Kanwal Kaul - KK

Sharpshooter
DISC Type : DC

IBM Executive - Human Resources, Talent Acquisition - ISA at IBM

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Overview

Kanwal Kaul is a transformational HR executive at IBM, recognized by Forbes as a Top Talent Leader. A Harvard alumnus, he has a two-decade track record of leading global talent acquisition and transformation initiatives for major corporations like NatWest Group and Tata Communications. People who have worked with him describe him as a professional with thought leadership, a pioneering vision, and a fresh approach.

He is the author of "Burn the Script, " a book that blends ancient philosophy with modern corporate challenges to guide professionals on integrating worldly success with inner peace. Influenced by his Kashmiri roots and Buddhist philosophy, Kanwal is passionate about mindful living and challenging generational preconditioning. He is also a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, serving as a male ally.

Unique fact: Kanwal is part of an elite External Advisory Group for LinkedIn, where he influences the platforms new products, ideas, and strategy.

Personality Overview

ROI Driven

Thorough Evaluator

Rigorous & Demanding

They are not focused on building rapport and relationships.  They are very proud of what they do. More than the product, they care about the effectiveness of the product.

Topics They Care About

Talent as Business
Views the talent acquisition function as a business leader would, focusing on its impact on the company's top and bottom lines.
AI in Talent
Authored an article on "AI and talent acquisition" and follows trends like AI adoption in hiring, believing technology is foundational to future skills.
Corporate Philosophy
His book "Burn the Script" and personal posts explore blending ambition with introspection and spirituality, drawing from Buddhist philosophy for a mindful corporate life.

Media Appearances

Kanwal has no verified media appearances

Work History

2-2025
IBM Executive - Human Resources, Talent Acquisition - ISA at IBM
1-2017 - 2-2025
Senior Director - People & Transformation, Talent Acquisition / Chair D, E & I Council at NatWest Group
12-2014 - 7-2016
Senior Director, Human Resources - Global Head of Talent Acquisition at Tata Communications
4-2014 - 9-2014
Regional Director - American Express, Talent Acquisition - Asia Pacific and Japan at American Express
4-2012 - 4-2014
Global Head of Talent Acquisition & Talent Development at Capgemini

Education

General Management and Business Program from Harvard Business School
Strategic Human Resources from University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 12 Location : Bengaluru, Karnataka, India Job Level : N/A Designation : IBM Executive - Human Resources, Talent Acquisition - ISA at IBM
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Insights For Selling To Kanwal

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Make sure that you circle back fast on any action items, it wins their trust
  • Help them weigh the risks by sharing objective proof points without becoming too analytical
  • Get to the point quickly instead of spending time doing small talk

DONT's

  • Do not back off when challenged, respond with a confident, objective answer instead
  • Do not spend too much time focusing on product tech or features
  • Avoid being a storyteller and don’t try to oversell

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Kanwal is

  • Conviction around the impact matters the most to them, followed by a sense of achievement and ROI.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Kanwal

  • If they decide not to use your product, they will say no clearly.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Kanwal move?

  • They can take decisions very fast if you manage to convince them.
  • Can Kanwal take some risk or not?

  • The risks don’t matter much to them.

You And Kanwal

Personality Compatibility


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