House of HR

Book excerpt: House of HR is a debut book containing Meher’s personal narrative of the trials and triumphs she’s experienced and the lessons she’s learned as a Pakistani, and now American, woman navigating the international corporate world of Human Resources. Through this book, she hopes to offer powerful encouragements and living proof that regardless of the challenges life sends your way, if you keep a sharp mind, a resilient heart, and a humble spirit, you too can turn your dreams into reality. Born in Pakistan in the 1970s, Meher grew up in a predominantly patriarchal society where custom dictated that females suppress ambitions for higher education and professional employment in favor of a traditionally subordinate domestic role. But, contrary to cultural expectations, Meher dreamed of a life of fierce independence and unbounded professional achievement from a very young age. Today, her success as an international Human Resources professional and now as an entrepreneur against all odds is so miraculous, that she feels compelled to reach out to other aspiring men and women. She shares her experiences and tips for success through the lens of the Human Resources function. In your life, you are either an employee or an employer. The department of Human Resources is the bridge that connects and builds a compatible relationship between the respective livelihoods of the employer and employee. In our busy everyday lives, we don’t have enough time to completely understand how the world of HR works so we can use it to our advantage. Meher wanted to develop something simple and short, but with inclusive topics that would make a difference in an employee’s work life, and at the same time, give the employer some interesting ideas. Her narrative will provide you with a deep understanding of the various functions of HR using the analogy of a house. In this book, we will walk through the House of HR together with Meher. As she walks you through the “House of HR” and its rooms, or functional areas, she shares fundamental principles and relevant knowledge that she has accumulated over her 18-year career. The chapters you will read in this book are for educational purposes and are laid out in story arrangements embedded with her professional and personal key learnings. Interwoven into the lessons are practical strategies for navigating the corporate world and inspiring stories of courage and perseverance. Meher’s life was full of challenges and failures that stand alongside her successes. She has felt the fear of failure, and she wants to tell the reader, it’s all right to be rejected and to fail, it's all right to be imperfect, it’s all right to be afraid. The only thing that matters is to keep living, to keep going, and to keep moving forward. Meher took her failures in her stride and saw them as learning opportunities, After reading this book, she prays you will feel motivated to fearlessly pursue your most profound aspirations and knows your deeper comprehension of HR will provide a sense of empowerment along the way. Her purpose is not only to educate you, but also to strengthen and protect your heart, as the heart houses your spirit, your motivations, and your fears. I hope you enjoy this unique American Pakistani woman’s journey through the House of Human Resources. Book Review 1: "The book house of HR is an honest effort by Meher in penning down her journey the cultural bias and international corporate arena. She has poured her heart out in providing meaningful insight and genuine perspective of HR universe using herself as and exemplary individual who stood victorious by taking challenges head on and not deterring from her stance to achieve what she believed she was capable of." -- Noor Khan-Rehan Book Review 2: "If you love a good story or have any interest in HR, you won’t be disappointed! A lifelong pursuit of enlightenment and happiness—with bumps and successes along the way—is how I would describe the personal and professional journeys taken in this book. Meher expertly weaves her own struggles and triumphs with important information on Human Resources throughout the House of HR. You will come out of this book with a solid understanding of all aspects of HR, plus a heartfelt appreciation for this inspiring woman’s journey through life and around the world." -- Lacy Newkirk