HR professionals are at the heart of every business transformation. As companies adapt to evolving business strategies, new technologies, and a fiercely competitive talent market, HR teams must do more than just keep up—they must lead the way.
At CGI, this realisation sparked change. Srilata Kolachana, Director of Learning and Development, APAC, and Sarika Pradhan, Partner and Vice President, Human Resources, Asia Pacific Global Delivery Centers of Excellence, saw an urgent need to upskill and reskill CGI’s HR teams, ensuring they had the expertise to support business growth. That conversation paved the way for CGI’s HR Learning Journey—a program designed to equip HR professionals with the skills to be true business partners.
Now in its second phase, HR Learning Journey 2.0 is deeply embedded in CGI’s vision. The program focuses on innovation, agility, data-driven decision-making, and cutting-edge technology, ensuring that HR is not just supporting the business but also actively shaping its future.
This case study is part of the Skill Shift Series, which explores how organisations are transforming learning to keep up with the digital economy.
A new approach to HR learning
HR is no longer just about policies and processes—it’s about driving change. As business needs became more complex, CGI recognised that HR professionals needed to be agile, data-savvy, and forward-thinking.
“Our goal was to ensure our HR teams could navigate shifting business priorities with confidence,” explains Srilata Kolachana. “We needed a structured, role-based learning approach that focused on innovation, agility, and strategic decision-making.”
That’s why HR Learning Journey 2.0 was designed to offer learning at every level:
- Consultants develop agile leadership, communication, and influencing skills.
- Senior leaders sharpen their strategic thinking, change management, and financial acumen.
How CGI built a learning-first culture
CGI’s learning strategy blends multiple formats to create an engaging and impactful experience:
- Self-paced learning: Through Skillsoft’s Percipio platform, CGI Academia offers customised, role-specific learning paths.
- Expert-led masterclasses: Internal and external industry leaders conduct sessions on data-driven HR, talent planning, and succession planning.
- Peer learning: Dedicated Teams channels encourage open discussions and real-time knowledge sharing.
At first, engagement was a challenge. Many courses were self-paced, and participation was slow. But when senior leaders started sharing their learning experiences, things changed.
“When Sarika Pradhan, VP of HR, and other senior leaders championed the program, teams took notice,” recalls Srilata Kolachana. “Once people saw leadership’s commitment, excitement grew, and participation skyrocketed.”
The Skillsoft factor: How innovative technology enabled scalable learning
CGI’s partnership with Skillsoft played a crucial role in scaling learning efficiently. Here’s how Skillsoft made an impact:
- Curated role-specific learning paths: Skillsoft’s Percipio platform helped CGI design courses aligned with strategic business priorities.
- AI-driven learning: Advanced modules introduced HR teams to emerging technologies.
- Real-world simulations: CAISY™ simulator and interactive case studies provided hands-on, practical experience.
- Developing a competitive spirit: Skillsoft provided support by tracking the progress and developing a competitive culture among the learners.
The result? A flexible, personalised learning experience that increased engagement and led to measurable business impact.
Measuring success: How learning delivers real business impact
Learning only matters if it drives results. Hence, CGI closely tracked the impact of its HR Learning Journey 2.0 with key performance indicators such as:
- Engagement rates: This monitored course completion and participation.
- Employee feedback: Surveys and discovery sessions were arranged to refine the learning experience.
- Behavioral changes: These psychometric benchmarks measured how employees apply new skills in real-world HR scenarios.
- Career growth: Increased role transitions, demonstrating success in upskilling and reskilling.
One of the most significant outcomes? Early-career HR professionals are stepping up as strategic thinkers, bringing new ideas and confidence to business discussions.
The bigger business impact with HR enablement
CGI’s learning transformation is being noticed beyond HR. Business leaders see the difference. Learning is no longer seen as a support function—it’s a strategic necessity. The numbers speak for themselves:
- 80% of CGI’s HR professionals actively participate in CGI Academia.
- 98% completion rate for high-impact programs, including AI-focused learning.
- Higher proficiency levels, as measured by skill benchmarks.
- Greater alignment between learning initiatives and business goals.
Srilata Kolachana emphasised that as HR professionals build expertise in areas like workforce analytics and AI, their ability to influence business strategy will be stronger than ever.
The future of HR learning at CGI
According to Srilata Kolachana, CGI has no plans to slow down. The company is committed to expanding its learning programs, adopting emerging technologies, and continuously refining its approach to stay ahead in the ever-changing business landscape.
“This is more than just training,” Srilata Kolachana said. “It’s about preparing HR professionals to lead, adapt, and innovate in a rapidly evolving world.”
As CGI continues to grow, its partnership with Skillsoft remains central to building a resilient, future-ready workforce that is ready to take on whatever comes next.
This is part of the Skill Shift Series, where Skillsoft and People Matters together explore how companies are redefining learning to bridge the skills gap and drive business impact.
Learn how Skillsoft Percipio can transform your organization’s learning journey today!
