out for her different approach.

Accolades

Ayesha has bagged a lot of accolades during her roller coaster ride — Fox Story India named her India’s 100 Inspiring Women 2023, Women Face of The Year 2024. Similarly, the World HRD Congress presented her with the HR Leadership Award for 2025.

Bucket list

“As a child, I have travelled the world with my parents and hope to do the same with my husband and child,” she exhales. “I love adventure to this day. Thus, my bucket list would include bungee jumping, sky diving, and even participating in the iconic Ironman competition,” she says. “One of my former employers, a gentleman called Nikhil Kapur, has been my motivation in this regard, for he has been a finisher at the Ironman competition multiple times,” she says.

An enthusiastic and active biker, she hopes to complete a world tour on her bike with her daughter someday. “Who says biking is only for men? It is for anyone who enjoys the freedom and exhilaration it brings,” she smiles.

What’s more, she still has dreams of pursuing a law degree. “If and when life permits, I will complete my law. Mom was a Kinloch Forbes gold medalist, and I do believe, knowledge of the law empowers you as a person and as a professional,” says Ayesha.

If Ayesha had to sum up her motto in a line, what would it be and why? “When life throws lemons at you, it’s up to you what you make of it: An unpalatable dish or refreshing lemonade, it’s your call—stay grounded, life does come full circle,” she rounds off.