Employee Spotlight: Pooja Patel

At Tandym, we know that success is a team sport, and every month, we take a moment to recognize one standout player who goes above and beyond. Our Teammate of the Month isn’t just someone who gets the job done; they embody our values, uplift those around them, and make a lasting impact. Get to know Pooja Patel, an Onboarding Coordinator on the Compliance team and one of Tandym’s Teammates of the Month for September 2026!

Who are you?

I was born in India and moved to the United States with my parents and younger brother when I was about seven years old. We settled in Union, New Jersey, which is where I spent most of my childhood.

For our first 10 years in the United States, we lived with my aunt, uncle, two cousins, and grandparents. It was definitely a Full House experience. There were always people around, so I was never bored. Eventually, my parents, brother, and I moved into a home of our own, and I finished high school in Union.

My college journey took a little time to figure out. I attended Montclair during my first year, but commuting made it feel like I was simply driving back and forth for classes. I wanted a more engaging college experience, so I transferred to Rutgers University’s New Brunswick campus.

At Rutgers, I lived on campus and roomed with the same person for all three years. She became one of my best friends. College was also where I learned how to live independently, balance school with having a job, and take greater responsibility for myself.

After graduating, I moved back to Union. More recently, I moved to Cranford with my boyfriend of six years, which has started another exciting chapter in my life.

What was your first job ever?

Are we talking on the books or off the books?

My first unofficial job was working as a cashier at one of my family’s 7-Eleven stores. I initially helped out informally before eventually becoming an official employee.

The first job I found on my own was during college at the Rutgers Telefund. It was essentially a call center where we contacted alumni and other members of the Rutgers community to request donations to the university. It was similar to cold-calling in sales, except we were fundraising.

I quickly learned that cold-calling was not for me, so my next job was at Barnes & Noble.

Who were your role models / inspirations growing up?

It may sound cliché and I know it’s also cliché to say that, but my greatest inspiration have always been my parents.

They came to the United States more than 25 years ago with very little money and without speaking English. What they did have was the hope of creating a better future for themselves, my brother, and me. They faced countless challenges while building their careers and adjusting to a new country, but they worked incredibly hard and always made sure our family had what we needed.

Watching everything they sacrificed and overcame taught me so much. As the older sibling, I also took on responsibilities early. Whether I was helping my mom set up her phone, figure out the television, or handle something else, I became the family’s unofficial secretary.

Those experiences helped shape the person I am today. My parents taught me the value of hard work, financial responsibility, and independence. Most importantly, they taught me that family should always come first.

Who were your top 3 artists on your ‘Spotify Wrapped’ last year?

Honestly, I could not tell you. I love music, but I’m not someone who remembers song titles or artist names.

If I’m hanging out with friends, I will never volunteer to control the aux cord. Someone else can choose the music, and somehow, I’ll still know every song that comes on. I just go with the flow and enjoy whatever matches the mood.

When I use Spotify, I usually select a current hits or top 40 playlist or listen to whatever the app recommends based on my activity. I’m also really into Bollywood music, especially house remixes with high BPMs.

I’ve never been to a rave, but attending one is definitely on my bucket list.

Do you have a hidden talent or fun fact that not many people know?

Does making money disappear from my bank account count as a talent? Because I recently did quite a bit of that in Barcelona!

My actual hidden talent is cooking. It is one of my favorite hobbies and something I find incredibly relaxing. Even when I’m stressed, preparing a fresh meal helps me unwind. My boyfriend and I have a rule that we only order takeout once a week, so nearly everything else we eat is home-cooked.

I especially enjoy experimenting with different ingredients and combining cuisines. Two of my favorites are Indian and Mexican food, so one of my signature dishes is chicken tikka tacos or taquitos. I take the taco or taquito concept from Mexican cuisine and combine it with chicken tikka or paneer tikka from Indian cuisine. I tried it one day, and it somehow turned into a magical, crowd-pleasing dish.

I love getting creative in the kitchen, combining unexpected flavors, and seeing what happens. Somehow, it usually turns out well. The next time I come into the office, I may have to bring some for everyone!

If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would be your first purchase?

I would buy a yacht.

I’m obsessed with being on boats because I find the experience incredibly peaceful and relaxing. There is something about looking out over the water and feeling removed from everything that immediately puts me at ease.

The funny part is that I have an extreme fear of actually being in the water. You will not catch me snorkeling or doing anything like that. I want to enjoy the water safely from the boat.

Anyone can buy a house, but a yacht gives you the freedom to travel wherever you want. I could explore new places, relax on the water, and never have to leave the comfort of my own boat. That would be my first purchase.

Did you find Tandym or did we find you?

Tandym found me.

I graduated from Rutgers during the COVID-19 pandemic, so beginning my career was incredibly challenging. The job market was difficult, opportunities were limited, and I felt stuck.

One day, an internal recruiter from what was then The Execu|Search Group contacted me about a compliance position. At the time, I had no idea what working in compliance involved. After we spoke, however, the role sparked my interest. It incorporated elements of human resources while offering more detailed and specialized responsibilities.

I moved forward with the process and interviewed with the team. Soon after, I officially joined The Execu|Search Group, which eventually became Tandym.

That was five years ago, and I’ve been here ever since.

If you had to put a team of 4 (yourself included) to build a small house, who would you recruit and why?

I would definitely choose Jillian Ritz, Vicky Levy, and Jeanna Palmai.

Jill would be the brain of the operation. She could map out the entire house, develop the concept, and think through every detail before we started building.

Vicky would be our go-getter and lead the execution. Even if we ran out of materials or encountered an unexpected problem, she would find a way to make it work. She is incredibly resourceful and would keep the project moving forward no matter what happened.

Jeanna would be our technical expert. She would make sure everything was installed correctly, operating properly, and running smoothly.

I would help keep everyone organized and bring each part of the project together. With Jill creating the vision, Vicky making it happen, Jeanna handling the technical details, and me keeping us coordinated, I think we would build a pretty great house.

What was it like to hear you won “Teammate of the Month”?

The funny part is that I completely missed the announcement because I was on vacation in Mallorca.

We had planned a boat day, and I was relaxing on a yacht while watching the sunset. At the same time, the Sunday scaries were starting to set in. I was thinking about returning to work on Monday, wondering what I had missed, and worrying about everything waiting for me.

I decided to log into Microsoft Teams, and suddenly, I saw message after message saying, “Congratulations!” I had no idea what everyone was congratulating me for, so I started looking back through the messages and discovered that I had been named Teammate of the Month.

The entire moment felt very cinematic. I was sitting on a yacht in Mallorca, watching the sunset, and learning that I had received this recognition. It felt both completely unreal and incredibly special.

Once I returned home, the meaning of it truly sank in. It reminded me that people see my work, appreciate what I contribute, and value me as a teammate. I felt incredibly loved.

It definitely took the Sunday scaries right out of me!

Keep, Try, Toss: Baked Potatoes, French Fries, or Mashed Potatoes.

Keep the French fries, try the mashed potatoes, and toss the baked potato.

I’m a texture person, so I love anything crispy and crunchy. I could eat French fries for the rest of my life, especially McDonald’s fries. Those are my absolute favorite.

I could occasionally have mashed potatoes, but they need plenty of flavor. I’m not a huge fan of the soft, mushy texture, so heavy cream and butter are essential. They help me forget that I’m eating mashed potatoes.

The baked potato has to go. It feels a little too healthy for me, and most baked potatoes are dry until you cover them with butter, sour cream, and every other topping. At that point, I would rather have the French fries.

What are your goals for 2026 and beyond with Tandym?

My goal is to continue growing in my role and help make the onboarding process as smooth as possible for our candidates, clients, and internal teams.

There is always something happening in onboarding. Sometimes, it feels like we are learning something new every hour. New situations and challenges constantly arise, so being adaptable is incredibly important.

I want to continue improving our processes so onboarding feels like a smooth, organized experience with as few obstacles as possible. I also want to remain someone my team can trust and depend on to follow through, solve problems, and get things done.

My biggest long-term goal is to earn a place in Chairman’s Circle. I know that requires a great deal of hard work, dedication, and consistency, but I plan to continue giving my best so I can hopefully achieve it one day.

If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go and why?

I would love to visit Australia because I have a slight obsession with kangaroos. I think they are adorable, and I would love the opportunity to see one in person.

The only problem is getting there. Australia requires one of the longest flights in the world, and I really do not enjoy flying. If someone could invent teleportation, I would happily click a button, arrive instantly, and avoid the entire travel process.

I also have cousins who live in New Zealand, and they always talk about how much they love that part of the world. I would love to visit them and explore Australia while I’m there.

Australia is definitely on my travel list. I’m just waiting for teleportation to become an option.