“When I first met Pushpa, she had just returned from maternity leave and was ready to build something meaningful again.
We were re-introduced by a mutual friend, Eeksha Sharma. And from that very first conversation, one thing stood out clearly: her energy.
To this day, I’m still in awe of how she does it all. Running HR ops for a growing team, raising a young daughter, managing life at home - and yet showing up every single day with the same calm, focus, and that infectious smile.
Since joining GobbleCube, Pushpa hasn’t just brought structure and order. She’s raised the bar on ownership. On accountability. And most importantly, on leading with empathy.
That’s rare. And that’s what makes her special.”
— Manas Gupta, CEO & Co-Founder, GobbleCube
- Manas told us you'd just come back from a maternity break when you met. What made GobbleCube feel right at that moment in your life?
When I returned to work after my maternity sabbatical, I was honestly just trying to find my rhythm again. I genuinely missed the rush of early-stage building I’d experienced while working at Grofers and Blinkit.
GobbleCube came to me through Eeksha Sharma, my former manager. She connected me with Manas, who was looking for an HRBP and TA head.
While I’d only done TA until then, the opportunity felt right. So I took on the challenge.
Coming from Grofers/Blinkit, the company that pioneered quick commerce in India, I felt deeply aligned with what Manas and Sri were building, and why it mattered. It felt like I'd found my place again.
- Let's rewind a bit. What drew you into HR in the first place?
(Laughs) Honestly, it was never a part of the plan. I completed my undergrad in finance and probably would have ended up in that field.
- Oh, then what changed?
Back in 2012, doing an MBA was like the natural next step for someone with a finance degree. But by then, I’d realized that I loved talking to people more than I loved spreadsheets. So I decided to pursue an MBA in HR and Marketing.
In 2014, I got my first internship as a talent acquisition intern, and I was like, “THIS IS IT.”
And the rest is history… Since then, I've built teams from scratch across categories, finance, and marketing - first at Grofers, then Blinkit, and now at GobbleCube.
- Who do you say has molded you into who you are today, both at work and in life?
Two people, really.
Personally, my father. He comes from a rural background, is very grounded, but he's always been very bold and open with feedback. He taught me balance - how to enjoy life fully but also take work seriously. That's shaped a lot of how I show up.
And professionally, Eeksha. I've never seen anyone treat their job the way she did. She treated Grofers like her baby, with the level of integrity, honesty, and ownership I’ve never seen in anyone else. The way she approached every task, no matter how small, with that level of intent… I still carry that with me.
- Interesting, is that also something you look for in candidates when you're hiring?
Absolutely. The first thing I look at while interviewing candidates is if they’re really curious about the product and the problems we’re trying to solve. That sense of connection matters more to me than a perfect resume.
Take Sanchita, for example. When she was interviewing for the Founder’s Office role. I was genuinely impressed by her thoughtful questions, curiosity, and clear understanding of the problem we were aiming to solve.
And at an early-stage company, that's super important! Manas and I have had this conversation so many times - “to look for leaders and not employees”. People who can figure things out as they go, who don't wait to be told what to do, who can own their domain and drive it forward. That matters more to me than a perfect resume ever could.
- It's been almost a decade since you’ve been building teams. What still keeps you going?
Has it really been that long? (laughs)
My philosophy is pretty simple:
I may only work till I'm 35 or 40 - but I'll bring 100% to my work every day as long as I'm working.
And right now, that 100% is to build this team and scale it the right way. When you're building something you believe in, with people you trust, the work doesn't feel like work at all.
- Pushpa, you’re clearly someone who loves experimenting at work. Does that carry over into your personal life, too?
Oh yes! My daughter and I love painting together! We upcycle random objects and play with colors. I love doing new things with her.
And music. I love Coke Studio, old classics, and Mohammad Rafi, especially. And I'm a big Bollywood buff too. Irrfan Khan is my favorite. I've watched all of his movies.
Growing up, I was the "jack of all hobbies". Basketball, classical dance, singing, I did it all, but never became a pro at anything. I had too many interests to excel at just one. But I like that about myself. I love experimenting and trying new things. It keeps that childlike curiosity alive in me.
I love traveling with my family too. I'm a beach person, my husband loves mountains, and our daughter loves both. So we sneak in little getaways when time allows.
- You’ve grown the team from just 5 to over 100. How do you plan to maintain culture and alignment as we continue to scale?
It’s something Manas and I talk about a lot. He says it in every induction - when teams grow, you’re handed your tasks, and you end up working with horse blinkers on. In the day-to-day BAUs, it’s easy to forget the bigger company vision.
That’s what I’m trying to protect as we scale - making sure people don’t just feel ownership over their work, but also stay connected to why we’re building all of this in the first place.
GobbleCube gives people freedom and ownership like most places don't, and I want to protect that as we grow.
- And finally, as a mother and a leader, what’s your message to mothers who are just returning to work?
It’s okay to not be okay.
You don’t have to do everything at once. Start slow and pick things up when you feel ready. I’ve dealt with the classic mom guilt too - leaving your child at home that first time and second-guessing every decision.
But I’ve realized that you won’t be able to win everywhere every day, and that’s okay. Do what you can, drop the guilt, and find a pace you can sustain.
I genuinely believe that returning mothers bring a kind of depth and empathy to the workplace that's irreplaceable. We need more of that.
Want to be part of what we're building? Check out our open roles or reach out to Pushpa and the team.