ATLAS HR Conclave 2025: Shaping the Future of Work and Talent

ByAdmin

PublishedOctober 10, 2025

The ATLAS HR Conclave 2025 brought together some of the most distinguished HR leaders, industry experts and innovators for an inspiring day of learning and collaboration. Organised by the Career Services & Corporate Relations Department of ATLAS SkillTech University, the conclave created a dynamic platform for students and faculty to engage directly with business leaders redefining the world of work.

For students, it was an immersive learning experience—offering practical insights into the realities of the corporate world, employability and leadership. For faculty, it provided valuable perspectives to align academic frameworks with current industry practices. True to ATLAS’s vision of bridging academia and industry, the conclave underscored the importance of collaboration, adaptability and future-readiness.

Roundtable Series: Bridging Perspectives Between Academia and Industry

The ATLAS HR Conclave featured a series of three insightful roundtable discussions, each focusing on a unique dimension of talent, employability, and the evolving workplace. These sessions provided students with rare access to unfiltered, experience-driven wisdom from senior HR leaders representing diverse industries.

1. Round Table Conference: Navigating the New Age of Consultancy and HR

The first roundtable brought together some of the most respected voices in HR and consulting:

Srinivaas Rao, Senior Vice President & Head – HR & CSR
Nidhi Sony, Director & Assurance Talent Leader
Sahil Nayar, HR Leader, KPMG
Hemant Sethia, Ex-Head – Talent Acquisition
Poonam Tayade, Senior HR Leader, Macquarie
Gauri Das, Senior Vice President & Head – HR & CSR

The discussion opened with an examination of the industry–academia gap, emphasising the need for academia to adapt its curricula to fast-changing business realities. Panellists highlighted that while India produces an abundant talent pool, employability is driven by applied skills, lifelong learning and adaptability.

The conversation then delved into Gen Z’s evolving workplace values—transparency, purpose and balance—and the importance of mutual adaptability between organisations and young professionals.

The panel also explored the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation, reaffirming that while technology will transform work, human traits such as empathy, creativity and curiosity remain irreplaceable.

The session concluded that the future workplace will operate as a skills marketplace, where flexibility, culture and purpose will outweigh traditional hierarchies.

“AI may replace tasks, but not traits”

2. Bridging Aspirations and Reality – Roundtable with Industry Leaders

The second roundtable brought together HR leaders from Jio, LTIMindtree, John Cockerill, Globant, Rack Bank, Eclinicalworks, QualityKiosk, Globant and other leading organisations.

Shrikant Kalyansundaram (Deputy General manager – JOHN COCKERILL)
Alapinee Deshmukh (Director – ECLINICALWORKS)
Anshul Sharma (In-charge campus recruitment – QUALITYKIOSK TECHNOLOGIES)
Ujjal Sengupta (Business HR Lead – JIO)
Anand Dhruv (Sr. Principal HR consultant, CHRO – RACK BANK)
Shweta Mukherjee (Sr. Strategic talent acquisition leader – GLOBANT)
Rajiv Kumar (HR vice president – LTIMINDTREE)

The session centred on freshers’ expectations versus corporate realities, providing students with honest perspectives on what it takes to thrive in their early careers.

Panellists encouraged students to cultivate curiosity, adaptability and self-awareness and to view career development as an evolving process. They advised learners to treat themselves as personal brands, honing authenticity, communication and confidence to stand out in a competitive job market.

This discussion powerfully reinforced that in a constantly evolving business environment, success depends not only on knowledge but also on attitude and adaptability.

“The ARCS mindset—Agility, Resilience, Curiosity, and Storytelling—serves as a guiding framework for career success.”

3. Freshers’ Aspiration vs. Organisation Readiness – Roundtable

The third roundtable featured prominent HR experts from JSW Infrastructure, JLL, Welspun, Shapoorji Pallonji, and Toogle, focusing on how organisations can align with the changing aspirations of new-generation professionals.

Karan Gandhi, Head HR, JSW Infrastructure
Priyanka Tripathi, Country Head, JLL
Subhanish Malhotra, HR Leader, Welspun
DR. Kavindra Pant, Head HR, Shapoorji Pallonji
Milind Mutalik, Senior Consultant, Mother’s Consultant
Nishant Mehta, Founder, Toogle

The panel explored the permanence of hybrid work models, the rising significance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and the evolving role of employee value propositions (EVPs) in attracting and retaining talent.

Speakers emphasised that while technical expertise remains essential, it is soft skills—communication, teamwork, emotional intelligence and flexibility—that truly define long-term success. They urged students to embrace learning opportunities, stay agile, and adopt a growth-oriented mindset.

“Careers are built not just on ambition, but on authenticity, adaptability and resilience.”

Leadership Panel Discussion: Talent War & Crisis – Myth vs. Reality

A highlight of the conclave was the Leadership Panel Discussion, which brought together a distinguished set of HR leaders who dissected the myths surrounding the so-called “talent crisis”:

Natasha Pinto, Executive Director – Human Resources, Morgan Stanley
Prashant Nair, Chief Human Resources Officer, Crompton
Ashutosh Srivastav, Chief Human Resources Officer, CITIC CLSA
Loly Vadassery, Chief Human Resources Officer, Datamatics Business Solutions
Savita Pisal, Director & Chief Human Resources Officer, Shapoorji Pallonji
Veena Dsilva, Senior Vice President & Global Head – Talent Acquisition, QualityKiosk Technologies
Sanjeeb Lahiri, Chief Human Resources Officer, GRP Impact Positive

The panel collectively challenged the notion of a “talent war,” arguing that scarcity is a myth—what truly matters is how organizations nurture and channel the potential that already exists.

Panelists emphasised that attitude, curiosity and adaptability outweigh credentials, and encouraged companies to rethink policies to stay agile, invest in hybrid work strategies and strengthen upskilling initiatives.

For students, the message was empowering: develop the right mindset early, take ownership of your learning, and embrace change as a constant.

“Talent exists everywhere—it just needs the right nurturing”

AI in HR – Masterclass with Dr. Ravi Shankar

The conclave also featured an insightful Masterclass on Artificial Intelligence in HR, conducted by Dr. Ravi Shankar, a renowned expert in AI and data science.

Dr. Shankar explored the strategic role of AI in transforming HR functions—from recruitment and employee engagement to performance management and predictive analytics. Showcasing tools such as Eightfold.ai, Leena AI and Engagedly, he demonstrated how AI empowers HR leaders to make smarter, data-driven decisions.

He also addressed India’s growing employee engagement challenges, explaining how AI can help personalise workplace experiences and enhance productivity. Dispelling fears of automation, Dr. Shankar emphasized that AI is not a replacement but an enabler for human-centred leadership.

“AI isn’t the future—it’s the foundation of the future-ready workplace”

A Transformative Confluence of Ideas

The ATLAS HR Conclave 2025 was not just an event—it was an exchange of ideas, experiences and inspiration that bridged academia and industry in the truest sense. Students left with actionable insights, practical advice, and a clearer vision of the skills and mindset needed for success in tomorrow’s workplace. The future of work, as revealed throughout the conclave, will belong to those who not only master skills but also lead with values, curiosity, and courage.