Divya Hegde’s Career-Defining Lessons Learned on Hiring and Growth

Meet Divya Hegde—a seasoned leader with a passion for driving mission-driven companies to success. 

As the Chief Commercial Officer, Board Member, and Advisor at Orderchamp, Divya brings more than 15 years of diverse experience across multiple sectors and stages of growth. Her skill set ranges from general management to strategy and business operations, to venture capital and investment banking. With a proven track record of adapting to uncertain environments, Divya wears multiple hats to guide organizations toward their big-picture goals. 

In this interview, Divya shares insights on her career path, lessons learned on hiring, and advice for those starting on a similar journey.

Q: Tell us about your career background. How has it led you to where you are today?

A: A computer science engineer by education, I have worked across tech, banking, venture capital, and entrepreneurship, and lived across Barcelona, London, Berlin, Bangalore, Amsterdam, and now NYC. Most recently, I was Chief Commercial Officer and board member at Orderchamp, a B2B marketplace connecting independent brands and retailers.

My diverse career is the result of prioritizing curiosity and learning over money or status. 

A combination of being ambitious, hardworking, and curious in addition to building and nurturing a professional network of mentors and sponsors got me comfortable to switch industries, roles, and countries multiple times.

Q: What’s the most impactful career experience you’ve ever had, and how does it impact your work to date?

A: Being the only woman and a woman of color on a 10-member, all white male board was a career-defining experience. I have never been shy to speak up and share my opinions, but in this forum I did feel intimidated. I overcame this feeling through thorough preparation that helped me feel confident and calmed my nerves. I was always thinking two steps ahead, anticipating questions and comments the board might have. Having a seat at the table while defining the company strategy but also learning from the group dynamics ended up being a great experience. 

Q: What, in the earlier parts of your career, best prepared you for your particular role?

A: Working in banking and high-stakes roles with senior leaders early in my career helped me learn a number of valuable skills that I still use to this day.

I learned very early on how to effectively summarize takeaways from important meetings and draft strong strategy documents that got the group aligned quickly. I also developed a sense of discipline that allowed me to work effectively under stress and in fast-paced environments. For example, while working in banking based in London, I was traveling to see a different client every week, which meant being hyper organized about client presentations, meeting briefs, and all the travel logistics. Last but not the least, I learned to help my managers problem solve by thinking on my feet with a solution-oriented and practical mindset, which was very much appreciated.  

Q: What piece of advice has played the biggest role in your career so far?

A: I received two pieces of advice from one of my most inspiring managers early in my career that changed how I thought about what I can and wanted to do: 

1. Identify your strengths and leverage them. 
2. Smart people do well at everything but they outperform when they find their calling.

Learning these two things very early on helped me navigate the different roles that I have been in over the years and, most importantly, helped me focus on finding my passion and not settling for anything less than what I was worth.

Q: What do you look for when hiring someone on your team?

A: I look for the right attitude, intellectual curiosity, and humility over grades and aptitude, especially at an early-stage startup. Having someone on the team who brings a can-do and collaborative attitude is uplifting and can move mountains for the business.

Q: What’s been the No. 1 lesson you’ve learned about hiring since you started at your company?

A: I hired a number of senior and junior roles during a very tight job market and learned that building a strong pipeline of diverse candidates is as important as running a strong process. We aimed to have at least 50 percent women in our pipeline. For analytical and senior roles we always used a real business problem as a case study. This process got candidates really excited about the role and the business. 

Q: What advice would you give someone starting out on the journey you’re on?

A: Don’t be afraid to follow your heart but make an informed decision by being curious, asking for the hard projects at work, and immersing yourself with ambitious companies, brilliant colleagues, and diverse environments. There is no shortcut to hard work and luck favors those who are prepared and take risks.  

Divya is a member of Dreamers & Doers, an award-winning community that amplifies extraordinary women entrepreneurs and leaders by raising their profile through PR, forging authentic connections, and curating high-impact resources. Learn more about Dreamers & Doers and get involved here.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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