At Schneider Electric, belonging is shaped by how we show up for each other, how we support our teams, and how we create space for people to be themselves at work. When people feel they belong, they contribute more fully, grow with confidence, and bring their whole selves to what they do.
For Balakumaran, that sense of belonging has been both a personal journey and a professional one. From discovering his passion for solving complex problems to leading the LGBTQ+ & Allies Employee Resource Network (ERN) in India, his story reflects what it means to show up fully, grow with purpose, and help create space for others to do the same.
In this conversation, we sit down with Balakumaran to talk about his journey, his career in supply chain and data, and what belonging at Schneider Electric really looks like through his experience.
Can you walk us through your career journey and what led you to Schneider Electric?
I’ve always been a self-proclaimed tech geek, someone who gets genuinely excited by complex problems, strategic thinking, and building solutions that create real impact. So when I discovered Schneider Electric, it didn’t feel like finding a job. It felt like finding my kind of place, somewhere that takes problem-solving seriously and ties it to a bigger purpose.
What was a pivotal moment that shaped your path at Schneider Electric?
Here’s a fun one: I actually started at Schneider Electric as a contractor, completed my time, and moved on, only to get a call back offering me a full-time role. Classic plot twist.
What made me say yes without hesitation? While I was exploring other options, Schneider Electric kept standing out, not just as a place to work, but as a place to grow, make an impact, and take on challenges that genuinely matter.
What does your role look like day to day, and what keeps you motivated?
If I had to describe my days in one word, it would be: conversations. I genuinely love them, whether it is a high-level strategy discussion, a coaching moment with someone on my team, or a quick catch-up that turns into something meaningful. My communication skills don’t just come naturally. They have been battle-tested on the job.
As PMO for Indirect Procurement Data Governance & Strategy, my work is about turning raw data into decisions that move things forward, helping teams think smarter and work in more digital, intentional ways.
And yes, I’m one of those rare people who genuinely loves Mondays. I show up fully as myself, stay present, and invest in the people around me, not just the tasks. Work matters, but the connections we build while doing it matter even more.
How have your identity and lived experiences shaped the way you show up at work?
In my earlier years, I spent a lot of energy trying to prove myself, to be seen for my work and not reduced to a label. Being “different” has a way of making you visible whether you want it or not. I made a choice early on: if I was going to stand out, I would do it on my own terms, boldly.
People sometimes say, “Things always seem to work out for Bala,” and what they don’t always see is the resilience, the persistence, and the quiet determination behind that. I’ve always pushed to be recognised for the full picture of who I am.
The most impactful moments have been the ones where I chose to show up as myself, unedited and unapologetic. Every single time.
I’ve moved past the phase of proving myself to the world. Now I simply remind myself who I am. And honestly, that shift is far more powerful.
What does being part of and leading the LGBTQ+ and Allies ERN mean to you?
I’m not just involved. I’m the Leader of the LGBTQ+ and Allies ERN for India. And yes, I put myself forward for it. I nominated myself, went through the interview process with the DEI team, and was selected. No waiting to be invited.
It’s deeply personal.
Earlier in my time at Schneider Electric, I experienced what genuine allyship looks like. Real support, encouragement, and people who cared beyond the professional. That stayed with me. Taking on this leadership role was my way of paying that forward.
I don’t want to be the only visible face of Pride at Schneider Electric India. I want many faces, many stories, many voices, because visibility should not be the exception. It should be the norm.
Can you share a moment when you felt truly supported and able to be yourself at work?
Yes, and it’s recent.
Stepping into my current role leading the IP Data & Analytics Strategy portfolio, I felt something I hadn’t always taken for granted: genuine, leadership-level trust. Not the kind you earn by hiding parts of yourself, but the kind extended to you fully, as you are.
For someone who spent years pushing to be seen beyond his sexuality, that kind of recognition lands differently. It felt like validation in the truest sense.
Being seen and trusted. Being respected, not in spite of who I am, but with it, because of it, and as all of it. That’s what makes it meaningful. Even as a 31-year-old who refuses to be anything less than fully himself.
What has helped you embrace authenticity at work, and what advice would you share with others?
Let’s be honest, coming out is not a single announcement. It is an ongoing series. Different contexts, different people, different seasons of life. But the most important episode in that series is coming out to yourself.
When you genuinely accept and love who you are, everything else doesn’t necessarily get easier, but it gets lighter. That distinction matters.
Find your people. Build real trust. Create your own safe space. And remember, this is your story, and you hold the pen.
For me, the shift has been profound. I’ve gone from seeking external validation to owning my identity without apology. Authenticity is no longer just something I practice, it is my greatest strength.
What drew you to supply chain and what does it take to thrive in this space?
Supply chain is beautifully chaotic, it is where strategy meets surprise, every single day. And I mean that as a compliment.
As a techno-functional professional, I sit at the intersection of business context and data insight, because data without context is just noise. My job is to make it meaningful.
What does it take to thrive here? Curiosity, adaptability, and an appetite for change. If you’re looking for a “same screen, same script” kind of role, this isn’t it. If you love a plot twist, welcome home.
How would you describe your team culture and what makes it feel inclusive?
Being part of a global team has genuinely shaped how I think. It has taught me mindfulness, cultural empathy, and the value of perspective. Some of the most meaningful moments are not the big ones. They are the small check-ins, the genuine “How are you really doing?” conversations that quietly build lasting trust.
What stands out about this environment is a balance of three things: communication, curiosity, and care. When accountability is paired with empathy, work does not just get done, it gets elevated.
Who has had the biggest impact on your growth and development?
My former manager, Jean-François, has been the single most significant influence on who I am becoming, both professionally and personally. What made him exceptional was not just his leadership style. It was his ability to see me not only as I was, but as who I had the potential to be. That kind of belief is rare, and it has the power to genuinely change someone’s life.
He was never just a manager to me. He became the person I could turn to in moments of growth, doubt, and real vulnerability. One moment I will carry with me forever came during one of the most difficult periods of my life when I was at my lowest, both personally and emotionally. I had a meltdown in one call and opened up to him, and he responded in a way I never expected: he wrote a letter. To me, and to my parents.
I still ask myself sometimes, who does that? Who goes that far for someone? That single act of care meant more than anything I can put into words.
I keep that letter saved on my phone. Whenever I feel like I do not belong, or like I am not enough, I go back to it. It reminds me that I am seen that I matter, and that I have every right to be here.
Growing up, I carried a lot, especially around my sexuality. There were years where I felt misunderstood, where it seemed like I was somehow a mistake. He stood by me during those moments when very few did. More than that, he helped my parents see me differently, not as something to be fixed, but as someone who simply needed to be understood and accepted.
It took me 21 years to experience that quality of belief, support, and unconditional acceptance from someone outside my own heart. And it did not just shape my growth; it transformed my life.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career at Schneider Electric?
Schneider Electric is a place where you are never made to feel left behind. I know this from the very beginning of my own journey here, even as a contractor, I was treated with the same respect, trust, and sense of belonging as everyone else.
This is an organisation built on genuine inclusion. You do not just work here, you become part of a community that lifts people up, believes in them, and invests in their growth.
What also makes Schneider extraordinary is the calibre and diversity of the people you will be surrounded by, brilliant, driven, and deeply committed to meaningful impact. It genuinely feels like being part of something that is trying to move the world forward.
My advice? Be open. Stay curious. Show up as yourself. If you bring your passion and your willingness to grow, Schneider Electric will meet you more than halfway.
What does Pride Month and a true sense of belonging mean to you?
Pride Month, for me, is a powerful combination of celebration, reflection, and visibility. It is a time to honour the journeys people have taken to get here, to amplify voices that deserve to be heard, and to acknowledge the courage it takes to live authentically every single day, not just in June.
Above all, it is a reminder that being true to yourself is not just acceptable, it is worth celebrating. I am a huge Disney fan, and if there is one character I connect with deeply, it is Elsa from Frozen. Belonging, to me, feels like that moment when Elsa finally stops running. When the fear, the hiding, the quiet exhaustion of constantly managing how you are perceived, it all melts away, and she simply allows herself to exist. Fully and freely.
It is the relief of not having to audit yourself at every turn, your words, your tone, your identity, just to feel acceptable. It is being able to breathe a little deeper, knowing that who you are is not something you need to justify or shrink.
Because real belonging is not about fitting in. It is about being in a space where your truth is safe, your story matters, and you can finally be yourself.
Creating space to belong and grow
Balakumaran’s story shows how much it matters to feel seen, supported, and able to show up fully at work. From navigating his own journey of identity to building a career rooted in impact and connection, his experience reflects how belonging shapes not just what we do, but how we grow.
At Schneider Electric, that sense of belonging comes through in everyday moments, in how teams connect, how leaders show up, and how people are encouraged to be themselves.
If you are looking for a place where you can grow your career, make an impact, and feel a genuine sense of belonging, explore opportunities at Schneider Electric and see where your journey could take you.
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