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SHRMTECH2.0
Introducing SHRMTECH2.0, an evolved and expanded edition of SHRM Tech! Join us for the 11th SHRM India Tech25 in Mumbai, where HR leaders, tech pioneers, and industry experts converge to redefine the workplace.
Why Mumbai?
A city of innovation and constant evolution-Mumbai is the ideal hub for the future of HR.
/ Why Attend SHRMTECH2.0 /
Shape the Future of Work by Exploring the Latest Innovations and Strategies in HR Technology
Experience cutting-edge HR advancements firsthand
Learn from global pioneers and industry disruptors
Elevate your skills with advanced HR methodologies
Gain actionable insights to refine your HR strategies
Discover upcoming trends shaping the HR landscape
Engage in hands-on workshops & interactive sessions
Connect with leading HR solution providers
Learn from real-world success stories
Stay ahead with the latest workplace technologies
/ Experience SHRMTECH2.0 /
What Awaits You at SHRMTECH2.0
Network with 2,500+ HR & Business Leaders & Top Decision Makers
Explore 100+ Innovative HR Tech Solutions at the Expo
Gain Insights from 250+ Visionary Speakers Sharing Groundbreaking Perspectives
If It's a Work Thing
Connect, Learn, & Grow with Industry Leaders
Engage in Dynamic Formats
Keynote Sessions, Power Panels, Fireside Chats, Roundtables Discussions, Lightning Talks Series, Report Launches, Masterclasses, Workshops & more!
SHRMTECH2.0
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Speakers
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CXOs
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HR & Tech Leaders
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Knowledge Sessions
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Learning Hours
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PDCs (Max.)
*Registration fee includes event attendance and food and beverages as per details mentioned in the conference agenda.
*Membership will be activated within 2-3 weeks of receipt of payment.
* 18% GST Applicable | USD Pricing Available
/ Why Partner with Us? /
Join SHRMTECH2.0 and amplify your impact in the HR tech space!
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Be a part of the largest HR Tech Conference
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Showcase expertise among HR leaders and decision-makers
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Leverage exclusive session formats for maximum engagement
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Expand brand visibility with innovative promotional opportunities
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Directly engage with 3,000+ industry professionals
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Access SHRM’s 300,000+ HR network and 120M+ social community reach
/ Speakers /
Meet the Minds Shaping
the Future of Work
Puneet Chandok
President
Microsoft India & South Asia
Puneet Chandok
PresidentMicrosoft India & South Asia
Puneet Chandok is President, Microsoft India & South Asia and is responsible for Microsoft’s overall presence and business in the area. He leads the company’s digital transformation in the era of AI and intelligent cloud.
At Microsoft, Puneet drives the company’s mission of ‘empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more’, aligned with India and South Asia’s inclusive growth agenda. He leads a team that is committed to accelerating India & South Asia’s growth with AI and cloud at its core; and helps businesses reimagine how they bring intelligent data and technology to create value for their customers in a digital-first world.
Puneet has built and scaled several high growth technology businesses, in leadership positions at AWS, McKinsey and IBM. Puneet is passionate about ‘Performance with Purpose’, using technology to deliver impact at scale, and leading with empathy and from the heart.
Puneet has received an honorary Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) from Bennett University, acknowledging his achievements. He chairs the CII AI Council, is a part of the Executive Council at NASSCOM, and on Advisory Councils of Penguin Random House and NAMTECH.
Zarin Daruwala
Cluster CEO India, & South Asia markets (Bangladesh, Nepal & Sri Lanka)
Standard Chartered Bank
Zarin Daruwala
Cluster CEO India, & South Asia markets (Bangladesh, Nepal & Sri Lanka)Standard Chartered Bank
Ms. Zarin Daruwala is Cluster Chief Executive Officer, India, and South Asia markets (Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka). In a career spanning over 34 years, she has worked across all areas of banking, ranging from wholesale banking, agri-finance, corporate finance, corporate planning, investment banking and credit.
She was selected as one of the Top 30 most powerful women in Indian business by Business Today seven times. She has been featured in the coveted "BT Hall of Fame" for being a consistent performer. She consistently features in the 50 most powerful Women in Business listing by Fortune India, and Business World has listed her among the 75 Most Influential Women in India. She has also been recognised for "Outstanding Contribution toward Banking and Financial Services" for 2017-18 by the IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In addition, Zarin was featured in "Top 100 Most Influential BFSI Leaders", released by the World BFSI Congress and Awards. More recently, she has been recognised as the Banking CEO of the Year for India by The European Global Business Awards 2023.
A rank holder in Chartered Accountancy, Zarin has also won the President's gold medal, topping the all-India Company Secretary exams. She has also been conferred the CA Business Achiever award by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Before Standard Chartered, Zarin worked at ICICI Bank, where she spent 26 years of her career, starting as a management trainee and eventually becoming President and Head of the Wholesale Banking business. She has also served on the Board of Directors of key ICICI group companies, ICICI Lombard General Insurance and ICICI Securities. She was also on the board of JSW Steel for almost eight years.
D. Shivakumar
Management Thinker & Chairman
MTPL - an Advent PE Company &
Chair of SHRM India Conferences & Council
D. Shivakumar
Management Thinker & ChairmanMTPL - an Advent PE Company &
Chair of SHRM India Conferences & Council
D. Shivakumar, or Shiv as he is popularly known, is a Bangalore born leader and a management thinker.
He is currently Operating Partner at Advent International Private Equity. Previously, Shiv has been Group Executive President, Corporate Strategy at Aditya Birla Group, and Chairperson & Chief Executive Officer at PepsiCo Holdings Private Limited, India. Prior to that he was CEO for emerging markets at Nokia.
Shiv started his career as a management trainee in the Consumer Products Division at Hindustan Ciba Geigy before shifting to Hindustan Unilever Limited where he spent 19 years in sales, marketing and general management positions. He moved to Philips, India as Chief Executive Officer of the consumer electronics division in 2003.
Shiv joined Nokia in 2006 as the Managing Director, India. Under his management, Nokia built its entire services portfolio, including Nokia Life Tools. He was also instrumental in pushing low-cost mobile devices across rural India; making Nokia a dominant brand in India. He is credited for driving Nokia’s brand from No. 71 to No. 1 in the country. He was instrumental in making Nokia one of the top most trusted brands. Shiv moved as Sr. Vice President, Emerging Markets (India, Middle East, Africa) in 2011. This market accounts for 40% of Nokia’s global business and comprises of around 90 countries. His contribution during this time have become case studies at Harvard University, ISB and other Ivy League Institutes.
In 2013, Shivakumar was appointed as the Chairperson & CEO of PepsiCo Holdings Private Limited, India where he managed brand portfolios across beverages, snacks and nutrition. He has been the driving force in bringing PepsiCo’s nutrition portfolio to the forefront with new launches under the Quaker and Tropicana brands. He is known for being the key driver for portfolio transformation and deepen consumer engagement with flagship brands. Apart from overseeing India operations, he also managed PepsiCo’s franchise business across Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
Thereafter 2018, Shivakumar joined Aditya Birla Group as the Group Executive President, Corporate Strategy. Aditya Birla Group is one of the largest Indian conglomerates with businesses spread across telecommunications, cement, chemicals, mining, textiles, financial services, retail and e-commerce, among others, in 36 countries.
Achal Khanna
Chief Executive Officer
SHRM India, APAC & MENA
Achal Khanna
Chief Executive OfficerSHRM India, APAC & MENA
Achal Khanna is the CEO for SHRM India, APAC & MENA. SHRM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), which is the world’s largest association devoted to human resource management with more than 3,00,000 HR and business executive members in 165 countries.
Achal is responsible for leading the India operations of SHRM, as well as Asia Pacific operations including Middle-East. She serves on the global SHRM Leadership Team and is responsible for building the brand, expanding its business and developing professional relationships with government agencies, and other HR and business associations in the region.
Achal has over 30 years of work experience. Prior to joining SHRM, she was Managing Director for Kelly India operations; Vice President for GE; and Country Manager for Polaroid India. She has also worked with Dupont, ITC and Cosmo Group in various capacities.
She is a recipient of the “Best Women Executive in India” award.
Achal holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics; a Master’s Degree in English Literature and she is an MBA from Delhi.
A. Balasubramanian
Managing Director & CEO
Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC
A. Balasubramanian
Managing Director & CEOAditya Birla Sun Life AMC
Mr. A. Balasubramanian is the Managing Director & CEO of Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited. A stalwart of the mutual fund industry, he brings with him over three decades of rich experience.
He has been associated with the organisation since 1994. Prior to assuming the role of CEO in 2009, Mr. Balasubramanian served as the Chief Investment Officer. Before joining ABSLAMC in the year 1994 he worked with GIC Mutual Fund, Can Bank Financial Services and Pandit & Co.
Mr. Balasubramanian has been awarded CEO of the Year title by Asia Asset Management. He has been awarded the Chairman’s Individual Award by the Aditya Birla Group for being an Outstanding Leader.
Mr. Balasubramanian is closely associated with key industry bodies. He has been on the board of AMFI (Association of Mutual Funds in India). He is the Chairman of the AMFI Equity CIOs’ Committee. He is also an esteemed member of the Fund Management Advisory Committee of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). He has been the Governor on Board of Governors at the National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM), an institute affiliated with SEBI. He was also a member of the Advisory Committee of the SEBI Investor Protection and Education Fund (IPEF).
He is the Additional Director on the Board of Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry for the year 2024-25.
He has completed advanced management programs from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore and Harvard Business School.
Mr. Balasubramanian is involved with philanthropic work through various charitable organisations. He is one of the active members at the Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Centre for Child Heart Care. He is also associated with the Sathya Sai University, Gulbarga that imparts knowledge on Human Excellence to students during their higher education. He also promotes Indian arts and village traditional culture.
Dr. Praveer Sinha*
CEO & Managing Director
The Tata Power Company
Dr. Praveer Sinha*
CEO & Managing DirectorThe Tata Power Company
Dr. Praveer Sinha is the CEO & Managing Director of The Tata Power Company Limited, one of India's oldest and largest integrated power utilities. A seasoned power sector professional with a career spanning almost four decades, Dr. Sinha has held several leadership positions across the power sector value chain.
As CEO and MD of Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited, he was instrumental in driving the turnaround of the DISCOM through technological and social interventions and setting a benchmark operational model for other DISCOMs and developing countries to follow.
Under his current leadership, Tata Power is at the forefront of transforming itself from a century old power utility company into a new-aged sustainable, technology oriented and customer centric green energy solutions company. Dr. Sinha has led multiple partnerships with national and international technology partners and institutional associations. He has contributed significantly to setting up the first international incubator in India for promoting innovations in the clean energy space.
He is the chairman of the CIl Western Region Council and co-chairs the CII National Committee on Power. Dr. Sinha is a qualified electrical engineer and has also completed his master's in business law. He received his PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, and is a visiting research associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston, USA.
Krishnakumar Thirumalai
Chief Executive Officer
Reliance Consumer Products
Krishnakumar Thirumalai
Chief Executive OfficerReliance Consumer Products
Krishnakumar Thirumalai is a seasoned professional with over 41 years of experience in the Consumer Brands and FMCG segment. In his current role, as the CEO of Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL), he is responsible for setting up the business and expanding the organization into various categories. He is also responsible for nurturing new and existing customers, partnerships, strategic alliances, and other market opportunities.
Krishnakumar has held positions at various organizations such as Coca Cola India, Asian Paints, Johnson & Johnson Ltd, Parry's Confectionery Ltd., Tiffany Foods- Dubai.
Throughout his career, he has demonstrated strong leadership and strategic thinking capabilities. He has significant experience of heading organizations in developing and emerging markets in the fast-moving consumer goods sector.
In his previous role, he was President of Coca Cola India & Southwest Asia and has crafted the organization’s business strategy, ensuring revenue growth in a responsible and profitable manner.
Krishnakumar holds an MBA in Marketing from IIM Bangalore (1983) and a BE (Hons) from College of Engineering Guindy (1981). He also participated in an Advanced Management program at Wharton Business School in 1996.
Outside of work, he enjoys working for the community and has created a trust in the name of his Guru to support rural empowerment.
Anurag Mehrotra
Managing Director
JSW MG Motor India
Anurag Mehrotra
Managing DirectorJSW MG Motor India
Anurag Mehrotra brings three decades of experience in the automotive sector, with key leadership roles in sales, marketing, strategy, and business development. He currently serves as the Managing Director of JSW MG Motor India.
He has held significant positions at leading national and global firms, such as Vice President of Strategy & International Business at Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and President & Managing Director at Ford India, where he’s led a transformative turnaround, delivering three consecutive years of positive EBIT.
Anurag’s leadership is characterised by humility, a service-oriented approach, and passion. Based in Gurugram, Anurag will be responsible for driving strategic growth initiatives, championing the company’s core values of diversity, experience, innovation, and community.
Sanjay Behl
Jt. President & COO
Adani Cement
Sanjay Behl
Jt. President & COOAdani Cement
Sanjay Behl is the Jt. President & Coo of Adani Cement. He has over 30-years of work experience in diverse functional and business leadership roles, ranging across consumer goods to service industry, in B2C and B2B segments, in India and Global markets.
Sanjay started with Hindustan Unilever in 1993. After the first 10-years at HUL, the next 10-years were in Telecom at Nokia and Reliance, and thereafter 7 years in Fashion Retail company Raymond. In early 2020, he co-founded a real time data science company, Nextqore, HQ in US, with regional offices in Mumbai, Amsterdam, and Sydney. In 2024, he co-founded his 2nd start-up SmartWheels Inc., a Silicon Valley based tech start-up in the space of digitizing automobile tires.
Prior to taking over the Adani Cement mandate to lead Sales, Marketing, Brand and Logistics operations in January 2025, he was the CEO & Executive Director of Greaves Electric Mobility (GEM), with a mandate to build an EV company in 2&3-wheeler automotive space, near ground zero up through OEM acquisitions and PE funding. With $150 M funding from strategic investor from Saudi Arabia and 3 distinct acquisitions, he built a hyperscale profitable venture within a year of this mandate.
In addition to his executive and board roles, he is very active on multiple other Industry platforms - advising and mentoring many entrepreneurs in the Fashion, Lifestyle & Technology space. Over the last few years, Sanjay has added new skills in the areas of Data Science, GenAI, Renewable Energy and Performance Marketing.
Sanjay has a proven track record of delivering disruptively profitable & sustainable high growth across industries. Built many businesses and brands, multiple times over from Ground Zero. Also, managed and transformed many large, established and complex businesses. Has a strong expertise in leading teams of diverse skill sets, experience, scale, structures, locations, cultures and nationalities.
Amongst the many accolades he has received, a few notable ones are Business World ‘Most Valuable CEOs in India 2019’, Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018 by IIT BHU Alumni Association, ‘Outstanding Marketing Professional 2016’ award by International Advertising Association, Unilever Global Chairman award for Highest measurable growth in revenue and profits in 2001.
Sanjay stays actively connected with future shaping technologies and believes in continuous learning and reskilling himself.
Puneet Chandok
President
Microsoft India & South Asia
Puneet Chandok
PresidentMicrosoft India & South Asia
Puneet Chandok is President, Microsoft India & South Asia and is responsible for Microsoft’s overall presence and business in the area. He leads the company’s digital transformation in the era of AI and intelligent cloud.
At Microsoft, Puneet drives the company’s mission of ‘empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more’, aligned with India and South Asia’s inclusive growth agenda. He leads a team that is committed to accelerating India & South Asia’s growth with AI and cloud at its core; and helps businesses reimagine how they bring intelligent data and technology to create value for their customers in a digital-first world.
Puneet has built and scaled several high growth technology businesses, in leadership positions at AWS, McKinsey and IBM. Puneet is passionate about ‘Performance with Purpose’, using technology to deliver impact at scale, and leading with empathy and from the heart.
Puneet has received an honorary Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) from Bennett University, acknowledging his achievements. He chairs the CII AI Council, is a part of the Executive Council at NASSCOM, and on Advisory Councils of Penguin Random House and NAMTECH.
Zarin Daruwala
Cluster CEO India, & South Asia markets (Bangladesh, Nepal & Sri Lanka)
Standard Chartered Bank
Zarin Daruwala
Cluster CEO India, & South Asia markets (Bangladesh, Nepal & Sri Lanka)Standard Chartered Bank
Ms. Zarin Daruwala is Cluster Chief Executive Officer, India, and South Asia markets (Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka). In a career spanning over 34 years, she has worked across all areas of banking, ranging from wholesale banking, agri-finance, corporate finance, corporate planning, investment banking and credit.
She was selected as one of the Top 30 most powerful women in Indian business by Business Today seven times. She has been featured in the coveted "BT Hall of Fame" for being a consistent performer. She consistently features in the 50 most powerful Women in Business listing by Fortune India, and Business World has listed her among the 75 Most Influential Women in India. She has also been recognised for "Outstanding Contribution toward Banking and Financial Services" for 2017-18 by the IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In addition, Zarin was featured in "Top 100 Most Influential BFSI Leaders", released by the World BFSI Congress and Awards. More recently, she has been recognised as the Banking CEO of the Year for India by The European Global Business Awards 2023.
A rank holder in Chartered Accountancy, Zarin has also won the President's gold medal, topping the all-India Company Secretary exams. She has also been conferred the CA Business Achiever award by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Before Standard Chartered, Zarin worked at ICICI Bank, where she spent 26 years of her career, starting as a management trainee and eventually becoming President and Head of the Wholesale Banking business. She has also served on the Board of Directors of key ICICI group companies, ICICI Lombard General Insurance and ICICI Securities. She was also on the board of JSW Steel for almost eight years.
D. Shivakumar
Management Thinker & Chairman
MTPL - an Advent PE Company &
Chair of SHRM India Conferences & Council
D. Shivakumar
Management Thinker & ChairmanMTPL - an Advent PE Company &
Chair of SHRM India Conferences & Council
D. Shivakumar, or Shiv as he is popularly known, is a Bangalore born leader and a management thinker.
He is currently Operating Partner at Advent International Private Equity. Previously, Shiv has been Group Executive President, Corporate Strategy at Aditya Birla Group, and Chairperson & Chief Executive Officer at PepsiCo Holdings Private Limited, India. Prior to that he was CEO for emerging markets at Nokia.
Shiv started his career as a management trainee in the Consumer Products Division at Hindustan Ciba Geigy before shifting to Hindustan Unilever Limited where he spent 19 years in sales, marketing and general management positions. He moved to Philips, India as Chief Executive Officer of the consumer electronics division in 2003.
Shiv joined Nokia in 2006 as the Managing Director, India. Under his management, Nokia built its entire services portfolio, including Nokia Life Tools. He was also instrumental in pushing low-cost mobile devices across rural India; making Nokia a dominant brand in India. He is credited for driving Nokia’s brand from No. 71 to No. 1 in the country. He was instrumental in making Nokia one of the top most trusted brands. Shiv moved as Sr. Vice President, Emerging Markets (India, Middle East, Africa) in 2011. This market accounts for 40% of Nokia’s global business and comprises of around 90 countries. His contribution during this time have become case studies at Harvard University, ISB and other Ivy League Institutes.
In 2013, Shivakumar was appointed as the Chairperson & CEO of PepsiCo Holdings Private Limited, India where he managed brand portfolios across beverages, snacks and nutrition. He has been the driving force in bringing PepsiCo’s nutrition portfolio to the forefront with new launches under the Quaker and Tropicana brands. He is known for being the key driver for portfolio transformation and deepen consumer engagement with flagship brands. Apart from overseeing India operations, he also managed PepsiCo’s franchise business across Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
Thereafter 2018, Shivakumar joined Aditya Birla Group as the Group Executive President, Corporate Strategy. Aditya Birla Group is one of the largest Indian conglomerates with businesses spread across telecommunications, cement, chemicals, mining, textiles, financial services, retail and e-commerce, among others, in 36 countries.
Achal Khanna
Chief Executive Officer
SHRM India, APAC & MENA
Achal Khanna
Chief Executive OfficerSHRM India, APAC & MENA
Achal Khanna is the CEO for SHRM India, APAC & MENA. SHRM India is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), which is the world’s largest association devoted to human resource management with more than 3,00,000 HR and business executive members in 165 countries.
Achal is responsible for leading the India operations of SHRM, as well as Asia Pacific operations including Middle-East. She serves on the global SHRM Leadership Team and is responsible for building the brand, expanding its business and developing professional relationships with government agencies, and other HR and business associations in the region.
Achal has over 30 years of work experience. Prior to joining SHRM, she was Managing Director for Kelly India operations; Vice President for GE; and Country Manager for Polaroid India. She has also worked with Dupont, ITC and Cosmo Group in various capacities.
She is a recipient of the “Best Women Executive in India” award.
Achal holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics; a Master’s Degree in English Literature and she is an MBA from Delhi.
A. Balasubramanian
Managing Director & CEO
Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC
A. Balasubramanian
Managing Director & CEOAditya Birla Sun Life AMC
Mr. A. Balasubramanian is the Managing Director & CEO of Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited. A stalwart of the mutual fund industry, he brings with him over three decades of rich experience.
He has been associated with the organisation since 1994. Prior to assuming the role of CEO in 2009, Mr. Balasubramanian served as the Chief Investment Officer. Before joining ABSLAMC in the year 1994 he worked with GIC Mutual Fund, Can Bank Financial Services and Pandit & Co.
Mr. Balasubramanian has been awarded CEO of the Year title by Asia Asset Management. He has been awarded the Chairman’s Individual Award by the Aditya Birla Group for being an Outstanding Leader.
Mr. Balasubramanian is closely associated with key industry bodies. He has been on the board of AMFI (Association of Mutual Funds in India). He is the Chairman of the AMFI Equity CIOs’ Committee. He is also an esteemed member of the Fund Management Advisory Committee of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). He has been the Governor on Board of Governors at the National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM), an institute affiliated with SEBI. He was also a member of the Advisory Committee of the SEBI Investor Protection and Education Fund (IPEF).
He is the Additional Director on the Board of Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry for the year 2024-25.
He has completed advanced management programs from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore and Harvard Business School.
Mr. Balasubramanian is involved with philanthropic work through various charitable organisations. He is one of the active members at the Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Centre for Child Heart Care. He is also associated with the Sathya Sai University, Gulbarga that imparts knowledge on Human Excellence to students during their higher education. He also promotes Indian arts and village traditional culture.
Dr. Praveer Sinha*
CEO & Managing Director
The Tata Power Company
Dr. Praveer Sinha*
CEO & Managing DirectorThe Tata Power Company
Dr. Praveer Sinha is the CEO & Managing Director of The Tata Power Company Limited, one of India's oldest and largest integrated power utilities. A seasoned power sector professional with a career spanning almost four decades, Dr. Sinha has held several leadership positions across the power sector value chain.
As CEO and MD of Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited, he was instrumental in driving the turnaround of the DISCOM through technological and social interventions and setting a benchmark operational model for other DISCOMs and developing countries to follow.
Under his current leadership, Tata Power is at the forefront of transforming itself from a century old power utility company into a new-aged sustainable, technology oriented and customer centric green energy solutions company. Dr. Sinha has led multiple partnerships with national and international technology partners and institutional associations. He has contributed significantly to setting up the first international incubator in India for promoting innovations in the clean energy space.
He is the chairman of the CIl Western Region Council and co-chairs the CII National Committee on Power. Dr. Sinha is a qualified electrical engineer and has also completed his master's in business law. He received his PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, and is a visiting research associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston, USA.
Krishnakumar Thirumalai
Chief Executive Officer
Reliance Consumer Products
Krishnakumar Thirumalai
Chief Executive OfficerReliance Consumer Products
Krishnakumar Thirumalai is a seasoned professional with over 41 years of experience in the Consumer Brands and FMCG segment. In his current role, as the CEO of Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL), he is responsible for setting up the business and expanding the organization into various categories. He is also responsible for nurturing new and existing customers, partnerships, strategic alliances, and other market opportunities.
Krishnakumar has held positions at various organizations such as Coca Cola India, Asian Paints, Johnson & Johnson Ltd, Parry's Confectionery Ltd., Tiffany Foods- Dubai.
Throughout his career, he has demonstrated strong leadership and strategic thinking capabilities. He has significant experience of heading organizations in developing and emerging markets in the fast-moving consumer goods sector.
In his previous role, he was President of Coca Cola India & Southwest Asia and has crafted the organization’s business strategy, ensuring revenue growth in a responsible and profitable manner.
Krishnakumar holds an MBA in Marketing from IIM Bangalore (1983) and a BE (Hons) from College of Engineering Guindy (1981). He also participated in an Advanced Management program at Wharton Business School in 1996.
Outside of work, he enjoys working for the community and has created a trust in the name of his Guru to support rural empowerment.
Anurag Mehrotra
Managing Director
JSW MG Motor India
Anurag Mehrotra
Managing DirectorJSW MG Motor India
Anurag Mehrotra brings three decades of experience in the automotive sector, with key leadership roles in sales, marketing, strategy, and business development. He currently serves as the Managing Director of JSW MG Motor India.
He has held significant positions at leading national and global firms, such as Vice President of Strategy & International Business at Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and President & Managing Director at Ford India, where he’s led a transformative turnaround, delivering three consecutive years of positive EBIT.
Anurag’s leadership is characterised by humility, a service-oriented approach, and passion. Based in Gurugram, Anurag will be responsible for driving strategic growth initiatives, championing the company’s core values of diversity, experience, innovation, and community.
Sanjay Behl
Jt. President & COO
Adani Cement
Sanjay Behl
Jt. President & COOAdani Cement
Sanjay Behl is the Jt. President & Coo of Adani Cement. He has over 30-years of work experience in diverse functional and business leadership roles, ranging across consumer goods to service industry, in B2C and B2B segments, in India and Global markets.
Sanjay started with Hindustan Unilever in 1993. After the first 10-years at HUL, the next 10-years were in Telecom at Nokia and Reliance, and thereafter 7 years in Fashion Retail company Raymond. In early 2020, he co-founded a real time data science company, Nextqore, HQ in US, with regional offices in Mumbai, Amsterdam, and Sydney. In 2024, he co-founded his 2nd start-up SmartWheels Inc., a Silicon Valley based tech start-up in the space of digitizing automobile tires.
Prior to taking over the Adani Cement mandate to lead Sales, Marketing, Brand and Logistics operations in January 2025, he was the CEO & Executive Director of Greaves Electric Mobility (GEM), with a mandate to build an EV company in 2&3-wheeler automotive space, near ground zero up through OEM acquisitions and PE funding. With $150 M funding from strategic investor from Saudi Arabia and 3 distinct acquisitions, he built a hyperscale profitable venture within a year of this mandate.
In addition to his executive and board roles, he is very active on multiple other Industry platforms - advising and mentoring many entrepreneurs in the Fashion, Lifestyle & Technology space. Over the last few years, Sanjay has added new skills in the areas of Data Science, GenAI, Renewable Energy and Performance Marketing.
Sanjay has a proven track record of delivering disruptively profitable & sustainable high growth across industries. Built many businesses and brands, multiple times over from Ground Zero. Also, managed and transformed many large, established and complex businesses. Has a strong expertise in leading teams of diverse skill sets, experience, scale, structures, locations, cultures and nationalities.
Amongst the many accolades he has received, a few notable ones are Business World ‘Most Valuable CEOs in India 2019’, Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018 by IIT BHU Alumni Association, ‘Outstanding Marketing Professional 2016’ award by International Advertising Association, Unilever Global Chairman award for Highest measurable growth in revenue and profits in 2001.
Sanjay stays actively connected with future shaping technologies and believes in continuous learning and reskilling himself.
Dr. Ajit Ranade*
Economist
Former Vice Chancellor, Gokhale Institute of Politics & Economics
Former President & Chief Economist, Aditya Birla Group
Dr. Ajit Ranade*
EconomistFormer Vice Chancellor, Gokhale Institute of Politics & Economics
Former President & Chief Economist, Aditya Birla Group
Dr. Ajit Ranade has served as Vice Chancellor, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, a deemed University in Pune from February 2022 till October 2024
His professional career has spanned academic and corporate assignments, including teaching in universities in India and U.S. He has served on many boards of companies, academic institutions, and trusts. He has served on various committees of the Reserve Bank of India, most recently in the committee for Fuller Capital Account Convertibility.
Dr. Ranade is a trustee of Pune International Centre, Board member of MCCIA and Chairs the Research Advisory Panel of the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance.
Prasanth Kumar
Chief Executive Officer
GroupM South Asia
Prasanth Kumar
Chief Executive OfficerGroupM South Asia
Prasanth Kumar is the Chief Executive Officer – GroupM South Asia managing India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Most recently as GroupM’s COO South Asia, he was responsible for driving operational excellence, while leading teams across OpCos, Trading, and Specialised Units to drive client delight while fortifying partnerships.
Prior to that, Prasanth oversaw Mindshare’s rapid expansion in the market as its CEO. Bringing it to a market leading position and winning numerous global awards. Under his leadership, Mindshare India developed a record for the most number of new business wins by a single market and created a tradition of external accolades, including a Glass Lion at Cannes, a Grand Prix at WARC and an average of over 250+ external awards per year. Mindshare India was also recognized globally as number 2 in the Gunn report. Prior to Mindshare, he led the GroupM Central Trading Group across South Asia and championed exciting partnerships in digital and traditional media.
Prasanth has held several roles across Mindshare and GroupM over the years. Prasanth joined Maxus Bangalore in 2004 and now has spent more than 15 years with GroupM. PK, as he is known amongst friends, is an MBA graduate from Madras University. He was the first Indian to win the APAC Media Planner/Buyer of the Year title.
Andy Biladeau
Chief Transformation Officer
SHRM
Andy Biladeau
Chief Transformation OfficerSHRM
Andy brings 10+ years of experience as a Human Resources leader, practitioner, and consultant. He began his career at PwC, where he led global HR transformation engagements for Fortune 500 clients, founded PwC’s Learning Solutions consulting practice, and served as the Product Owner for PwC’s Change Navigator platform.
As Director of Talent Development at Target Corporation, Andy led a team responsible for Training, Leadership Development, and Change Management for over 100,000 store team members. During his time at Target, he also led the organizational readiness efforts for Target’s enterprise Operating Model Transformation, impacting more than 2,000 retail stores and more than 250,000 employees.
As a founding team member at the Josh Bersin Company, Andy led the HR Advisory Services practice and delivered consulting engagements across all areas of HR, serving many clients in the Fortune 100. Additionally, he served as the Chief Learning Officer for the Josh Bersin Academy.
Andy holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Virginia and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Florida State University.
Lulu Raghavan
President, APAC
Landor
Lulu Raghavan
President, APACLandor
Lulu Raghavan is the President for APAC. She works closely with the market leaders and their leadership teams across APAC to nurture a culture of high performance and extraordinary creativity to drive business growth.
Lulu has spent over 24 years at the company across Landor offices in San Francisco, New York, London and Mumbai in various roles. She set-up Landor in India in 2008 and has grown it to be India’s largest and most reputed brand and design consultancy. She has led large brand transformation programmes for key clients including Tata Group, Mahindra Group, Aditya Birla Group, Godrej, Axis Bank, Indian Oil, Jubilant Bhartia Group, National Stock Exchange to name a few.
She is a well-known industry commentator who frequently speaks and writes on brand and design at various forums. Notable awards and achievements include Campaign India Mentor of the Year 2023, Campaign India Woman Shaping Change 2023, IMPACT Top 50 Women in Media, Marketing and Advertising (2024, 2023, 2019, 2015), Cannes Lions Design Jury 2018. She has co-authored 5 business school case studies on branding which are in wide circulation globally. She conceptualized and anchored “Beyond Logo”, a TV show for Bloomberg that evangelized the transformative power of brand on business.
Lulu is a strong advocate woman in leadership and actively mentors younger women in her free time. She is proud to have helped establish WPP Stella in India which is a mentoring programme for high potential women. She teaches frequently at various business schools on branding. She is also the author of “Go Further, Faster: Shaping a Life that Matters.” Lulu serves as a Trustee for Dignity Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to the wellbeing of senior citizens in India.
She holds a BA in Economics and Applied Math from Davidson College in the US and an MBA in International Business and Marketing from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research in India. She understands and speaks five languages including English, Hindi, Tamil, French and Spanish.
Anuradha Aggarwal*
Director, User Growth & CMO
Amazon Pay
Anuradha Aggarwal*
Director, User Growth & CMOAmazon Pay
Anuradha Aggarwal is the Director of User Growth and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Amazon Pay. She has over two decades of experience in the industry.
Anuradha started her career at Hindustan Lever as an area sales manager and has since held several key positions. Before joining Amazon, she held various leadership roles at companies like Mondelez International, Marico, and Star TV network2.
At Amazon Pay, she focuses on driving user growth and enhancing the customer experience. She has been instrumental in launching campaigns like "Pay Karne Ka Smarter Way," which emphasizes the convenience and security of digital payments.
Anaheeta Goenka
Chief Operating Officer
Lowe Lintas
Anaheeta Goenka
Chief Operating OfficerLowe Lintas
Anaheeta is the Chief Operating Officer, MullenLowe Lintas Group. She has worked across categories including from Food to Finance, from Personal care to Baby care, and for large conglomerates including established giants like Unilever to the many new agile challengers omnipresent today.
She is the brain behind some iconic work from the agency including Kan Khajura Tesan – bringing Bihar out of darkness to connectivity; Kissanpur, and Haath Munh Bum – a Swachh Aaadat, Swachh Bharat initiative. These have brought her laurels across international award platforms including Cannes, WARC 100, Jay Chiat, Effies, among others.
Anaheeta is a passionate believer in the power of communication and its ability to change behaviour for brands and for the good of humanity. Her mantra in life is to passionately work on anything which will help better the present and future of all Indians.
Partha Neog
CEO & Co-Founder
Vantage Circle
Partha Neog
CEO & Co-FounderVantage Circle
Partha is the CEO and Co-founder of Vantage Circle. He has over two decades of expertise in product and executive management. Partha has a proven track record of scaling great businesses and was instrumental in developing and launching 99acres.com.
He gained remarkable expertise in various industrial verticals when he worked for Aricent, Hughes Software Systems, and Bharat Electronics. He has gained deep insights in unlocking employee productivity using employee recognition and engagement through his experience with several companies and HR departments. His strategic skills in a learning and entrepreneurial environment, where complexity can require a dive into the content and creativity, problem-solving skills and intelligence are maximally utilized.
Partha is a strong believer in being able to have an impact together with a team. He leads the company with innovative flair, a reason why Vantage Circle enjoys a sustained competitive position in the market. Under Partha's leadership, Vantage Circle has become a globally recognized HR Tech company, establishing itself as one of the leading Employee Rewards and Recognition SaaS-software in India, UAE and North America.
Akhilesh Tuteja
Partner & National Leader, Clients and Markets
KPMG India
Akhilesh Tuteja
Partner & National Leader, Clients and MarketsKPMG India
Akhilesh is Partner & National Leader, Clients and Markets and Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT), KPMG in India and Global Head - Cyber Security for KPMG in India.
Akhilesh is passionate about developments in the area of information technology and how these can help businesses drive smart processes and effective outcomes. He has advised over 200 clients on matters relating to cyber security, IT strategy, selection of technologies and helped them realise the business benefits of technology. He possesses good knowledge of behaviour psychology and is enthusiastic about addressing the issues of IT risks in a holistic manner, especially through application of user behaviour analytics.
Akhilesh has played an instrumental role in the industry, and is widely recognised for his strong blend of business and technical skills. Due to his positioning as an independent expert, he has been a member of jury for a number of awards over the last few years. Akhilesh is a frequent contributor to business and technology publications. He is a notable speaker on cyber security and its implication on enterprise businesses.
Akhilesh has also played an active part in developing security and privacy frameworks for the banking industry in India.
Dr. Sanjay Chaturvedi
Chief Executive Officer
Apitoria
Dr. Sanjay Chaturvedi
Chief Executive OfficerApitoria
Dr. Sanjay Chaturvedi is currently, the Chief Executive Officer of Apitoria (A 100% subsidiary of Aurobindo Pharma). Earlier, he was the Executive Director and CEO of IOL Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Dr. Sanjay is a global business executive having worked in the Specialty Chemicals, Biotech and Pharmaceutical industry for over 25 years. Other professional experience includes leadership roles at Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Praj Industries, Rohm and Haas and Dow Chemicals.
A seasoned business executive with a unique ability to connect with people and understand broad issues, Dr. Sanjay has a proven track record in business turn-around, organization building, talent development and product development. He has successfully started new businesses as well as managed large business organizations across the world.
He is a strategic thinker, with broad general management experience (Innovation, P&L, Strategy, Marketing), he has served a variety of markets including Biotech, Specialty Materials and Pharmaceuticals. His diverse educational, professional, and personal background makes him a real ‘out of the box’ thinker. He has lived and traveled extensively through North America, Europe, Latin America, Africa and Central and South
Dr. Sanjay has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry (Honors) and a master’s degree in Physical Chemistry from St. Stephens College, University of Delhi. He has a PhD in Physical Chemistry from Stony Brook University, New York and a Management degree from Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania. He has attended other executive education programs at Harvard and Caltech.
Sushil Baveja
Chief Human Resources Officer
Jindal Stainless
Sushil Baveja
Chief Human Resources OfficerJindal Stainless
Sushil Baveja is the CHRO of Jindal Stainless Ltd. Jindal Stainless is the largest stainless steel company in India and ranks amongst the top 10 stainless steel conglomerates in the world.
Sushil has in the past worked across the entire spectrum of HR & IR in professionally-run Indian family business enterprises (Samtel, Dalmia and DCM Shriram) and reputed multinationals (Cadbury, Gillette, Alcatel) for over 38 years leading HR for Factory, Sales and Corporate in India and South East Asia.
Sushil is an alumnus of Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad. He has also done the Advanced Human Resource Executive Program (AHREP) from the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan.
He has been associated with various professional and industry bodies including CII, Assocham, DMA, SHRM and NHRDN.
Sourabh Deorah
Co-Founder & CEO
AdvantageClub.ai
Sourabh Deorah
Co-Founder & CEOAdvantageClub.ai
Sourabh Deorah is the Co-founder and CEO of AdvantageClub.ai, an AI powered employee engagement and rewards platform with offerings like rewards and recognition, flexible benefits, wellness, surveys, moments that matter, and communities on a single platform. In his current capacity, he is responsible for the strategic direction, product development, and overall business success.
A University of California (UCLA) computer science Master’s degree holder with an engineering background, Sourabh majored in machine learning and data mining. He started his professional journey with Amazon and Microsoft in the US before setting off with his first entrepreneurial venture, AdvantageClub.ai, in 2016 with his partner Smiti Bhatt, also a UCLA alumna.
AdvantageClub.ai is redefining employee engagement with Sourabh’s unique experience in generating 1.0 scalable product ideas and running large teams. It has evolved into a trusted platform through which businesses can engage with their clients/employees more meaningfully, and marketers can quickly reach out to the customer group of their choice. His strong belief in innovation and implementation has garnered AdvantageClub.ai a strong reputation in the industry.
When not in his boardroom avatar, Sourabh is a keen traveler, adventure seeker, and start-up enthusiast.
Yousuf Alnuaimi
Digital Transformation Advisor to the Chairman
Ajman Municipality & Planning Department
Yousuf Alnuaimi
Digital Transformation Advisor to the ChairmanAjman Municipality & Planning Department
Yousuf Alnuaimi is Leading & Supervising the Digital Transformation programs for Ajman Municipality & Planning Department, ensuring the implementation of best practices as per the international standards, focusing on implementing enterprise architecture to help develop the services and secure the business demands.
Khaled Moeen Al Hosani
Executive Director, Public Health & Environment Sector
Ajman Municipality Planning Department
Khaled Moeen Al Hosani
Executive Director, Public Health & Environment SectorAjman Municipality Planning Department
Khaled Moeen Al Hosani is spearheading the Public Health and Environment Programs for Ajman Municipality & Planning Department, shaping and guiding the strategic direction of public health and environmental policies and programs. overseeing the development, implementation, and evaluation of initiatives that aim to protect public health and preserve the environment.
Sheikha Dr. Noura Hamid Rashid Al Nuaimi
Innovation & Business Development Consultant & Director, AjmanX Center
Ajman Municipality & Planning Department
Sheikha Dr. Noura Hamid Rashid Al Nuaimi
Innovation & Business Development Consultant & Director, AjmanX CenterAjman Municipality & Planning Department
Sheikha Dr. Noura Hamid Rashid Al Nuaimi is the Innovation and Business Development Consultant and Director of AjmanX Center at the Department of Municipality and Planning, Ajman.
Dr. Noura Al Nuaimi began her professional career in 2005 as an Electronic Systems Developer at the Department of Municipality and Planning, later holding several key positions, including Head of the Systems Development Department.
Her experience in the field of innovation has led her to manage innovative projects at the Municipality and Planning Department, including the I-Spot project for monitoring road equipment and infrastructure distortions, as well as the pilot project for testing a self-driving vehicle on Ajman Corniche Road.
Additionally, she has overseen the Autonomous Cleaning Vehicle project, which seeks to maintain the cleanliness and sustainability of various facilities and locations in Ajman, enhancing its beauty and attractiveness by employing cutting-edge technologies in environmental services. Dr. Noora Al Nuaimi continues to work on strengthening strategic partnerships with leading global institutions in the fields of innovation and future technologies.
Among the most prominent awards she has received includes, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Award for Women Leadership, The Global Innovation Award in the 6-Star category and The Government Innovation Award (Platinum Category) from Ideas UK, along with several other local and international awards.
She holds a master’s degree in international business from the University of Wollongong in Australia. She has also obtained a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Ajman.
Smiti Bhatt Deorah
Co-Founder & COO
AdvantageClub.ai
Smiti Bhatt Deorah
Co-Founder & COOAdvantageClub.ai
Smiti Bhatt Deorah is the Co-founder and COO of AdvantageClub.ai, an AI-powered employee engagement and rewards platform with offerings like rewards and recognition, flexible benefits, wellness, surveys, moments that matter, and communities on a single platform. In her current role, she oversees various functions, including business development, marketing, customer relations, and content operations.
An alumna of the University of California (UCLA) with a Master's degree in Computer Science, Smiti has strong experience in B2B networking and relationships. Prior to co-founding AdvantageClub.ai with Sourabh Deorah, she was a Software Engineer with one of the Big 5-Microsoft-in the US, where she was instrumental in the brand’s expansion across the globe.
Smiti envisions AdvantageClub.ai to disrupt the traditional employee experience and engagement industry. She firmly believes that corporations need to engage with their employees beyond the provident fund & corporate discount schemes extensively. With her guiding principle of “If it is not useful to the end-user, it's probably not worth doing,” Smiti has redefined AdvantageClub.ai from an HR Tech Start-Up to a multi-million-dollar venture.
Besides her entrepreneurial role, Smiti enjoys reading and discussing HR and tech, sales, business, and Indian start-up scenes. She also has a self-confessed love for Harry Potter trivia.
Ajay Trehan
Founder and CEO
AuthBridge
Ajay Trehan
Founder and CEOAuthBridge
Ajay Trehan is a visionary entrepreneur and IIT-Delhi graduate with over 30 years of experience in building and scaling businesses. His early corporate journey at Shriram Industrial Enterprises and ICI India set the stage for his entrepreneurial leap.
In 2005, driven by a passion for innovation, he founded AuthBridge to solve the trust challenges global companies faced in India. Under his leadership, AuthBridge has grown into India’s leading provider of digital-first solutions for verification, onboarding, and risk management, serving 3000+ companies, including Fortune 500 firms and unicorns.
Ajay has been instrumental in pioneering AI-driven solutions that enhance accuracy, security, and efficiency in trust ecosystems. Beyond business, Ajay actively mentors startups, advises industry bodies like NASSCOM and TiE, and speaks on business transformation and trust infrastructure. A lifelong learner, he is also an avid reader and movie buff.
Deepali Naair
Group Chief Marketing Officer
CK Birla Group
Deepali Naair
Group Chief Marketing OfficerCK Birla Group
Deepali leads marketing for the USD 3 billion CK Birla Group. Previously, she was CMO at IBM India & South Asia and led marketing at IIFL Wealth and Mahindra Holidays. She has also worked with Tata Motors, HSBC, and Marico. Deepali has held P&L responsibilities at L&T Insurance, IBM and at Mahindra Holidays. She was also the Independent Director on the Board of IIFL Wealth Finance
She is the editor and hosts a successful podcast called Being CEO with Deepali Naair.
Deepali’s work in the sales and marketing domain is very well recognised. She won the ET ‘Most Promising Tech Marketer of the year’ award in 2020 and has been listed six times in ‘India’s 50 most influential women’ in media and marketing by Impact.
She teaches at SP Jain, MICA, and a few IIMs.
Manjul Tilak
Chief Human Resources Officer
Piramal Enterprises
Manjul Tilak
Chief Human Resources OfficerPiramal Enterprises
Manjul heads the HR function for the Financial Services and Realty businesses for the Piramal Group, where he is responsible for shaping and driving the people agenda and address HR priorities at enterprise level.
Manjul has over twenty-seven years of HR experience with the last seventeen in Financial Services in the Kotak Mahindra Group. His last stint in Kotak Bank was as Senior Executive Vice President, where he headed HR for their Consumer Banking business, spanning both retail liabilities and consumer assets.
He started his stint with the Kotak Group in their life insurance business, post which he moved to the Bank to handle HR for their Wholesale Bank, Global Transaction Services, Treasury and Risk functions. He was a key member of the team which handled the merger between Kotak Bank and ING Vysya Bank.
Prior to the Kotak Group, Manjul has also worked for The India Today Group and Triveni Engineering & Industries Limited. He has rich experience in building scale in businesses, and in cutting edge practices in the areas of talent acquisition, leadership development, succession planning, managing high potentials, employee engagement, learning and organizational development.
Manjul is an Engineer from NIT, Jalandhar and did his Masters in Personnel Management & Industrial Relations from University Business School, Panjab University, Chandigarh.
Seema Nair
Chief Human Resources Officer
Flipkart
Seema Nair
Chief Human Resources OfficerFlipkart
Seema Nair leads the Human Resources function at Flipkart, India’s homegrown e-commerce stalwart.
With nearly 30 years of global HR experience, Seema has spearheaded strategic initiatives that transformed performance, culture, and diversity across various sectors. She is passionate about developing leaders to help drive business growth and build a strong, people-centered organization.
Before joining Flipkart, Seema served as Head of Group HR Digitization and Head of Group HR Office at Reliance Industries Limited. She was privileged to lead two innovative platforms that catered to the needs of nearly 4 lakh employees and a large extended workforce.
She is actively involved in broader industry initiatives, as a member of the Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) and MSME committees of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Her commitment to fostering inclusive workspaces and supporting small and medium enterprises remains a core part of my mission.
Bhavya Misra
Chief Human Resources Officer
Godrej Capital
Bhavya Misra
Chief Human Resources OfficerGodrej Capital
Bhavya Misra, Chief Human Resources Officer at Godrej Capital, brings nearly two decades of rich experience in HR across Technology, FMCG, and Retail sectors. Her distinguished career includes leadership roles at PepsiCo, Bharti Walmart, and Lenovo, where she excelled in Talent Management, Talent Acquisition, Organizational Transformation, and Business Partnering.
At Godrej Capital, Bhavya resonates deeply with the company's causes related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), with a particular focus on the LGBTQIA+ and PWD communities. She is also leading the company’s vision to create a workplace of gender inclusion, striving for equal representation of men and women.
Bhavya's approach to HR is deeply rooted in empathy and pragmatism, ensuring that every employee feels valued and heard. Her philosophy revolves around the idea of keeping employees at the centre of all decisions, ensuring a safe and healthy environment for them. She believes that aligning business objectives with hiring is crucial. Her strategic alignment of business goals with talent acquisition has been central to her HR practices.
An alumna of MDI, Gurgaon, and St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, Bhavya brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record of driving HR excellence. Her dedication to building a diverse and dynamic workforce continues to propel Godrej Capital towards greater success.
Gopinath Pullaihgari
Sr. Director & Head - HR
Verizon India
Gopinath Pullaihgari
Sr. Director & Head - HRVerizon India
Gopinath (Gopi) Pullaihgari heads a strong fleet of Human Resources professionals at Verizon India. Dynamic and creative in his approach, Gopi comes with rich experience of over 25+ years in people management gained through his exposure to multiple global organizations. He has pioneered initiatives on talent management and transformation, setting up innovative HR practices focusing on leadership and agile HR methodology. Gopi believes that diversity is more than a number and is a strong practitioner of inclusion both, at the workplace and in his personal life.
He remains closely connected with the business driving talent strategy as a key business enabler. His broad base of strategic and tactical HR experience elevates the quality of the workforce, increasing their productivity to enhance stakeholder value. Prior to joining Verizon in 2012, Gopi was associated with JP Morgan.
A wanderer at heart, an angler by passion and a sports enthusiast, Gopi enjoys playing Frisbee and Cricket. He graduated in economics from the Presidency College and holds a Masters in Social Work from PSG College of Arts and Science.
Rakhee Malik
Head Human Resources
Kearney, India
Rakhee Malik
Head Human ResourcesKearney, India
Rakhee Malik is the Head of Human Resources at Kearney India. She has over 24 years of experience in human resources management, having worked with prominent organizations in management consulting and knowledge services.
In her current role, Rakhee oversees the people function for Kearney India and serves as a board member for both Kearney India and Cervello India. She has a strong background in leadership development, global talent management, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and transformational leadership.
Before joining Kearney, Rakhee worked with McKinsey & Company and WNS Global Services, where she played a key role in setting up and growing McKinsey's first Knowledge Centre in India. She is also an active speaker at industry forums and educational institutions, sharing her insights on women leadership and diversity.
Rakhee has received several accolades, including the "Women Super Achiever Award" by the World HRD Congress in 2016 and the "Iconic Woman creating a better world for all" by the Women Economic Forum in 2020.
Powerhouse where domain expertise, enterprise solutions add digital technologies converge to redefine business processes leader in digital transformation and IT services.
Somraj Roy
Senior Vice President Human Resources
CEAT
Somraj Roy
Senior Vice President Human ResourcesCEAT
Somraj Samin Roy is the Senior Vice President of Human Resources at CEAT. In his role he focuses on developing and implementing HR strategies that align with the company's goals. He is known for his expertise in talent management and capability development.
He has more than two decades of Professional Experience in Organizations of Repute in 'Generalist' HR profile, namely Reliance Industries, L&T, and KEC International, with specific Interest in Organizational Behavioral Dynamics & Interventions.
Somraj is committed to fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the organization. He firmly believes that there is never a 'Lose' moment in life, one is either successful or wiser from the experience.
Priti Kataria
Chief Human Resources Officer & Member of Executive Board
Birlasoft
Priti Kataria
Chief Human Resources Officer & Member of Executive BoardBirlasoft
Priti Kataria is a seasoned leader with over 26 years of experience in the IT industry. As Chief Human Resources Officer, she is responsible for developing and executing a human resource strategy that aligns with the company's overall business plan. She is dedicated to cultivating a high-performance culture, strengthening the employer brand, and driving an agile, people-centric organization at Birlasoft. Additionally, she is a passionate advocate for Inclusion & Diversity. She has a strong business focus and expertise in leading HR initiatives for a global workforce, driving collaboration and impact in complex, matrixed organizations.
Prior to Birlasoft, she served as Senior Vice President & CHRO – Wipro Enterprise Futuring (WEF), where she spearheaded large-scale HR transformations, talent strategy, leadership development, and culture-building initiatives.
She is currently pursuing a PhD in Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources from IIM Indore and holds a Postgraduate degree in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. Outside of her professional life, Priti is an avid reader and has a strong passion for traveling.
Raj Tanwar
Chief Human Resources Officer & Special Projects
AIonOS
Raj Tanwar
Chief Human Resources Officer & Special ProjectsAIonOS
Raj is an official Forbes HR Council member and a well-known as well as recognised HR professional in the Industry. In his two decades of global, cross-cultural HR experience, he has worked in various industries, including IT/ITES, Oil & gas, Pharmaceuticals, Engineering and Manufacturing. He has lived and practised HR in the Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Russia, and Europe.
He is currently the Chief Human Resources Officer at AIonOS – A joint venture between InterGlobe Enterprises and Assago Group, spearhead by Industry veteran leader Mr. CP Gurnani. Prior to this, he served as Chief Strategy Officer & Head HR at AdvantageClub.ai, a Global HR Technology (SaaS) platform serving 5 million employees in the domain of HRTech.
In his previous role, Raj has led Concentrix's global digital talent strategy across 40 nations. Additionally, he spearheaded the line HR department for 70,000 employees across 13 locations in India and the ASEAN region. He also started the automation and modernization of Concentrix's HR operation.
Leading newspapers, business journals, TV stations, and international conferences feature his opinions and perspectives. He has also received eight prestigious industry honours for his various contributions:
* ET Global India Leader (2022)
* Topmost HR Leaders (North India) - World HRD Congress (2022)
* Great People Manager Award - Great Manager Institute and Forbes India (2020)
* TA Pai Young HR Leader Award - People Business and Economic Times (2020)
* Great Manager Award - People Business and Economic Times (2019)
* Times Ascent Asia Pacific HRM Awards - HR Tech Projects of the Year (2019)
* ACEF Asian Awards for excellence in HR - HR Leader of the Year (2018)
* 100 Most Influential Tech HR Leaders - Individual Award (2018)
His formal qualifications include PGDM from Symbiosis and further study in Digital Transformation from Columbia Business School, Managerial & Leadership Effectiveness from IIMA, and Design Thinking & Innovation from Emeritus, Singapore. He is also a certified M&A Specialist from Aon Hewitt.
Ashish Chattoraj
Chief People Officer
Tally Solutions
Ashish Chattoraj
Chief People OfficerTally Solutions
Ashish Chattoraj is a Human Resource Professional with 15+ years of experience in different industries like Hi-Tech / IT Services & Manufacturing Industry (FMCG). Ashish is currently working as Chief People Officer at Tally Solutions.
Prior to Tally Solutions he was associated with NXP Semiconductor as Country HR Director.
Professionally Ashish brings a strong blend of strategic planning and tactical execution capabilities in Change Management, Organization Structuring, Building Leadership Pipeline, Leadership Training Coaching & Business HR Partnership. He has managed HR strategy in various changing business scenarios which includes Ramp up's, Site closure, Business Divestment, M&A's etc.
Ashish also brings a strong Compensation & Benefit expertise to create innovate pay programs to drive performance and control attrition by identifying actual problem. He is a self -driven individual with sharp focus & delivery and love being part of a high performing team. He believes in creating a work environment which is empowering, open, transparent and brings the best out of everyone by harnessing individual strengths
In his earlier assignments he has worked as Business Partner HR (Wipro Technologies), Staffing (Infosys Technologies), Sales & Factory HR (Shaw Wallace).
Shillpa S Chabria
Director Human Resources India, Middle East, Africa
Lubrizol
Shillpa S Chabria
Director Human Resources India, Middle East, AfricaLubrizol
Shillpa has over 2 decades of experience in HR. She is currently Director Human Resources, India Middle East Africa, at Lubrizol Corporation. She has strategized reformative talent policies, procedures and programs across Employee Engagement, Talent Development, Employee Relations, Organization Effectiveness and Leadership Development.
In her prior role Shillpa served as Director of Human Resources for thyssenkrupp. Her leadership development journey has been unique with wonderful experiences across diverse industries in Human capital / resources & Dynamic Business Leaders.
Her educational qualifications include Global HR Leaders Program from NUS Business School and a degree in Business Management with a focus on Finance from Bangalore University.
Integrity, Trust, Humility, Respect, Family Hard Work, Excellence and Perseverance are attributes that define her as an individual.
Pooja Minocha
Vice President Human Resources and CHRO
Bata
Pooja Minocha
Vice President Human Resources and CHROBata
Pooja Minocha is a renowned Human Resources professional with over 20 years of wide expertise in Human Resource Management function with specialization in Organization development, HR Strategy, HR Business Partner, Compensation & Benefits, HR operations and HRIT. She is currently the Vice President Human Resources and CHRO at Bata India Limited.
Pooja has led several HR functions driving Total Rewards, Talent Management, Employee Engagement, Innovation in HR, HR scorecard, Organization Structuring, Job Evaluation and Performance & Rewards and HR for HR.
Pooja has multi-industry experience in Financial Services, Telecom, IT/ITES and Pharmaceuticals. Whilst having an India focus, Pooja’s has also spearheaded several international HR strategic projects for the APJ and EEMEA regions and global work-streams.
Ruchee Anand
Senior Director-Talent & Learning Solutions
LinkedIn
Ruchee Anand
Senior Director-Talent & Learning Solutions
Ruchee is a senior sales professional and leader with motivational management style and reputation for building and retaining highly motivated sales teams. Ruchee is currently positioned as Senior Director-Talent & Learning Solutions at LinkedIn where she gets to work, learn and collaborate with the best & the most diverse talent.
Ruchee manages a team of people managers & top consultative sales professionals who are passionate about connecting talent with opportunity on a massive scale. LinkedIn is transforming the way companies find talent, market, and sell. Their solutions help thousands of companies in the world to find great candidates and improve efficiency and create new economic opportunities producing a virtuous cycle that is changing the world into a better place.
She also leads the India Chapter of LinkedIn's ERG (Employee Resource Group) "Women at LinkedIn". Ruchee has the privilege to work with a high energy team that is committed towards creating an Inclusive community that empowers women to advance their careers while being their authentic selves.
Ruchee specializes in Building High Performance Sales Teams, Talent Acquisition, Sales force Management, Sales Team Training & Team building,Sales & Business Development,Key Account Management & Retention.
Nirbhik Goel
Chief Human Resources Officer
VFS Global
Nirbhik Goel
Chief Human Resources OfficerVFS Global
Nirbhik Goel is the Chief Human Resources Officer at VFS Global, responsible for the overall HR function of the organization, including Learning and Development and HRSSC, and the overall Corporate Security, Travel and Administration Services functions.
Nirbhik joined VFS Global in July 2021, bringing with him close to three decades of rich career experience comprising 16 years of leading the HR function globally for renowned service sector companies, including Hospitality (hotels) and Financial Services.
He has strong expertise in several key HR functional areas such as Talent Management, Succession Planning, Learning and Development, Performance Management, and Coaching and Mentoring. Nirbhik has led large HR teams across multiple locations and been responsible for managing substantial HR budgets.
Prior to joining VFS Global, Nirbhik served as the Executive Vice President and CHRO at The Oberoi Group of Hotels. Other key senior positions held by Nirbhik include Managing Director and Global Strategic HR Business Partner for the CIO and Global Head of Operations at AIG based in the headquarters at New York; Managing Director and Head of HR-India at Barclays; and Vice President and Divisional Head of Human Resources for South West Asia at Hyatt Hotels Corporation.
K. S. Shetty
Director-Human Resources
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation
K. S. Shetty
Director-Human ResourcesHindustan Petroleum Corporation
K. S. Shetty is Director-Human Resources at Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited Prior to joining HPCL as Director-Human Resources, Shri K. S. Shetty was Executive Director-Human Resources with additional charge of Executive Director-Employee Relations in HPCL.
Shri K. S. Shetty has over 25 years of experience in HR in various capacities at HPCL. In his current role at HPCL, he is responsible for the entire gamut of HR/ER functions ranging from Talent Acquisition, Capability Building, Career and Succession Planning, Performance and Rewards Management, Discipline Management etc. He also has in-depth knowledge of various Statutory/ Regulatory requirements under various Labour Laws.
Shri K. S. Shetty is a Gold Medallist in Human Resource Management from Andhra University and a distinguished alumnus of the Swedish Institute, Stockholm from where he completed his Diploma in Sustainable Development in 2012. He has also completed his Advanced Management Program from MDI, Gurgaon / ESCP Europe Business School, Paris (2016).He is an SHRM, USA - Senior Certified Professional and is currently on the AIMA Core Committee on HR and also on the National Council of the Indian Society for Training and Development (ISTD). He is also on the Board of HPCL’s Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company (HPLNG), effective October 10, 2022.
Rajesh Rai
Vice President - People & India Head HR
GlobalLogic
Rajesh Rai
Vice President - People & India Head HRGlobalLogic
Rajesh Rai is Vice President – People Team and Head of Human Resources for GlobalLogic in India. Rajesh is responsible for spearheading the company’s HR transformation, Learning & Development, Change Management and D&I & Sustainability initiatives for India. Rajesh works towards building new frontiers that will bolster the company’s vision in building a ‘humans and people first’ culture, drive employee experience, nurture diversity and inclusion, and transform the employees’ and company’s growth journey.
With over two decades of experience in the HR industry, Rajesh has extensive experience of working with global business & HR teams across multiple cross-cultural border teams effectively.
Rajesh has worked with various leading global organizations such as Eicher Motors, Expedia, United Colors of Benetton, Adobe Systems, Ernst & Young, and Arthur Andersen. Rajesh was previously associated with Accenture as Head of HR for their Consulting business in India, along with India Corporate Functions. He enabled HR interventions & strategies for a huge workforce, that focused on crafting industry leading HR practices, commissioning large-scale transformational change and redefining employee experience through Human Capital strategies, Culture, Performance Achievement, Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion.
Rajesh holds a Bachelors and masters in chemistry from Delhi University and an MBA from XLRI Jamshedpur. He is a GALLUP Strengths Coach and loves coaching teams and individuals for leveraging & applying their strengths. Rajesh loves to travel & experience local cultures. He also loves Yoga, meditation, painting, sketching, music, soccer and is an avid reader.
Mohini Palchowdhury
Global Head, People & Culture
Quantiphi
Mohini Palchowdhury
Global Head, People & CultureQuantiphi
Mohini Palchowdhury is Global Head, People & Culture at Quantiphi. Over the past 8 years, she has played a pivotal role in scaling People and Culture, from Quantiphi’s startup roots to global expansion, seamlessly integrating people, processes, and performance across diverse geographies. Her forward-thinking initiatives—sentiment analysis, data-driven performance frameworks, and values-based culture maps—have not only optimized workforce efficiency but also redefined the modern employee experience.
Mohini spearheaded QWEEN (Quantiphi’s Women Education & Empowerment Network), a groundbreaking initiative that provides financial aid and mentorship to women in STEM, breaking barriers and fostering future leaders.
Beyond corporate success, Mohini is an advocate for inclusion and empowerment. With over 15 years of strategic HR experience, Mohini is a passionate innovator, strategist, and cultural architect, honored with multiple industry accolades, including 40Under40 HR Leader and WHRD HR Excellence Award.
Pallav Popli
Chief Revenue Officer &
Employee Engagement Evangelist
Vantage Circle
Pallav Popli
Chief Revenue Officer &Employee Engagement Evangelist
Vantage Circle
Pallav is a distinguished leader with nearly two decades of expertise in industries like HCM, SaaS/PaaS, HR outsourcing, and recognition and rewards. His deep knowledge in HR technology, Rewards and Recognition programs makes him a sought-after speaker in the HR space. With a strong foundation in consulting, recognition strategy, and HR solutions, Pallav is known for simplifying complex products and translating them into actionable insights for entrepreneurs, HR leaders and professionals.
His ability to demystify HR technologies, particularly in the recognition and rewards domain, empowers organizations to optimize their HR strategy and boost workforce engagement. Pallav’s extensive experience, combined with his impactful skills, makes him a valuable voice at industry events. He highlights how cutting-edge technologies, and strategic frameworks can streamline HR processes and elevate employee recognition initiatives. Don’t miss the chance to hear from this industry visionary, register now for #SHRMTECH25 and gain valuable insights into HR technology and engagement!
Nidhi Dhanuja
Head Human Resources
Michelin India
Nidhi Dhanuja
Head Human ResourcesMichelin India
Nidhi is currently leading Head Human Resources at Michelin India.
Nidhi’s professional journey started as a Learning & Organization Development professional about 20 years ago. An avid traveller with a passion for people and cultures, her core areas of work are in various facets of Human Resources and includes institutionalization of Leadership Assessments and Development, alignment of Business with people practices, Diversity and Inclusion practices, Organizational Effectiveness practices, Executive Mentoring, Innovation Management and Leadership Development interventions.
Before Michelin, Nidhi was global CHRO Praj industries, a global leader in Biotechnology and Engineering space.
Nidhi has won several accolades for her work including TISS CLO award for the L&D team of the year, BML Munjal Awards for excellence in Learning & Development, Thermax Innovation Award for a program on Prevention of Sexual Harassment at workplace and Infosys Chairman’s Excellence Award for the work in Building cultures of Innovation at workplace.
She brings with her global perspective and experience, having worked with 3M and PDI in the US and studied in the United States for several years. Nidhi received her bachelor’s degree in from Lady Sri Ram College, Delhi in the year 2000 and a PhD in Human Resource Development from the University of Minnesota, USA in year 2006.
Shaakun Khanna
Advisor on Board
SHRM India
Shaakun Khanna
Advisor on BoardSHRM India
Shaakun Khanna is Advisor on Board with SHRM and specializes in HR Transformation, SkillsBased Organizations, Employee Experience, Talent Management, and HR Technology. With 25 years of comprehensive experience across India, APAC, and the Middle East, he has built a solid reputation in HR consulting, technology transformation, and strategy development, particularly within industries such as IT, professional services, consumer electronics, and banking.
In his recent role as Vice President and Head of HCM strategy and transformation for Oracle Corporation in Asia Pacific, Shaakun managed ecosystems to successfully implement Oracle Human Capital Management and other SaaS solutions, while cultivating relationships with key executives. Previously, as Head of HCM Strategy & Transformation, he led numerous HR transformation projects, securing key deals and enhancing Oracle’s market presence. His leadership at Right Management India as Country Head involved managing talent management initiatives and overseeing the country’s P&L.
Shaakun also served as Country Head at IBM Kenexa, where he built a significant consulting business and led projects focused on employee engagement and leadership assessment. Earlier in his career, he established the 'Strengths-Based Leadership Development' practice at Gallup Consulting and engaged with high-stakes clients like Microsoft and Tata Group.
Shaakun holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from Delhi University. He is a Certified Strength Performance Executive Coach and is pursuing ICF Coach Certification. Additionally, he is certified in the Gallup Q12 Employee Engagement Model. With a proven track record of driving organizational effectiveness through innovative, technology-driven solutions, Shaakun is well-equipped to partner with organizations in their HR transformation journeys
Sejal Haribhakti Mody
Chief Human Resources Officer
Akasa Air
Sejal Haribhakti Mody
Chief Human Resources OfficerAkasa Air
Sejal is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Akasa Air. She leads people functions in alignment with Akasa's employee-centric culture to develop a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization.
Sejal Mody is a seasoned Human Resources leader with over 20 years of cross-industry experience in FMCG, media, and consulting. She specializes in organizational transformation, talent strategy, and change management.
Sejal held leadership roles at Hindustan Unilever Ltd., where she led HR for Supply Chain, Legal, and ESG for South Asia, and played a pivotal role in HR initiatives at Disney Star. Additionally, Sejal has worked with McKinsey & Co. and Accenture, where she led global, cross-industry projects to drive organizational change.
She holds an MBA in Finance and Change Management from the Indian School of Business and a BBA Honors in Management Information Systems from Texas McCombs School of Business.
Saurabh Nigam
Founder & CEO
ProGrowth People Solutions
Saurabh Nigam
Founder & CEOProGrowth People Solutions
A seasoned HR leader and strategist with more than two decades of experience in early-stage and high-growth organizations, Saurabh Nigam is a results-driven professional specializing in creating and executing strategic people practices that accelerate business growth.
As the Founder and CEO of ProGrowth People Solutions, Saurabh brings his extensive expertise to help organizations navigate complex HR challenges and build high-performing teams. Recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice 2024 and one of the Top 25 Future HR Leaders of the Country by People Matters & DDI International, he consistently aligns HR strategies with overarching business objectives.
With a proven track record in optimizing organizational design, talent acquisition, performance management, and leadership development, Saurabh has worked, advised and consulted with numerous startups, mid-sized, and large organizations including Omidyar Network, Snapdeal and Aditya Birla Group.
He is also the author of "People Powered Startups: Building A Culture Of Collaboration, Innovation And High Performance," published by Penguin Random House, a comprehensive guide specifically for startups in India, providing actionable strategies to navigate unique HR challenges.
Pravesh Dudani
Founder & Chancellor, Medhavi Skills University &
Founder & Director, Medhavi Foundation & Medhavi Aspire
Pravesh Dudani
Founder & Chancellor, Medhavi Skills University &Founder & Director, Medhavi Foundation & Medhavi Aspire
Mr. Pravesh Dudani, Founder and Chancellor of Medhavi Skills University (MSU), Sikkim, is a visionary leader in the field of higher education and skill development. With an unwavering commitment to bridging the gap between academia and industry, he has dedicated his life to creating opportunities that enhance employability and empower the Indian Youth.
An accomplished alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, qualified with B.Tech & M.Tech in Electronics & Electrical Communications along with business education from Stanford University, Mr. Dudani brings over 16 years of deep expertise in the education and skilling domains.
In 2012, Mr. Dudani founded the Medhavi Foundation to empower the rural and underprivileged youths with relevant Skills Education and further went on to partner with NSDC and various state skill missions. He also serves on the board of NSDC (National Skill Development Corporation) as an Advisor and contributes to furthering the Skill India mission in aligning education and skilling with National Education Policy 2020 and the National Credit Framework (NCrF).
Building on his vision, Mr. Dudani established Medhavi Skills University in 2021, a trailblazer in industry-aligned, skill-based higher education. Under Mr. Dudani’s leadership, MSU is redefining higher education through its Work Integrated Skill-based Education (WISE) model, which integrates on-the-job training and real-time industry projects into academic programs and provides students with invaluable hands-on experience, transforming the way education and skilling is delivered in India.
Recognized as a thought leader and disrupter in the Education sector, Mr. Dudani has received numerous accolades for his contributions. He was recently honoured with the National Social Impact Award for Individual Philanthropy by CSR Universe for his work in the skilling ecosystem and the upliftment of rural youth. Mr. Dudani has also been acknowledged as one of the Best Education Leaders of 2024 by Tradeflock and received the India's Greatest Education Leaders 2023-24 Award from AsiaOne Magazine.
Pratima Gupta
Head Human Resources, India
Sequoia
Pratima Gupta
Head Human Resources, IndiaSequoia
With a career spanning over two dynamic decades, Pratima Gupta embodies the essence of inspirational leadership. As the current HR Head India at Sequoia, a Total People Investment company, Pratima's journey is a testament to her unwavering commitment to excellence.
In her role at Sequoia, Pratima leads the People Team with a vision that extends far beyond traditional HR. Her mission? To transform organizations through the power of human capital. Pratima is on a relentless quest to enhance employee retention, attract the brightest minds, and elevate the return on investment in people.
Before her remarkable tenure at Sequoia, Pratima held pivotal positions at Huawei Technologies India, where she left an indelible mark in Talent Management, HRBP roles, and departmental RnD leadership. Her innovative approach and dedication were instrumental in driving success and growth.
Pratima's educational journey is a beacon of lifelong learning. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Electronics and Communications Engineering, an Executive Certificate in Leadership and Strategic Management from Jack Welch Management Institute, and an MBA in Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration from Symbiosis Pune. Pratima's pursuit of knowledge extends beyond the traditional classroom, with proficiency courses from IISc in Cross Cultural Communication and certifications such as "Bringing Solutions not Problems" and "Design Thinking Mastery."
Pratima Gupta is not just a leader; she's an inspiration. Her story exemplifies the limitless possibilities that come with dedication, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of personal and professional growth. Pratima is proof that with passion and purpose, one can achieve greatness.
Mahendran Dilli
Senior Vice President - Talent Acquisition & RMG Operations
Indium Software
Mahendran Dilli
Senior Vice President - Talent Acquisition & RMG OperationsIndium Software
Mahendran Dilli is Senior Vice President- Talent Acquisition & RMG Operations at Indium Software, where he is responsible for Strategizing Resource Management Group and Talent Planning.
Mahendran is a proven leader with close to 24 years of experience in Human Resources. His vast experience and expertise span around Workforce planning, Fulfilment strategy to accelerate internal vs external hiring and skilling.
In his previous stints, he had been in multiple roles like HR Mergers & Acquisitions, Diversity and Inclusivity, People engagement and HRBP roles across Technology, Retail, Telecom, Manufacturing and BFS. Mahendran’s approach includes standardization, simplification, and execution.
Mahendran holds an Honours Post Graduate Diploma in Personnel Management & Industrial Relations from Madras School of Social Work. He is an aquarist and enjoys pencil art.
Sakshee Sud
Director-Human Resources
Beiersdorf India
Sakshee Sud
Director-Human ResourcesBeiersdorf India
Sakshee Sud is a HR professional with rich experience of ~15 years across multiple sectors including BFSI, Pharma, IT, Telecom and most recently FMCG. She has worked in different domains in HR and currently serves as Director and Head of Human Resources at Beiersdorf (Home of Nivea, Eucerin, Hansaplast, La Prairie, Chantecaille).
She is adept at leading change and developing high performing teams that enable business results and has led cross cultural teams in APAC to execute people strategy. Her aim is to elevate employee experience and build an inclusive and high-performing future ready workforce.
She’s been recognized as Top HR100under40 leader and Top 24 DEI Leader.
An electronics engineer from NIT Surat she shifted gears and decided to get into management and completed her MBA in HR from SIBM, Pune.
On the personal front - She is an avid traveler who loves spending time with her son and her cat. She is also passionate about helping stray animals and dedicates her free time towards this cause.
Ankit Jambh
Chief Learning Officer
Grant Thornton Bharat LLP
Ankit Jambh
Chief Learning OfficerGrant Thornton Bharat LLP
As the Chief Learning Officer at Grant Thornton, one of the largest professional services networks in the world, Ankit leads the learning and development strategy and initiatives for over 11000 employees across India. With 17 years of experience in the HR field, he has a proven track record of delivering business impact through innovative and agile solutions that leverage social sciences, analytics, and branding.
Ankit is passionate about developing future skills, leadership journeys, inclusive cultures, and mental health in the workplace. He is also a certified coach, a clinical hypnotherapist, a TEDx speaker, and an author of 10 books on various topics related to personal and professional growth. He is the founder of AAO KHILAYEIN, a social initiative that provides food, relief, and education to the underprivileged. He believes in creating a positive difference in the lives of others through his work and his contributions to the society.
SHRM India Advisory Council
D. Shivakumar
Management Thinker & Chairman
MTPL - an Advent PE Company &
Chair of SHRM India Conferences & Council
D. Shivakumar
Management Thinker & ChairmanMTPL - an Advent PE Company &
Chair of SHRM India Conferences & Council
D. Shivakumar, or Shiv as he is popularly known, is a Bangalore born leader and a management thinker.
He is currently Operating Partner at Advent International Private Equity. Previously, Shiv has been Group Executive President, Corporate Strategy at Aditya Birla Group, and Chairperson & Chief Executive Officer at PepsiCo Holdings Private Limited, India. Prior to that he was CEO for emerging markets at Nokia.
Shiv started his career as a management trainee in the Consumer Products Division at Hindustan Ciba Geigy before shifting to Hindustan Unilever Limited where he spent 19 years in sales, marketing and general management positions. He moved to Philips, India as Chief Executive Officer of the consumer electronics division in 2003.
Shiv joined Nokia in 2006 as the Managing Director, India. Under his management, Nokia built its entire services portfolio, including Nokia Life Tools. He was also instrumental in pushing low-cost mobile devices across rural India; making Nokia a dominant brand in India. He is credited for driving Nokia’s brand from No. 71 to No. 1 in the country. He was instrumental in making Nokia one of the top most trusted brands. Shiv moved as Sr. Vice President, Emerging Markets (India, Middle East, Africa) in 2011. This market accounts for 40% of Nokia’s global business and comprises of around 90 countries. His contribution during this time have become case studies at Harvard University, ISB and other Ivy League Institutes.
In 2013, Shivakumar was appointed as the Chairperson & CEO of PepsiCo Holdings Private Limited, India where he managed brand portfolios across beverages, snacks and nutrition. He has been the driving force in bringing PepsiCo’s nutrition portfolio to the forefront with new launches under the Quaker and Tropicana brands. He is known for being the key driver for portfolio transformation and deepen consumer engagement with flagship brands. Apart from overseeing India operations, he also managed PepsiCo’s franchise business across Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
Thereafter 2018, Shivakumar joined Aditya Birla Group as the Group Executive President, Corporate Strategy. Aditya Birla Group is one of the largest Indian conglomerates with businesses spread across telecommunications, cement, chemicals, mining, textiles, financial services, retail and e-commerce, among others, in 36 countries.
Richard Rekhy
Vice Chair, Grand Thornton Bharat
Former CEO, KPMG India
Richard Rekhy
Vice Chair, Grand Thornton BharatFormer CEO, KPMG India
Richard Rekhy is the former Chief Executive Officer of KPMG in India. He is currently Vice Chair at Grand Thornton Bharat and a Board Member of KPMG Dubai.
With more than 30 years of experience in consulting and professional services, Richard has worked in Arthur Andersen, Ernst & Young and RSM &Co, where he has spearheaded the firm in various capacities. He is admired for his clinical approach toward corporate governance, enterprise risk management, internal controls and business processes, across multiple domains.
He is a qualified chartered accountant in India. Besides serving on KPMG Dubai Board where he is helping the Dubai Firm in their transformation journey. Richard is a mentor and Angel Investor. He also mentors the Start-ups and young professional in Consulting.
Richard is also associated with a non-profit organization focused on education for the underprivileged and senior care. He has been contributing significantly in inspiring and mentoring the youths who need assistance and guidance.
He is a member of All India Management Association (AIMA) Board of Governors of the Management and Entrepreneurship and Professional Skills Council (MEPSC). He is a member of Board of Governors – Asian School of Business Management (ASBM) and IIM Sambalpur. Further, he is also a member of Advisory Committee Board of Smile Train India’s (STI), CFO Collective Advisory Council and one of the founder members of Will Forum in India. He is also an Advisor to SpeakIn (Asia’s largest speaker bureau empanelling expert speakers for events in the region).
Richard is affiliated with leading business enterprises, domestic and worldwide, and is also an active member of diverse industry associations and trade bodies. An eloquent and powerful orator, Richard has travelled extensively around the globe and is a respected voice on a range of social and economic issues.
Pavitra Singh
Chief Human Resources Officer
PepsiCo India & South Asia
Pavitra Singh
Chief Human Resources OfficerPepsiCo India & South Asia
Pavitra Singh currently heads HR for PepsiCo India & South Asia. She has been with PepsiCo since 2006.
With 20+ years of overall work experience leading large teams across geographies, she has held leadership positions across a variety of roles in India and other markets. From Center of excellence roles like Talent Management, L&D, Culture, D&I, Talent Acquisition to operating HR Business partnering roles. Prior to joining PepsiCo, she has worked with American Express and Fair Isaac. Pavitra is passionate about building institutional capability and nurturing young talent. A DEI evangelist, she strongly believes in creating a culture of inclusion for all diversity to thrive in spirit and action.
A known leader in the HR domain, she has been recognized externally by multiple forums and thought leadership platforms. To name a few she was recognized in ET’s Women Ahead list as one of Corporate India's fastest rising women leaders, featured in ETHR world 50 thought leaders of 2022, Business World’s Most Influential Women 2022 list and called out in many external forums as DE&I champion.
Pavitra is an explorer at heart. She loves travelling the world and experiencing different cultures. A Gen Z mom, she loves spending time with her daughter and learning from her new age methods.
Pranjal Sharma
Economic Analyst, Advisor & Author
The Next New
Pranjal Sharma
Economic Analyst, Advisor & AuthorThe Next New
Pranjal Sharma is an economic analyst, advisor and author based in New Delhi who focuses on technology, globalisation and emerging markets. He is an advisor to boards, industry associations and international institutions. His third book, ‘The Next New: Navigating The Fifth Industrial Revolution’ is about how sustainability, social impact and technology breakthroughs are collectively disrupting global business models. It was published by HarperCollins in June 2023. He read economics at University of Delhi and specialised in business media at University of Westminster, London. A former head of Bloomberg TV in India, he is a speaker at various fora in Europe, Asia and Africa.
Raj Nayak
Founder & Managing Director
House of Cheer Networks
Raj Nayak
Founder & Managing DirectorHouse of Cheer Networks
A well-known name in the Indian Media & entertainment Industry, Raj Nayak is a visionary leader, media maverick, growth spinner, trendsetter and motivational powerhouse.
In his illustrious career spanning three decades, he led some of the largest media conglomerates in the country. Raj started his career with Tata Economic Consultancy and worked at various news publications before joining STAR TV as a founding member in 1992. Starting as an Area Sales Manager, he spent 10 years at STAR TV and grew into the role of Executive Vice President; and was also a part of the Managing Committee. He then moved on to launch NDTV Media Pvt Ltd as its Chief Executive, helping redefine how news was consumed in the country. Before setting up House of Cheer Networks Pvt Ltd, he was the Chief Operating Officer of Viacom 18 Media Pvt Ltd, where he steered the company to great heights.
His unique prowess to pioneer new concepts and mentor people, make him one of the most respected professionals in the industry. An advocate of happiness, Raj derives his energy from people across all walks of life and believes in the strength of diversity.
Raj has won many awards and accolades. He was awarded the Media Person of the Year 2016 at the IAA Leadership Awards, by the International Advertising Association India Chapter and in the same year, was also awarded the first “Influencer of the Year Award” by Exchange for Media. In 2018, he received the ‘Global Champion Award’ at The International Advertising Association at Bucharest. In addition, he has received the Society Achiever of the Year award for his contribution to Media & Branding, the Humanitarian Award by Amity International for his contribution towards social issues and the Giant International Award for his contribution to the Entertainment Industry. In 2019, he was inducted into the IAA HALL OF FAME by International Advertising Association – IC.
Raj has been an active participant in many industry bodies. He was the President of the Advertising Club and the International Advertising Association India. He has served on the board of Media Research Users Council (MRUC) and The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF).
The Economic Times named him the second most engaging CEO on social media. Apart from driving such an enormous business, this chief is passionate about food, travel & reading. As someone who believes in spreading cheer and winning hearts, his twitter handle @rajcheerfull reflects his overall personality.
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Ashissh Kaul
Director - Knowledge and Advisory & Business Head - PSE Business
SHRM India
Ashissh Kaul
Director - Knowledge and Advisory & Business Head - PSE BusinessSHRM India
Ashissh has over 21 years of experience in HR Consulting firms and has been providing strategic HR inputs to more than 300 clients across industries and geographies, including India, the Middle East, the Americas, and Southeast Asia.
Ashissh is a certified DDI Master Facilitator, Gallup Strengths Coach, Hogan Certified, Talent Management, and HR Technology, expert. Before joining SHRM, Ashissh worked extensively with world-class Consulting organizations like Gallup, Mercer, DDI, and Aon.
He is a trusted adviser to C suite leaders on improving business results by helping build leadership capability, people digital systems, craft talent management strategy, training and designing development journeys, and measuring employee engagement.
Ashissh is known for his executive presence, public speaking skills, and passion for facilitating leadership and behavioral training workshops. His other significant work includes evaluating and building organizational structures by linking to business needs and the application of competencies across the organization. He is also a certified Competency Based Interviewer. Ashissh is an engineering graduate and an alumnus of IIM Lucknow.
Nitya Vijaykumar
Associate Director, Knowledge & Advisory
SHRM India
Nitya Vijaykumar
Associate Director, Knowledge & AdvisorySHRM India
Nitya is an Organization development consultant with experience in Leadership Development, Behavioural Assessments for Succession planning, Performance Management and designing learning journeys for managerial development.
Over the last decade she has successfully leveraged her experience in Business and Consulting to drive meaningful and measurable change management initiatives for her clients across industries like BFSI, ITES, Fintech, Pharma & Manufacturing.
She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in executive HR from XLRI and is a certified HOGAN practitioner. She has extensively used Predictive Psychometric tools like CHALLY, Personality assessment DISC, Pearson personality tool Sosie, Critical thinking Assessments Watson Glaser etc. for designing talent management solutions for clients.
Prior to Organizational Development, her corporate journey began in Business with the Citigroup and later in Wealth Advisory for Private and Corporate clients at Deutsche bank.
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