Human on the Inside with Rhiana Karumbaya
Human on the Inside. We’re big believers in the power of human skills. But don’t just take our word for it - the evidence for excellence powered by human (‘soft’) skills is everywhere! In this engaging, ever-enlightening series, we speak with industry leaders, innovators and game-changers to learn a little about their personal career journeys, and how human-led strategies, philosophies and cultures are proving a force for good in their working worlds …
Maxme: Welcome Rhiana, and thanks for stepping into the #SuccessIsHuman Spotlight.
You’re an accomplished learning & development consultant with deep expertise in learning design, cultural diversity coaching, and leadership development.
In 2 sentences (ok we’ll give you 4), what does this work entail?
Rhiana Karumbaya: A typical day or week for me is an exciting mix of instructional design, facilitating leadership workshops, consulting, and coaching leaders—especially those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
My background in instructional design allows me to structure programs with a strong emphasis on logic, simplicity, and relevance. But it’s a two-way street—my facilitation experience gives me a unique perspective on program design, enabling me to keep the individual’s needs at the heart of everything I create.
It’s work that brings me purpose, and I can honestly say that I love every part of it.
M: Your impressive career is over 20 years strong, and features an eclectic mix of in-house roles with leading international firms alongside smaller specialist learning organisations, and some freelance work too.
It all kicked off in 2004 with an incredible 11 years with IBM Global Services (Bangalore, India) where you had the opportunity to work across local and global learning and leadership teams.
You closed that chapter in 2015, moved to Australia and began life as a Principal Learning Consultant for a couple of years to follow.
In mid-2017 you joined The Learning Hook in Melbourne, Australia, as a Learning Designer & Project Manager, however after a year decided it was time to fly solo again. 12 months later, you joined KPMG Australia (mid 2019) as a Senior Learning Consultant, promoted to Learning Manager - Firmwide Learning in early 2021.
In early 2022, you donned your freelance consulting shoes once more, and haven’t taken them off since! Most recently, you’ve enjoyed facilitating for various clients and learning partners like Maxme.
How does all this speak to your personal purpose and what drives you as an individual?
RK: I’ve gone back and forth between freelancing and taking on full-time corporate roles, and that’s because I’m always hungry for something new. I’m very attuned to when I’ve outgrown a role, and I take ownership of thinking about what’s next for me.
If someone asked me for my definition of leadership, I’d say it’s simple: Don’t be a jerk. Leadership is about empathy, respect, and understanding that your actions and decisions impact others.
What I love about my work in learning and leadership development is the opportunity to witness people’s growth firsthand. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about helping individuals unlock their potential, guiding them through challenges, and seeing them thrive as leaders.
M: Tell us a little about your personal education pathway/s - what led you to where you are now? How closely do your formal qualifications match your current career?
RK: I grew up right when IT was booming in India—it was the hot career path, and it seemed like if you weren't studying IT, well, what were you even doing? So, I ended up pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Applications (BCA), but honestly, I hated every bit of it!
During my final year, though, I was recruited to work in a call centre. I jumped at the opportunity (anything to get out of IT), moved to a new city, and after just six months on the phones, was promoted internally to a customer service trainer role. That promotion opened doors I hadn’t even known existed!
At first, the training role was a bit routine and bland, but I was soon introduced to leadership development and from that moment on I was hooked! The rest as they say is history.
M: If you could share one piece of career advice to your 21-year-old self it would be ...
RK: One thing I've learned over the years is that you often don’t know as much as you think you do. Staying curious, talking less, and listening more is a game changer.
It’s amazing how much you can learn when you genuinely listen to people’s perspectives rather than jumping in with your own. I think that openness to learn from every interaction is what really drives growth.
M: Maximising the potential of individuals, communities and businesses through the power of human skills is the reason Maxme exists. Can you tell us a little about the role and / or value of human skills in your workplace or industry right now?
RK: One of my favourite quotes is by Maya Angelou: ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ To me, this quote perfectly captures the importance of human skills in the workplace.
The average person spends around 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime, and without strong human skills, that time can feel pretty empty. We often rely on our technical skills to get the job done, but meaningful interactions are what really drive engagement, wellbeing, innovation, and resilience.
With AI advancing so rapidly, the value we bring—the human experience—becomes even more essential. AI can do a lot, but it can’t replicate the unique emotional connections that only people can create.
M: Self Awareness sets the critical foundation for all Maxme learning experiences. With that said … what’s your strongest trait / personal superpower?
RK: My strongest trait is honesty. It comes through in how I communicate—I strive to be clear and transparent in every conversation.
In fact, I often find it challenging when social norms require me to ‘pretend’ to like something or to carefully ‘choose my words’ in tough conversations.
So, while honesty is a strength, I’ve learned it can sometimes work against me. I’m always working on finding that balance between being truthful and being tactful.
M: And on the flip side, what’s one human / ‘soft’ skill you’ve had to really work on improving over the course of your career?
RK: My lesser strength is creativity. It’s not that I can’t be creative—it just takes a lot more energy and time for me than it might for others. I’m more likely to draw inspiration from existing ideas than come up with something completely original.
To develop this lesser strength, I’ve developed a few strategies:
I ask for extra thinking time to think when I need it
I block out time for creative thinking when my energy is at its peak
I make sure to stay open to feedback in order to continue refining my ideas.
It’s a work in progress, but these approaches help me bring more creativity into my work.
M: If you could share one piece of career advice with recent Uni graduates or candidates keen to work in the field of learning & development, what would it be?
RK: Working in L&D can be challenging. Often, we don’t have a guaranteed seat at the table, and when budgets get tight, learning is one of the first things organisations scale back on.
So, for anyone new to the field, I’d suggest asking yourself two key questions: Do I feel passionately about developing people? And am I willing to advocate for learning even when it’s tough?
Additionally, I’d highly recommend finding a mentor in the L&D space early on. A mentor can provide guidance, share insights, and help navigate some of the unique challenges in this field. That support can make a big difference, especially in the early stages of your career.
M: You’ve been granted approval to add one University graduate to your consulting business, but have 100 applicants, all with outstanding academic results. How do you find your perfect candidate - what are you looking for?
RK: If I were selecting one graduate, I look for what I like to call the ‘Big 5’: Accountability, Curiosity, Empathy, Growth Mindset, and Honesty.
For me, these qualities are fundamental. Accountability means taking ownership, curiosity drives continuous learning, empathy builds strong connections, a growth mindset helps us adapt, and honesty ensures trust and integrity.
Together, these traits create a foundation not just for personal success but for a positive, collaborative environment.
M: In the words of John Dewey, “education is not preparation for life, education is life itself.”
What’s next on your #learning agenda?
RK: I’m currently accredited in Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument (HDMI) and Dominance, influence, Steadiness and Conscientiousness (DiSC) methodologies, and I’m exploring which profiling tool to dive into next.
I’m considering Life Styles Inventory™ (LSI), Clifton Strengths, Hogan, or the Leadership Circle as each offers unique insights into different aspects of development.
I’m also very interested in certifications around emotional intelligence, as I believe it’s such a crucial skill for leadership and team dynamics. I’ll keep you posted once I have decided!
Ready to develop the human skills within your organisation, team or self? Explore our menu of Maxme Products & Programs or simply download the Hodie app to get started today.
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