HR Leaders Steer Success At BW People Nurturing Talent For Future Conclave & HR 40 Under 40 Awards

The highly anticipated 4th edition of the BW People Nurturing Talent For Future Conclave & BW People HR 40 Under 40 Awards, an initiative that recognises and celebrates the achievements of the young human resource professionals, successfully concluded on 20 December 2023 at The Imperial, New Delhi. The initiative was organised by BW Businessworld to engage with the next generation of HR leaders, exchange ideas and explore opportunities for collaboration.

The BW People HR 40 Under 40 Awards served as a platform to honor the remarkable contributions and accomplishments of individuals under the age of 40 who have made a significant impact in the HR industry. 

After careful evaluation of over 100 nominations, the jury selected and recognised the top 40 HR professionals for their exceptional contributions.

"As a jury member at the BW People HR 40 Under 40 Awards, I was inspired by the remarkable achievements of young talent in HR. Their dedication, innovation and commitment to shaping the future of work are not just commendable; they are transformative forces that propel the entire industry into new horizons. Each individual recognised is not merely an emerging leader but a catalyst for positive change, redefining the very essence of human resources in the digital age,” shares SY Siddiqui, Former Executive Advisor, Maruti Suzuki India. 

The one-day conclave witnessed HR experts taking part in several panel discussions on varied topics of HR. 

Strategic Talent Planning: A Roadmap For Future Growth 

The economy is doing even better than expected and companies are making big plans to become global leaders. However, a significant challenge we face is the need for a skilled workforce,” said C Jayakumar, Executive Vice President & Head of Corporate HR (CHRO) at Larsen & Toubro in his keynote address. 

Strategic HR in Education: Aligning Programmes with Future Workforce Needs

“College graduates, due to their current education system, often possess limited knowledge about industry requirements. To bridge this gap, fostering industry-applicable knowledge through campus outreach programmes and guest lectures from industry leaders are key,” shared Yadhu Kishore Nandikolla, HR Head at MassMutual India.

HR-Led Innovations In Talent Development: Beyond Traditional Training Programmes

“There are certain challenges such as supervisory hoarding, building talent amid competency gap and no sponsorships from business. As HR practitioners we need to have a huge tenacity to drive talent development within the organisation for which we need participation from leaders. Additionally, the culture should focus on creating fungible leaders, enabling talent mobility and considering talent resources,” highlighted Rubi Khan, Head- OD, Talent and Diversity, HPCL Mittal Energy. 

HR Strategies for Inclusive Talent Management: Building A Diverse Workforce

Rajesh Mohan Rai, CHRO & Director, Servotech Power Systems shared, “The fact that we still need to talk about DE&I, indicates that there is a need to treat everyone equally and leader should strongly advocate a culture of equal treatment in the organisations rather than focusing on diversity.” 

HR Tech & Talent: Navigating the Digital Age

“In 2023, several companies that have traditionally focused on operational HR have started moving towards HRMS. They now seek advanced technology like AI to build performance culture and wish to introduce learning management assistance in order to train their workforce for the modern technologies and improve significantly on their productivity, it is not just limited to knowledge-based industries anymore,” said Lokesh Gupta, VP- Product Management, Greytip Software.

HR's Role in Global Talent Management: Overcoming Challenges, Embracing Opportunities

“The success of any organisation still depends on the teamwork. It is not merely about individual contributions but it’s a collective effort of a group that propels an organisation toward success. Regardless of the industry or sector, the synergy within a team is the driving force behind achievements,” explained Yuvaraj Srivastava, Group CHRO, MakeMyTrip.

Leadership Development from an HR Perspective: Inspiring the Next Generation of Leaders

"Authenticity is a crucial quality for a leader in inspiring and empowering employees. An authentic leader can inspire not only their team but the entire generation,” shared Sandeep Gautam, HR Head, Adani Energy Solutions. 

"We are thrilled to witness a massive success of BW People Nurturing Talent For Future Conclave & HR 40 Under 40 Awards which aimed to celebrate the achievements of young human resource professionals who are shaping the future of the industry," said Talees Rizvi, Director, BW People & BW CFO World. "This initiative provided a platform for recognition, inspiration and collaboration among the brightest minds in HR."

The panel discussions were followed by the award ceremony inaugurated by Dr Annurag Batra, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, BW Businessworld & Founder, exchange4media.