India, 14th January 2025: MDI Gurgaon reaffirmed its position as a hub of transformative dialogue in the HR landscape with the successful conclusion of its flagship HR Conclave 10.0, held on January 11 and 12, 2025. The two-day event, themed “HR 4.0: Navigating the Pillars of the Future Workforce,” brought together some of the most eminent thought leaders and HR practitioners to discuss how HR can drive innovation and agility in a rapidly evolving workplace. The event is conducted under the guidance of Dean-Graduate Programmes Prof. Avinash Kapoor and Student Affairs-Chairperson Prof. Vidhu Gaur.
Key Highlights of the Conclave
Inaugural Address: The event commenced with a warm welcome from Dr. Arvind Sahay, Director, MDI Gurgaon, who set the tone for the conclave by emphasising the vital role of HR in driving organisational growth in today’s fast-paced environment.
In his address, Dr. Sahay remarked, “Today’s job market demands a unique blend of behavioral and hard skills. Competencies like collaboration, emotional resilience, and curiosity are as critical as technical expertise in data visualization, programming, and performance management systems. At the heart of it all, the ability to cut across levels of people in the hieararchy, adapt to diverse perspectives and evolving organizational needs positions professionals to lead with impact. As educators, it is our responsibility to cultivate these multidimensional capabilities, empowering students to not only meet the demands of dynamic workplaces but also to shape the future with agility, purpose, and innovation.”
Keynote Address by Dr. Aquil Busrai: The event began with an inspiring keynote address by Dr. Aquil Busrai, CEO of Aquil Busrai Consulting and a founding member of MDI Gurgaon’s HR program. Dr. Busrai delved into how HR leaders can leverage digital transformation while prioritising employee engagement and workforce resilience.
In his address, he emphasised, “HR 4.0 is not just about digitalisation; it’s about humanising technology to create workplaces that thrive on innovation, empathy, and inclusivity.”
Guest of Honour Speech: The Guest of Honour, Mr. Arun Leslie George, President and CHRO, Coromandel International Ltd., spoke about the pivotal role of HR in driving sustainability and culture transformation. He remarked, “Conversations like these at MDI Gurgaon are shaping the future of work, where HR professionals are not just enablers but strategic architects of business success.”
Engaging Panel Discussions
A series of panel discussions brought together industry stalwarts to share insights and best practices on workforce transformation, technological innovation, and building future-ready HR strategies. The stellar lineup of panellists included:
- Dr. Brillian S. K., EVP & CPO, Times Pro
- Munish Vasudeva, Sr. VP & CHRO, Hindustan Zinc Ltd. (Vedanta Group)
- P. Padma Kumar, Advisor HR & former Executive HR Director, Saint-Gobain India
- Jaidev Murti, Managing Director, Accenture Strategy
- Dr. Prince Augustin, Founder & CEO, BIT Partners LLP
- Vikas Sharma, VP HR, Lenskart
- Ankita Bagchi, Assistant Director, PepsiCo
- Alekhya Chakrabarty, VP, Marketing & Growth, Unstop
- Dr. Runa Maitra, Director & Founder (PTI), SHRM Head Roundtable & CXO event India APAC MENA
Notable Discussions: HR 4.0 – Navigating the Pillars of the Future Workforce,
- AI Augmenting Human Resources: Shaping Employee Experience and Well-Being of the Future Workforce discussion focused on how AI is personalizing and enhancing employee engagement, well-being, decision-making, and workforce management while The Future Workforce in the Era of a Socially Responsible Organization panel discussion emphasized on the need for socially responsible practices in shaping a forward-looking and inclusive workforce
- It also highlighted the growing emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a core organisational value
- Practical strategies for creating agile, sustainable, and employee-centred workplaces were shared
Student Engagement
The event saw enthusiastic student participation, with several opportunities for networking and interaction with the speakers. An Online Case Competition added an element of excitement, with the winners receiving accolades on the second day of the conclave.
Closing Remarks
The conclave concluded with a heartfelt thank-you note and networking lunch, inspiring participants to take the conversations forward.
Speaking about the event’s success, Prof. Vidhu Gaur, Student-Affairs Chairperson shared, “HR Conclave 10.0 has once again proven to be a vital platform for ideation and collaboration. At MDI Gurgaon, we are committed to nurturing leaders who can drive meaningful change in the HR domain.”