Events

Naina Lal Kidwai is Chairperson - Rothschild & Co India, and Senior Advisor at private equity firms Advent , TPG , and Venture Advisor Lightspeed Venture Partners, India and is a Non-Executive Director on the boards of several global and Indian companies. She was President of FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry) in 2013 , being the first woman to be elected in its 86 years history . She was appointed CEO of HSBC bank in India in 2006 being the first woman to head a bank in India, and retired in December 2015 as Executive Director on the board of HSBC Asia Pacific and Chairman HSBC India . 

She repeatedly ranked in the Fortune global list of Top Women in Business and is the recipient of several awards and honours including the prestigious Padma Shri in 2007 for her contribution to Trade and industry. 

Her interests in Water, Sanitation and the environment and empowerment of women are reflected in her current engagements as Chair of FICCI’s Water Mission and Founder and Chair of the India Sanitation Coalition . She has authored 3 books including the bestsellers “30 women in Power: Their Voices, Their Stories” and “Survive Or Sink: An Action Agenda for Sanitation, Water, Pollution, and Green Finance”.

Rajkamal Vempati is the Group Head & Head Human Resources at Axis Bank. Rajkamal is a member of the Management Committee and a passionate advocate of sustaining a human workplace & creating an inclusive culture geared for the future. Her team of HR professionals at Axis Group is focused on nurturing distinctive career experiences that matter to the people and wherein they thrive. Axis Bank has been recognized externally as an employer of choice for its Diversity, Equity & Inclusion efforts and its Giga Opportunities program has been widely lauded. She is also the Co- chairperson of FICCI HR Committee. She graduated in Science from Himachal Pradesh University and holds an MBA from XLRI Jamshedpur. She is a recipient of “Distinguished Alumnus Award” from XLRI, Jamshedpur and she has also been honored with Honoris Causa, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). by Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies.

Prior to Axis Bank, she was heading Human Resources for ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company. Rajkamal was a consultant with Hewitt Associates, part of the HR Leadership Program at GE Capital and has worked with ICICI Prudential Life Insurance across diverse roles.

Personally, having experienced the drop out from career due to long distance marriage and re-entering the workforce subsequently with a young daughter, she is super passionate about mentoring and coaching female executives so that they remain in motion in careers of their choice. Her favourite pastime is planning for holidays and itineraries with her family and friends.

Udayan Dutt is a seasoned HR leader with over 25 years of global experience spanning consumer goods, telecommunications, technology, and consulting sectors, including distinguished tenures at Unilever and Reckitt. He brings a unique blend of strategic HR leadership, boardroom influence, and transformation expertise, with a proven track record in HR Business Partnering, Centers of Excellence, and Shared Services. His accomplishments include steering Remuneration Committees, driving enterprise-wide transformations, and aligning people strategies with long-term business objectives.

As President – Group Human Resources at RPG Enterprises, Udayan champions the organization’s cultural ethos through its core values: Hello Happiness, Unleash Talent, Outperformance, and Touching Lives. He is passionate about building a simple, agile, and best-in-class employee experience ecosystem that fosters engagement and excellence.

Prior to RPG, Udayan served as Vice President – HR for Global Functions at Reckitt, where he led organizational redesigns across Finance, Legal, IT&D, R&D, and Strategy. Earlier, he spent a decade at Unilever, excelling in HR Generalist and Reward CoE leadership roles.

Beyond work, Udayan is deeply committed to fitness and well-being and enjoys exploring collectibles and music. He lives in Mumbai.

Mr. Ayush Gupta is a 1992 batch Electrical Engineer from IIT Roorkee, MBA in Operations Management & P G Diploma in Human Resources Management. He has over 33 years of varied and rich experience in the field of Human Resource Management, Projects, Operations and Maintenance in Oil & Gas Sector and Process Industry.

Mr. Gupta is working with GAIL since last 27 years. He is among the youngest Directors to be on the Board of GAIL India Ltd. He is a strong proponent & practitioner of sustainable business practices and ensuing highest standards of safety in plant & pipeline operations. He has taken several initiatives to promote gender equality & women empowerment.

During his tenure at GAIL, Mr. Ayush Gupta had been instrumental in introducing various initiatives, such as Spandan (Monthly Wellness Hour dedicated towards enhancing employees’ physical, mental and emotional well-being), Ojas (young employees engagement & development platform), Abha (for educating, mentoring and hand-holding of spouses of GAIL employees for their entrepreneurial ventures), Samanvay (Care, Connect & Commit – to establish a periodic two way communication in the organization), Mentoring Journey – Saarthi (a unique approach towards development of young talent), e-Learning Courses, etc.

He is a recipient of the prestigious Chevening Rolls Royce Science, Innovation, Policy & Leadership Fellowship from UK Government in 2013, Winner of the National Corrosion Awareness Award 2004, Emerging HRD Thinkers Award in 2011, HR Leader of the Year Award-2024 by Governance Now and recognized as Top 50 HR Thought Leaders of 2024 by Economic Times HR World. He is author & co-editor of the book titled ‘Natural Gas Markets in India’ published by Springer International and has to his credit several awards for papers published and presented at national and international forums.

He is Chairman of GAIL Mangalore Petrochemicals Ltd and a Director on the Boards of GAIL Gas Ltd, ONGC Tripura Power Company Ltd & China Gas Holdings Ltd.

He is an Executive Committee member of SCOPE (Standing Conference of Public Enterprises), Member on the Board of Governors of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology & Indian Institute of Petroleum & Energy, Director on the Board of IFTDO (International Federation of Training & Development Organizations), Member, HR Core Committee of All India Management Association (AIMA), Member, CII National Committee on Industrial Relations and Member, IPEF (Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity) Labour Rights Advisory Board.

Anil Sachdev is the Founder and CEO of Grow Talent Company Limited and the School of Inspired Leadership-SOIL. Grow Talent was created in July 2000 and became the leader in the strategic HR consulting industry by 2006.It enabled large number of Global and local firms to achieve breakthrough performance by realising the potential of their people and creating a talent advantage.

In October 2008, Anil and the other co-founders of Grow Talent entered the field of Education by creating SOIL- the School of Inspired Leadership. This innovative School has been co- created by a consortium of 32 leading firms and has focus on the five pillars of inspired leadership: Compassion, Diversity, Ethics, Mindfulness and Sustainability. In 2019, Soil has launched its second campus in Manesar- the SOIL School of Business Design that is offering the first of its kind two years full time MBA that combines the disciplines of liberal arts, design thinking and management education.

Anil’s experience in India and across the world covers areas such as talent management, strategic change and organizational transformation. Recognised as a thought leader in leadership development and Organizational transformation, Anil has done pioneering work with leading global and local firms. He has spoken at national and global conferences all over the world and has written contributory pieces for leading publications. He has been adjunct Faculty to leading business schools such as Indian School of Business, Kelly School of Business, Indiana University, GMI, Flint Michigan, Antioch University, Seattle, Ohio University and University of New Brunswick, Canada. Anil began his career with Tata Motors in 1975 after completing his MBA from the University of Pune and joined Eicher in 1978 and worked in HR, operations and TQM. He is the Founder of Eicher Consultancy Services and was its CEO till 2001.

He is active in management circles and has held several public offices such a Chairman of National Committees on Leadership Development, Human Resources, Industrial relations of the Confederation Indian Industry. Anil is a member of the Academic Committee of CEDEP, the leading Leadership Institute of Europe, located at Fontainebleau. He is a member of the World Compassion Council, based in Seattle and a Trustee of the Chinmaya Mission. He serves on the Global Board of Shizenkan University in Tokyo.

A Management professional with more than 3 decades of experience in Public Sector, was Director (Human Resource) on the Board of Engineers India Limited (EIL), a Navaratna Public Sector under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, from October 2012 and Superannuated on 30.06.2016. At EIL, has taken several path breaking initiatives towards strategizing HR for diversifying & overseas scenario through effective Talent Management, Training & Development, Performance Management, Employee Communication, CSR & Brand building, with a view to take EIL to greater heights

Swati Patwardhan brings 20 years of extensive experience in human resources, specializing in organizational development, talent acquisition, and business partnering. Throughout her career, she has been instrumental in establishing robust people processes, talent management frameworks, and performance management systems, as well as spearheading talent acquisition initiatives across multiple geographies.

Swati has gained her expertise by working with leading corporate organizations, where she successfully managed diverse HR functions and implemented strategic initiatives that align with business goals. Her expertise in crafting and implementing HR policies has significantly contributed to enhancing organizational effectiveness and employee engagement.

Known for her strategic vision and empathetic leadership, Swati is passionate about creating a supportive and dynamic work environment. She excels in employee relations and in fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Swati holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Psychology from SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Mumbai University. Furthering her professional development, she has earned certifications in Organizational Development from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and the Organizational Development Associates (ODA). Additionally, she is certified in Brain-Based Executive Coaching through the NeuroLeadership Institute (NLI).

With a strong commitment to professional growth, diversity, and inclusion, Swati stays abreast of the latest HR trends and practices, aiming to optimize human capital and drive business success. Her strategic vision, combined with her hands-on approach, makes her a valuable asset to our organization.
 

Bhavna is a transformation and inclusion leader with extensive experience across Global HR Leadership and Management Consulting. She currently serves as Vice President – People at S&P Global, where she is the Global Head of People for the Enterprise Data Organization and Head of People for the India Region. An alumnus of MDI, Gurgaon and Loreto College, Kolkata, she has previously worked with organisations including PwC, Genpact, SHL and Grow Talent/Right Management. Bhavna is also an Advisory Board Member and Angel Investor with Eubrics and an Executive Coach, partnering with leaders and organisations on business transformation, talent, culture and future readiness.

Sankara Narayanan leads Talent Strategy and Innovation for Accenture's Technology business in India. With over two decades of global HR leadership experience across India, the Middle East, and the UK, he has driven transformational people strategies across technology, consumer, telecommunications, industrial, and energy sectors. Having held leadership roles at Accenture, Diageo, EY, Alcatel-Lucent, and HCL Technologies, Sankara is widely recognized for his expertise in talent strategy, organizational transformation, HR innovation, and building high-performing organizations.

Sonica Aron is a transformative leader and one of India’s most influential voices in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). She is the founder of Marching Sheep - a purpose-driven organisation that’s redefining the DEI landscape. In her past, she held leadership positions across global corporations like Philips, AkzoNobel, Roche, Vodafone, and PepsiCo.

Under her stewardship, Marching Sheep has partnered with 400+ organisations across 50+ countries, delivering strategic DEI and HR interventions that are bold, inclusive, and deeply human. Sonica’s people-first philosophy and fearless advocacy have earned her recognition from Forbes India, Fortune India, the US Embassy, and the Government of India, with honours including Top 10 Women Entrepreneurs, Most Valued Leader, Gender Impact Award, and Entrepreneur of the Year.

She is a board member of Gender@Work India Trust, a regular speaker at platforms like FICCI, national news channels, and premier institutions including the IIMs. Her insights are frequently featured in leading publications such as Forbes, ET, Times of India, Live Mint, and Business World.

Through Marching Sheep, Sonica has launched pioneering initiatives like SheMarches, She-returns, pwd hiring, Unleash, and some pioneering studies like MarchingSheep Inclusion Index 2025 where the business case of diversity was detailed , 21 Marching study on disability inclusion across 17 countries-each one pushing the boundaries of what inclusive leadership can achieve.

Beyond the corporate sphere, Sonica is a passionate changemaker - working with acid attack survivors, the transgender community, and marginalised groups, driven by her belief that real change must begin both in society and the workplace.

Ramya Sampath Sharma is the Chief Human Resources Officer, Saint-Gobain India, responsible for shaping people strategy and leadership capability across businesses spanning manufacturing, construction solutions, and digital platforms.

With over 28 years of experience, she has led large-scale organizational transformation, built future-ready leadership pipelines, and strengthened HR as an enterprise capability.

She works closely with CEOs, ExCom’s, and Boards on leadership, succession, culture, and workforce strategy, and is known for bringing clarity, governance, and execution discipline to complex, multi-business environments.

Ramya has previously held senior HR leadership roles at Intel, Accenture, Microland, and GreyOrange. She is an XLRI alumna and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, economics, and sociology.

Anil Nagar is the Founder & CEO of Adda247 Group, one of India’s leading education and employability platforms, built around a larger mission: to build Bharat’s most-trusted employability ecosystem, ensuring every learner gets a fair chance at livelihood.

An IIT-BHU graduate and alumnus of the Goa Institute of Management, Anil began his entrepreneurial journey in education in 2010 and founded Adda247. Under his leadership, the group has evolved from a competitive exam preparation platform into a diversified ecosystem spanning UPSC, Banking, SSC, Railways, CUET, K-12, skilling and career-focused learning, with brands including Adda247 and StudyIQ.

Today, the group reaches millions of learners across Bharat through technology-led and multilingual learning solutions. Adda Education is backed by marquee investors including Google, WestBridge Capital and Info Edge.

Anil is focused on using technology, content and innovation to bridge the gap between learning and livelihood — making opportunity more accessible to every Indian.
 

Meenakshi Priyam is a seasoned HR leader with over 24 years of experience, currently serving as the Senior Vice President & HR Head – Automotive Sector at Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. She leads the global people strategy for Mahindra Auto, driving transformation, innovation, and high-performance culture across the organization. 

Her leadership journey spans across India, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, with pivotal roles in across organizations GlaxoSmithKline(GSK), Novartis and Johnson & Johnson (J&J). 

Meenakshi has successfully scaled start-ups and transformed large, complex organizations, bringing a unique blend of strategic vision and operational excellence. 

Her contributions to the HR domain have earned her national recognition: 

• Business Today’s Best Business Leaders Under 40 (2015) 
• Business World’s Most Influential Women Business Leaders (2018) 
• ETHRWorld’s Top 50 HR Thought Leaders (2025) 
• ETHRWorld’s Top 50 HR Thought Leaders (2026) 

She is widely respected for her ability to align people strategy with business goals, foster inclusive leadership, and build future-ready organizations.
 

Bhawna leads the Human Resource Function at Hero Future Energies (a Hero Group Company). She joined the company at the inception stage and has been part of the growth journey, Company has now presence in India, London, Singapore, Ukraine, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. She has managed the Organization transformation from the start-up to an established and one of the leading IPP in renewable sector today. HFE received its accreditation as ‘Great Place to Work’ by Great Place to Work® Institute amongst Mid-size Companies in Jan 2022. She blends the modern-day HR practices with traditional Indian value system. She is a passionate HR professional driven by results and achievements. She has been providing strategic HR input from people perspective to the Management and collaborating with the Leadership team for strategic alignment, delegation, empowerment, and respect as well as driving initiatives focussed on high performance standards, equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion and resource optimisation.

Sumek Gopal is based in Mumbai, joined Warburg Pincus in 2025, and is currently the Senior Vice President in the Value Creation group. Prior to joining Warburg Pincus, Sumek was Chief HR Officer at Danaher Corporation for India. Sumek holds an MBA IN Human Resources from SCMHRD (Symbiosis).

Pushkar Kumar holds a master’s degree in economics from the Delhi School of Economics and an MBA in HR from SIBM, Pune. With a rich professional background, Pushkar has worked with renowned companies such as Electrolux, GE, Bharti, and Ranbaxy, taking on both national and international roles.

Pushkar is an independent people strategy advisor, visiting faculty and speaker. He served as the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) for Cairn Oil and Gas, India's largest private sector oil and gas company, which accounts for 25% of the country's domestic crude oil and gas production. Most recently, Pushkar served as the CHRO at DCM Shriram Chemicals. Earlier in his role as VP-HR, GE Capital APAC, he was responsible for Business Partnership, Talent & Leadership Development across five countries in the region. All through his career, been instrumental in driving large transformation and culture change initiatives for business growth and enabled capability development programs for business results and success. Passionate about fostering a truly diverse, inclusive, and equitable culture, Pushkar is dedicated to building environments where everyone can thrive.