Company Overview
Headquartered in Ludhiana with a strong presence in Noida, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kochi, Middle East and Canton USA, we serve as a trusted partner for CXO recruitment, leadership hiring, project-based recruitment, strategic workforce planning, and talent advisory services.
Across India, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America, we have supported organizations of all sizes with one promise—to deliver talent that moves you forward.
Our Mission
To transform talent acquisition by aligning visionary workforce strategies with memorable, meaningful experiences—for both clients and candidates. We help build teams that power success today and shape the future of work.
Our Vision
Our Values
01
Creativity
We solve challenges with fresh thinking and innovative methods.
02
Collaboration
Great outcomes happen when we grow together.
03
Excellence
We push for quality and consistency at every step.
04
Integrity
We lead with honesty, fairness, and commitment.
These values aren’t just words— they shape how we engage, communicate, and deliver.
Our Journey
With that philosophy in their hearts, Abhishek & Shruti Upadhayay and Bela & Swikar Sethi laid the foundation of StepUp HR in Ludhiana. What began as a small team with big dreams soon turned into a trusted recruitment partner for the Oil & Gas industry.
Between 2007–2013, the company grew rapidly, especially in the Oil & Gas sector. When global oil prices dropped in 2014, instead of slowing down, we reinvented ourselves—expanding into e-commerce, infrastructure, automotive, power, real estate, BFSI, and more.
By 2015, we were onboarding 50+ new clients in emerging sectors.
Today, we are a team of 65+ recruitment consultants with an average of 10 years of experience—serving global markets with agility, expertise, and humility.
Our journey is a story of resilience, reinvention, and relationships. And we’re just getting started.
What Sets Us Apart?
Here’s what makes the StepUp approach different:
01
Boutique attention, enterprise capability
02
Upfront deep-dive into culture, priorities, and growth plans
03
High-touch engagement from mandate to onboarding
04
Expert recruiters with deep sector intelligence
Here’s what makes the StepUp approach different:
05
Precision-driven search reinforced by proprietary tools
06
‘No Repeat’ commitment for zero duplicity
07
Backup profiles for every position to ensure closure
08
White-glove candidate experience & post-onboarding check-ins
Our goal is simple: make hiring faster, sharper, and more meaningful.
Leadership Team
Abhishek Upadhyaya
CEO & MD
A people-first leader with 15+ years across HR, Admin, and Sales, Abhishek has built winning teams for organizations worldwide. He believes exceptional hiring is less about resumes—and more about meaningful conversations.
Bela Sethi
Founder, COO & Head, Retained Search
With two decades of experience in national and international firms, Bela leads StepUp’s retained search practice with precision, ownership, and a deep understanding of what makes people and organizations thrive.
Swikar Sethi
Founder & CAO
A textile engineer with 26+ years in business development, Swikar has scaled StepUp’s operations with a sharp focus on process, performance, and long-term partnerships.
Our Advisors
G.P. Rao, Dr. Seema Singh-Zokarkar, and Rajneesh Bawa bring invaluable wisdom that shapes our strategy, culture, and continuous evolution.
G.P. Rao
Dr. Seema Singh-Zokarkar
Rajneesh Bawa
Our Locations
Corporate Office
Ludhiana, Punjab (Feroze Gandhi Market)Regional Offices
Mumbai — Bandra Kurla Complex Bangalore — Whitefield, EPIP Zone Noida KochiGlobal Offices
Middle East Canton USA