Q&A with Rachit Lohani, our new Chief Technology Officer

Paylocity has welcomed Rachit Lohani as our new Chief Technology Officer. Rachit oversees all aspects of Paylocity's innovative software solutions and infrastructure, and he brings a diverse set of experiences from companies including Netflix, Intuit, and Atlassian, working to scale products including TurboTax, JIRA, and Mint. Read on to learn more about the person leading Paylocity’s product strategy.

Q: Why was this the right time for you to join Paylocity?

The future of work could not be a bigger or more exciting challenge to take on, and I’m energized by big challenges. When I think that 50% of our awake time is spent either working or thinking about work, this becomes an extremely important mission to join. Our workplaces have changed — we are now tapping in and out, turning our cameras on and off, having side conversations with a toddler, and the occasional drop-in conversation has been replaced by a more formal Zoom invite link or Slack message. Many companies are working to improve employee engagement, but nothing about it is streamlined. Managers struggle to onboard new employees, new employees have limited opportunities to build connections with new teams, and team building has become a virtual nightmare (literally).

Q: How will the HCM space change?

There is an incredible amount of change in human capital management.  The COVID-19 pandemic only accelerated many of the things that modern workers were starting to expect, like more transparency, flexibility and collaboration, delivered in a user experience like the digital tools we all use in our personal lives.   We need to approach human capital management with people in mind.  To make the HR function an enabler to help employees unleash their potential by providing insights, guidance, standards, tools, and rituals to help managers succeed. The future of work is being redesigned now. We are going through a transformation in how companies think about employee experience, how employees feel about the workplace, and the role managers play. Employee expectations have never been higher, and Paylocity delivers modern experiences and deep insights that provide foundational support for winning company cultures.

Q: Why Paylocity?

I was looking for a company that values culture and people and invests in them. A company that practices what it preaches, is nimble and modern, and becomes a partner to help clients focus on what matters most - their people.  We call it Forward Together. Paylocity is one of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in the U.S., leading a path of novel business and engineering practices. For two decades, it’s grown by working closely with clients as co-creators to build a rich, intuitive, and modern HCM product powered by operational and engineering rigor.

Within 10 minutes of talking with CEO Steve Beauchamp, I knew that I wanted to work with him. His perspective and approach and the outcomes he’s driving are exemplary. His focus on people, sustainability, and the impact that the software will have on people’s lives is inspiring. I have never heard any CEO or leader say that they want to be deliberate about the impact that their software will have on people’s lives; he wants it to be a very positive influence. And on Glassdoor, I noticed we have consistently earned Best Place to Work, Top CEO, and Best Place to Interview awards. As I met more of the team, I realized they have built a wonderful place, and the business, growth, and financials are all very positive.

Q: What makes Paylocity people tick?

To understand how decisions are made at Paylocity, it’s important to understand the company values. Paylocity’s values are focused on clients, integrity, teamwork, growth mindset, and sustainability. These are the key ingredients for any successful entity. I love the simplicity and the impetus for teamwork.

Paylocity not only promotes good culture inside but also helps support a number of employee resource groups (ERGs) including PCTY Equality, which focuses on fostering a positive work environment and providing support for employees and allies of the LGBTQ+ community; PCTY Virtual Connect, which helps bring remote employees closer together; the PCTY OneWorld group, which fosters an inclusive work environment and provides support for PCTY employees of diverse ethnic backgrounds; PCTY SHEroes, which supports and celebrates women; and PCTY Sustainability, which fosters sustainability and conscious consumerism. These groups give employees the chance to build community and connections, voice their ideas and perspectives, personally develop and grow, and shape our culture to make a difference at work and in our local communities.

Q: What else attracted you to Paylocity?

Another topic close to my heart is diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is nice to hear that Paylocity strongly believes in DEI and considers it to be foundational to our culture. It is wonderful to see a strong focus and action towards improving diversity and inclusion, and the numbers speak to the company’s commitment. As of June 30, 2021, approximately 49% of the employees identified as female, and 31% of the employees were made up of underrepresented minorities. As of June 30, 2021, approximately 43% of director roles and above were held by a female and 17% of our director roles and above were held by underrepresented minorities. There is still work to do, but we’re moving in the right direction.

Q: What’s your approach to product development?

The goal is to build a product that supports the growth and needs of our clients. To do this, we gather feedback and really listen to what clients want and need in a product — and Paylocity has a long track record of co-creation with clients. Once we have that clear picture, then we start building. Change is constant, so it’s important to regularly check and assess along the way to ensure that what we’re building is still the right solution for our clients. From what I’ve heard, Paylocity clients are always willing to share their ideas, which is ideal for a high-performing development team.

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?

When not thinking about tech or scaling challenges, I spend time with my wife and two daughters. They are more fun than I could ever have imagined. I’m also inspired to spend time on two initiatives I am passionate about–closing the gender gap in tech and pushing for more diversity, equity, and inclusion. I volunteer every week for two incredible nonprofits, Girls Who Code and America on Tech, that are doing so much to push these initiatives forward.

Learn more about Paylocity’s latest product innovations or explore product and technology career opportunities.