SHRM Tech26 Day 1 Spotlights ‘Connected Intelligence’ as the Future of Work, Bringing Together India’s Top HR and Tech Leaders

A series of discussions focused on how organizations are redesigning the employee experience. Conversations on benefits, well-being, and recognition explored how companies are using data and technology to create more personalized and meaningful experiences for employees.

Sessions such as From Benefits to Behaviour, The New Wellbeing Stack, and The Core R&R Playbook underscored the role of financial, mental, and physical wellbeing as strategic drivers of engagement, retention, and productivity. Day 1 also placed a strong spotlight on AI’s impact on work and business performance. In his impact address, Krishnakumar Natarajan, Former CEO of Mindtree and Managing Partner at Mela Ventures, examined how leaders can guide AI-driven workforce transformation. Later, Manish Gupta, Group CIO, Aditya Birla Group, argued that the new competitive advantage lies not in talent or technology alone, but in the ability to scale intelligence across the enterprise.

One of the day’s marquee sessions, “Connected Intelligence in Action: Agentic AI Redefining Enterprise Performance,” presented in partnership with Workday, explored how organizations are moving from isolated HR systems to connected intelligence layers capable of initiating decisions, orchestrating actions, and improving enterprise agility. The session featured Richard Rekhy, Vice Chair, Grant Thornton Bharat & Former CEO, KPMG in India, Sunil Jose, President, Workday India; Harjeet Khanduja, Senior Vice President - HR, Reliance Jio; and Kavita Kurup, Chief People Officer, Cyient.

Additional highlights included discussions on quality talent acquisition, future-ready skills, cloud-based HRMS platforms, and the evolving role of leaders in an AI-powered world. The day concluded with the Future-Tech Track, “Workforce 2030: Skills, Systems, and Shifts,” featuring senior leaders from PepsiCo India & South Asia, and Google India, who shared insights on building resilient organizations equipped for the next decade.

Commenting on the significance of the event, Gaurav Bansal, Director, Marketing & Communications – SHRM India, APAC & MENA, said SHRM Tech26 reflects the conversations that matter most to business leaders today. SHRM Tech26 is where the future of work becomes tangible. Day 1 made it clear that organizations are focused on scaling AI responsibly while keeping people at the center. The ideas and insights shared here provide a practical roadmap for leaders looking to drive transformation with confidence,”.

“At SHRM, our focus is on helping organizations build future-ready and people-centric workplaces. Through SHRM Tech26, we are bringing together HR and business leaders to discuss how technology and human intelligence can drive stronger employee engagement, workplace transformation, and business growth,” said, Surajit Bit, Senior Director – Operations & People Engagement, SHRM India, APAC & MENA.

With discussions spanning technology, culture, leadership, and strategy, SHRM Tech26 Day 1 reinforced one central message: the future of work will be defined by connected intelligence, where AI augments human potential and HR plays a pivotal role in shaping enterprise success.

SHRM Tech26 continues tomorrow with additional sessions on workforce innovation, leadership, and emerging technologies.

About SHRM Tech

SHRM Tech is SHRM’s flagship annual conference focused on the intersection of HR and technology. It brings together HR leaders, business executives, and technology innovators to explore the trends, tools, and strategies shaping the future of work.

About SHRM

SHRM is the world’s largest HR professional society, representing millions of workers and workplaces globally with over 340,000 members in 180 countries, providing HR research, public policy advocacy, and workplace solutions. SHRM equips professionals and organizations with the insights and resources needed to build better workplaces.