HR Conclave
HR Conclave
Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon, successfully hosted the HR Conclave 2025 on the theme “Workforce 4.0 – Human Capital Strategies in a Digital-First World.” The event brought together top HR leaders and business experts to explore the evolving dynamics of talent in a technology-driven landscape.
The event opened with Mr. Gautam Lakhamraju, COO & Co-Founder - Great Lakes, Gurgaon, sharing the institute’s transformative journey and its future-focused curriculum. The panel discussions that followed underscored the shift toward skills-based hiring, AI-led talent management, and the importance of adaptability in the modern workforce.
The previous edition of the event, HR Conclave - 2019, brought together HR leaders across industries to explore how organizations can adapt to millennial expectations, workplace transformation, and tech-driven agility.
Panel 1: Exploring “AI & the Future of Talent Management”
Key Takeaways
- AI as an Enabler: Drives internal mobility and reduces hiring costs and attrition when supported by active engagement from employees and managers.
- Evolving Mindsets: Organizational culture must support open talent models; managers need to shift from gatekeepers to growth enablers.
- Skill-Centric Transformation: Talent strategies should prioritize skills over roles to build a more agile workforce.
- Human Touch Still Matters: Human interaction remains vital, particularly in leadership hiring and culture-driven roles.
Panelists
Mr. Vaibhav Chaturvedi
Head of Talent, South Asia, Nestlé (Moderator)
Mr. Rohit Sharma
Head HR Services, Bayer
Mr. Sudhir Sharma
Head of Talent Acquisition, Adani Enterprises Limited
Mr. Misal
Director & Head of Talent Acquisition
Mr. Sabih Kidwai
Director of Learning Solutions, OD & Partner Enablement, Schneider Electric
Mr. Pilith Pericho
Associate Director – Early Careers Global Strategy Lead, UnitedHealth Group
Panel 2: L&D 4.0 – Humanizing Learning in an AI-Driven World
Key Takeaways
- Gen Z Managing Gen Z is the New Challenge: Traditional management playbooks don’t apply — peer-driven ownership and policy-less frameworks are more effective for younger teams.
- Scrum Teams Promote Inclusion: Hierarchy-free, agile team structures empower collaboration across locations, roles, and age groups.
- Focus Beyond Gen Z: While Gen Z draws attention, millennials and Gen X form the performance backbone — HR must cater to all.
- HR as Enablers of Performance: The role of HR is to orchestrate engagement across generations, empowering teams to perform, not just enforcing rules.
Panelists
Ms. Sirisha Kommireddi
Vice President, People Function at Cigniti (Moderator)
Ms. Deepshika Dasmana
Director – Learning & Development, Cvent
Ms. Renu Rohtagi
Talent Partner, Air Liquide
Neha Gupta, Director
Talent Management, Material
Nidhi Vinod
Associate Director – People Operations, Epsilon
Panel 3: Multi-Generational Workforce and High-Performance Teams
Key Takeaways
- Empowerment Over Control: Shift from managing generational gaps to empowering employees with autonomy and ownership.
- Agile, Policy-Light Culture: Encourage trust-based, self-regulated work environments that allow teams to co-create their own processes.
- Reverse Mentoring Builds Bridges: Cross-generational learning fosters mutual respect and continuous upskilling.
- HR as Enablers: The role of HR is to enable diverse workforce needs, like a DJ who ensures everyone stays engaged.
Panelists
Mr. Manmohan Kalsy
Chief Human Resources Officer, Inbrew Beverages (Moderator)
Mr. Ravi Rangaraju
Director – Talent & Development, Thomson Reuters
Ms. Divya Misra
CHRO, Landis+Gyr
Mr. Ramakrishna Vyamajala
CHRO, Home First Finance Company (HFFC)
Mr. Ishwar Dutt Sharma
Head of HR, Niva Bupa
Mr. Narayanan Ramachandran
CHRO, Altimetrik
Fireside Chat with Mr. Suresh Narayanan
Chairman & Managing Director, Nestlé India
Mr. Suresh Narayanan, Chairman & Managing Director of Nestlé India Ltd., a distinguished business leader known for his ethical leadership and people-centric approach. With over four decades of global experience, he has been instrumental in driving sustainable growth and fostering corporate responsibility. In recognition of his remarkable contributions, the Great Lakes Institute of Management proudly conferred upon him the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Key Takeaways
- Value-based leadership is essential in navigating complexity and building long-term trust.
- Empathy and humility are not weaknesses but strengths that define impactful leaders.
- Resilience during crises, such as the Maggi crisis, showcases the importance of transparency, communication, and staying true to core values.
- Purpose-driven organizations outperform others by aligning business goals with societal impact.
- Leaders must be custodians of culture, creating environments where people feel valued, heard, and inspired.
Vote of Thanks
As the second edition of the HR and L&D Conclave came to a close, on behalf of the Great Lakes, Gurgaon, Mr. Shashank Kohli, Director - Executive Education expressed sincere appreciation to the Chief Guest, Mr. Suresh Narayanan, for his insightful address and to all the panelists, delegates, and attendees for their enriching contributions. He also announced four key initiatives—Student Mentorship Program, Center for Leadership Excellence, Academic Advisory Board, and Faculty Immersion Program—launched as a direct outcome of the day’s discussions.
The conclave concluded with an evening of cocktails, dinner, and engaging networking, where over 100 delegates — including HR leaders, industry experts, and academicians — came together to exchange ideas, foster new connections, and reflect on the future of work in a more informal setting.
