Mumbai, 25th May 2026: The second and final day of SHRMTech26 concluded with a powerful message for organizations navigating the future of work: while artificial intelligence is transforming every aspect of business, human leadership remains the defining force behind sustainable success.
Bringing together some of India’s most influential business and HR leaders, Day 2 of SHRMTech26 explored how organizations can apply AI across enterprise transformation, talent strategy, employee experience, and workplace culture—while keeping trust, inclusion, and people at the center.
“The future of work will not be defined by AI alone but by how leaders use technology to unlock human potential at scale,” said Achal Khanna, Chief Executive Officer, SHRM India, APAC & MENA.
Rajesh Jejurikar Sets the Tone for the Next Era of Transformation
Opening Day 2, Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director & CEO, Auto and Farm Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra, delivered a keynote on “The Next Era of Enterprise Transformation.” He emphasized that transformation is no longer just about digitization—it is about aligning technology, talent, and business strategy to drive sustainable growth. His message resonated throughout the conference: organizations that successfully integrate AI with human-centered leadership will be best positioned to outperform.
On Day 2, Shaakun Khanna – Head AI & Transformation, SHRM India said, “AI adoption is moving from Pilot to production and most of the organisations are grappling with balancing what is possible vs what is practical in the context of the organization. We are not guiding organisations to cut through the noise and adopt what is practical and not just theoretically possible. In HR that is the only way to guarantee AI ROI”.
AI in Hiring: More Technology Isn’t Always Better
In a featured session presented in collaboration with Indeed, Rohan Sylvester, Talent Strategy Advisor, Indeed India, challenged the assumption that more AI automatically leads to better hiring outcomes. He emphasized that success depends on strong underlying data, well-designed workflows, and sound decision-making processes.
Practical Masterclasses on AI in HR
A series of masterclasses provided attendees with actionable insights on deploying AI in HR.
- Vikas Siddeshwar, Partner and AI & Technology Leader at McKinsey & Company, explored how AI is transforming the HR function.
- James Atkinson and Nishith Upadhyaya from SHRM demonstrated how conversational bots and AI-driven coaching can personalize learning at scale.
- Nick Burns, Minaxi Indra, and Akshay Sethi of Edenred shared data linking employee engagement to measurable business outcomes.
Leadership in the Age of Connected Intelligence
A high-impact panel featuring Dr. Urmi Chatterjee (Siemens Healthineers), Pushp Kumar Nayar (BPCL), and Beena More (Bank of India Investment Managers), moderated by Asma A. Shaikh, examined how leadership is evolving from command-and-control to orchestration of humans, AI, and data.
Talent Strategy as a Growth Lever
CHROs Poonam Burman (Godrej Industries), Bhagwati Shetty (Comviva), and Vaibhav Goel (Reliance Industries) discussed how aligning talent strategy with business priorities is becoming critical to growth and resilience.
Real-world AI Use Cases and Inclusion by Design
Panels featuring leaders from Oracle, Network18, TIAA, Alldigi Tech, NMDC, CGI, IKS Health, and Newgen Software highlighted practical AI use cases and emphasized the importance of embedding inclusion into digital-first workplaces.
SHRM Tech 26 Big Debate
In the conference’s signature debate, “Connected Intelligence: Will AI Redesign Work or Will Leaders Redefine It?”, industry leaders including Cassio Simões (Tetra Pak), Siddharth Srinivasan (Lupin Digital Health), Dr. Tooba Modassir (Citi India), and Nagma Malim (Birla Carbon) agreed that leaders will ultimately determine whether AI creates stronger organizations and better human outcomes.
Boman Irani Closes with a Human Reminder
Acclaimed actor, director, and screenplay mentor Boman Irani, in conversation with Raj Nayak, concluded SHRMTech26 with “You Can’t Automate This,” underscoring the enduring value of creativity, empathy, and storytelling.
“Day 2 demonstrated that the future belongs to organizations that can combine innovation with authenticity and purpose,” added Surajit Bit, Senior Director – Operations & People Engagement, SHRM India, APAC & MENA.
As SHRMTech26 concluded, one message stood out: the future of work is not about humans versus machines—it is about using technology to amplify human potential
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
