Ravali Kondoju: “Equity compensation is like sourdough: slow, uncertain, but rewarding when done right!”

As Ravali Kondoju celebrates her 6-year anniversary at Nua Group, we're thrilled to celebrate her creativity, dedication, and the fresh mindset she brings to everything she does. Whether she’s designing employee programs or tackling tough total rewards challenges, Ravali approaches her work with creativity, care, and a focus on what really matters to people.

In the spirit of Ravali’s fun and curious personality, this interview skips the usual accolades and achievements to explore her thoughts on a few unexpected questions!

If you could have any superhero power to help you excel even more in the total rewards space, what would it be and how would you use it? 

If I had a superhero power, I’d choose Professor X’s telepathy. It would allow me to understand employees’ needs, address concerns, anticipate trends, and build trust. With this power, I could design highly personalized total rewards programs that perfectly align with both employee priorities and organizational goals.

If you could travel back in time to any historical period to see how they managed employee benefits, where would you go and what would you hope to learn? 

I’d go back to the 1920s and visit the Ford Motor Company when Henry Ford shook things up by doubling wages to $5 a day and creating the 40-hour workweek - basically inventing the modern concept of work-life balance. I’d want to see how those innovations changed employee satisfaction (and productivity) and learn how they pitched the idea of “less work, more pay” to skeptical investors. Bonus: I’d get to experience the Jazz Age vibes while learning how they made work-life balance a thing before it was trendy.

Imagine you could create the ultimate benefits package with no limitations. What fun or unusual benefits would you include? 

Personal Passion Fund: An annual allowance for hobbies or personal projects. For example, art supplies, cooking classes, horseback riding, and golf lessons - encouraging well-rounded development.

If you were stranded on a desert island with your clients and colleagues and would start a new company there and could bring three company policies with you, which would they be and why?

• Flexible Hours – Island life runs on its own schedule! 

• Wellness Programs – Daily swims and hikes to keep us sharp and sane.

• Profit Sharing – Everyone chips in; everyone eats. Survival = teamwork!

If you had to explain complex total rewards concepts using only food metaphors, what dish would best describe equity compensation and why? 

Equity compensation is like sourdough: slow, uncertain, but rewarding when done right!

• Starter: Like stock options, it starts small and unpredictable but has the potential to grow.

• Dough: Employee effort is like kneading dough — it takes time and patience.

• Proofing: The vesting period is a slow rise — wondering if it's worth it.

• Baking: If the company does well, the dough bakes into a golden payoff.

• Crust: The final payoff is like the crust — crispy, satisfying, and hard-earned!

If you were directing a movie about your life in the total rewards field, what would the title be and which actor would you cast to play yourself? 

“The Devil Wears Multiple Hats” starring Anne Hathaway! She’s ideal for playing a clever, dynamic character balancing benefits, compensation, and all the challenges that come with it.

Ravali’s creativity and unique perspective shine through in every answer, reminding us that the world of total rewards is as much about understanding people as it is about numbers. Whether it’s channeling a superhero’s telepathy, drawing lessons from the Jazz Age, or imagining a company on a desert island, Ravali approaches her work — and life — with fresh ideas and a sense of adventure. Here’s to celebrating her 6 years at Nua Group and all the brilliance she brings to the table!