Meriton Employee Spotlight: Alok Kumar

Alok Kumar is Meriton’s Director of Enterprise Systems and has worked alongside other key leaders in the organization to create and support the digital infrastructure and systems that keep our businesses running smoothly.

He’s nearing his 1-year anniversary with Meriton and has jumped right in to help continue building the path forward for innovation that will continue to lead our industry.?

Q: What initially drew you to Meriton and how has that inspiration evolved over time?

A: During my interview at Meriton, I encountered welcoming, conversational, and considerate interviewers who fostered an environment conducive to clear self-expression. Their demeanor reflected the company's positive, employee-friendly, collaborative, progressive, results-oriented, nurturing, and work-life balance-oriented culture. Furthermore, I observed the effective utilization of technology to enhance business operations, hinting at substantial potential for technological growth.?

Upon joining Meriton, my initial impressions were confirmed. I became part of a thriving culture within a growing company, surrounded by a supportive team. This enabled me to concentrate on aligning my department and systems with the company's rapid expansion and immense potential.

What do you think sets our company apart from others in the industry, and how does that impact your dedication to your role?

At Meriton, our greatest asset is our people. Our culture is characterized by unwavering support, unity, a shared pursuit of improvement, and a commitment to investing in our human capital, setting us apart in the industry. Our distinctive approach of "We'll grow together" embodies this ethos.?

This ethos translated into the tremendous support I received from all Meriton departments. I am privileged to lead a team of exceptionally talented individuals who effortlessly tackle challenging tasks. The workplace here serves as an inspiring environment, pushing me to deliver my best daily. Immediate support and mentorship from my operations-focused boss have been invaluable. The more I engage with him, the deeper my admiration for his sound judgment and vast experience grows.?

I consider myself fortunate to work alongside our outstanding CFO, who offers unwavering encouragement and guidance, often highlighting perspectives I might have missed. Conversations with our visionary CEO have provided valuable insights into our company's comprehensive growth strategy, powered by technology.?

My mission is to serve as a catalyst for this growth, requiring investments in capital, knowledge, and human resources within my organization. After collaborative deliberation and drawing on the collective experience of our team and existing employees, I proposed a comprehensive plan for investment in these areas. The enthusiastic participation and engagement of my team, other departments, and executives ensured swift approval of this collective plan, which represents our commitment to investing in my organization's future.

What do you envision for the future of the Enterprise Systems Team at Meriton and what role do you see yourself playing in that vision?

As the Enterprise Systems Team, we aim to achieve world-class status by harnessing the right people, processes, and technology. With our company's rapid growth, we require team members who are not only talented and intelligent but also solution-oriented, self-organized, self-disciplined, accountable, collaborative, mutually respectful, and maintain a positive attitude.

Our primary goal is to develop both simple and sophisticated solutions for complex problems, with a focus on identifying and automating repeatable processes. We are also committed to creating a technological maturity roadmap, starting with co-piloting alongside technology and eventually maturing into an auto-pilot mode as machine learning and AI evolve. ?

I see immense potential in accelerating our growth through the adoption of the Scaled Agile Framework, the automation of processes using workflow builders and RPAs (Robotic Process Automation), and leveraging AI, Machine Learning, and Data Science for predictive and prescriptive analysis. This strategic approach positions us to lead our industry.?

This year, my primary focus has been on building a scalable team and collaborating with both the team and the business to establish an effective software delivery process rooted in Lean and Agile principles. Our efforts have been directed toward increasing automation in repeatable DevOps areas and aligning our deliveries with specific business needs. Simultaneously, we've been dedicated to advancing the company's growth plan through continuous improvement initiatives.?

Next year, we will have more of that aided by cutting-edge technology.?

Thanks, Alok, for all that you do to keep our tech strategy at the forefront of what’s possible in our industry and for empowering our businesses to run smoothly and efficiently!