With over 25 years of global experience, Shirley Burla has built a career on one guiding principle: organizations thrive when people strategies are deeply aligned with business imperatives. Her journey reflects a passion for transforming cultures, architecting talent ecosystems, and creating inclusive workplaces that empower individuals and accelerate organizational growth.
Since 2023 at Tata Projects while leading HR for SBG Energy & industrial (E&I), Shirley has partnered with leadership to drive HR strategies for high-growth sectors. She pioneered the Advanced Tech Facilities SBU, recruiting global talent for India's groundbreaking semiconductor projects, and spearheaded the 'Phoenix Transformation'—streamlining structures, automating processes, and fostering agility while overseeing administration.
Prior to Tata Projects, Shirley was heading HR for EPC business at Shapoorji Pallonji Group. Later, she transitioned into a corporate role, leading Learning & Organizational Development (L&OD) and Corporate HR. During her tenure, she spearheaded digital HR transformation, implemented women-centric leadership programs, and drove workforce productivity improvements.
Her foundation was laid during 13 years at Siemens, where she held diverse leadership roles across HR Business Partnering, Talent Acquisition, and Corporate Communications & CSR. Shirley’s ability to navigate complexity and lead cultural reinvention helped Siemens integrate businesses seamlessly, build leadership pipelines, and implement global HR frameworks.
Across every role, Shirley has been a trusted advisor to senior leadership, known for her ability to simplify complexity, foster resilience, and embed high-performance cultures. Her vision is clear: to create organizations where talent thrives, diversity is celebrated, and transformation is a shared journey.
