Ms. Suja Shaji
Founder & CEO, UpskkillSquare
In an era where businesses evolve faster than ever, and skills become outdated within months, the ability to learn, adapt, and lead has never been more crucial. Standing at the forefront of this transformation is the visionary founder of UpskillSquare, a pioneering learning and talent development platform designed to bridge the gap between traditional education and the rapidly changing needs of the modern workforce.
With over three decades of experience in Human Resource Management, she has led strategic HR functions at global organizations such as Crompton Greaves Ltd., Sulzer India Ltd., Gabriel India Ltd., Suzlon, and Kumar Builders. Her professional journey has spanned multiple areas from talent management and leadership development to organizational transformation and workforce planning giving her an in-depth understanding of what drives people and performance in today’s corporate world.
Throughout her extensive career, one belief remained constant: continuous learning is the key differentiator between companies that adapt and those that fall behind. This conviction became the foundation for UpskillSquare a venture born out of her vision to make learning accessible, practical, and strategically aligned with business goals.
The Birth of UpskillSquare
Her entrepreneurial journey began with a realization that traditional corporate training often fell short it lacked flexibility, personalization, and relevance to real-world challenges. Across industries, she observed a recurring struggle: employees were eager to grow, but existing systems weren’t equipped to meet their evolving skill needs.
Determined to solve this, she stepped out of the corporate boardroom and into entrepreneurship. UpskillSquare was founded with the mission to empower organizations to build smarter, future-ready workforces. The platform offers curated, research-backed learning programs in HR and beyond, including Human Resource Business Partner training, HRMIS and software-based HR modules, payroll and compliance, talent acquisition, and leadership development.
From skill assessments and custom learning paths to corporate training programs and technology-led Learning Experience Platforms (LXP), UpskillSquare delivers end-to-end workforce development solutions that transform how people learn and grow within organizations.
What Makes UpskillSquare Unique
What sets UpskillSquare apart is its blend of real-world HR expertise and technology-driven training. The platform is designed by industry professionals who have lived the corporate experience and understand the ground realities of managing and developing people.
Every program is practical, hands-on, and tailored to meet specific business objectives. Participants learn through real tools, simulations, and case studies drawn from global corporate environments. Moreover, UpskillSquare’s team of experienced trainers all with decades of HR and L&D experience ensures that each course delivers not just knowledge but competence and confidence.
Beyond individual learning, the platform supports businesses in building strategic talent pipelines, fostering leadership capabilities, and aligning workforce skills with long-term goals. The result is an agile, engaged, and performance-driven organization.
Overcoming Challenges and Building from Scratch
For the founder, the path to entrepreneurship was not a straight line. Coming from a non-business background, she faced skepticism about leaving a stable corporate career to start something entirely new. Yet, it was precisely this uncertainty that fueled her determination.
With years of experience leading HR teams from assistant roles to heading plants she leveraged her expertise as the foundation for her new venture. Every challenge became a lesson: learning business finance, sales, branding, and operations from the ground up.
As a first-generation woman entrepreneur, she challenged traditional norms and redefined success on her own terms. Her leadership style, rooted in empathy and decisiveness, has helped her navigate obstacles and inspire others to lead authentically. She believes that one doesn’t need a legacy to build something meaningful, only clarity, courage, and commitment.
Milestones and Achievements
Among her proudest achievements is not only launching UpskillSquare and empowering over 1,000 professionals through practical HR training but also building a family legacy of entrepreneurship.
Bringing her son, Sajn Shaji, into the business has been a defining milestone, a reflection of how vision and values can transcend generations. Watching him contribute fresh perspectives and energy to UpskillSquare has made the journey even more rewarding.
Under her leadership, the company has been recognized as an emerging brand in the HR upskilling ecosystem and continues to earn accolades for its innovation and impact. She has also been invited as a guest speaker at leading MBA colleges and recognized by Business Network International (BNI) for her excellence as an Educational Coordinator.
The Road Ahead
Looking to the future, she envisions UpskillSquare as a national and global leader in workforce development. Over the next five years, the company aims to expand its reach across India and into international markets, becoming the go-to HR learning and implementation partner for small, medium, and large enterprises.
The focus will be on integrating AI, analytics, and gamified learning experiences to make professional development more personalized and impactful. With a goal to impact over 10,000 careers, the mission remains clear to make continuous learning a competitive advantage for every business.
At a personal level, she aspires to evolve as a thought leader in HR and women’s entrepreneurship, mentoring future professionals and contributing to social impact initiatives that promote women empowerment, education, and employability.
A Message to Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs
Her message to aspiring women entrepreneurs is deeply empowering:
“You don’t need permission to dream big or a perfect plan to begin. Start with what you have, your passion, your purpose, your experience. The rest will follow.”
She encourages women to start before they feel ready, to trust their instincts, and to redefine success in their own way. Her journey is proof that balance doesn’t mean perfection, and that progress matters more than certainty. Through UpskillSquare, she continues to inspire a new generation of learners, professionals, and entrepreneurs — proving that when learning meets purpose, it creates not just success, but a lasting legacy of empowerment and growth.
Email : suja@upskillsquare.com
Website : Upskkillsquare
Facebook : Upskkill Square
Instagram : Upskkill Square
LinkedIn : Upskkill Square
