Concluded on September 17, 2010, the one-day Network18 HR Leadership Conclave held in Delhi highlighted an array of people practices, HR strategies and workforce challenges India Inc. is likely to witness in the coming times. Despite the slowdown that plagued the Indian economy for the most part of 2009, India Inc. is set for not only an unprecedented growth phase, but for also unprecedented complexities in the way business are done. The Network18 HR Leadership Conclave emphasized that there is a dire need to have an eclectic mix of not only innovative business strategies, but also generating superior business value, developing a leadership pipeline, shifting toward intangibles like employee loyalty and commitment, and turning employees into volunteers. And this need will have a direct impact on the role of the HR, which will be brought to the forefront by every organization willing to brace these changes. The Conclave highlighted that not only will the HR be responsible to contribute to the bottomlines, but will also have to induce innovation in all of its functions including Finance, HR, IT, Support, et al. The event also brought to fore the role technology can play in enhancing productivity and commitment from employees by supporting various functions.

The Conclave presented views from imminent personalities from the field of HR and Management from Corporate India. Some of the key speakers included: Mr. T.V. Mohandas Pai, Director & Head, Finacle, Admin & Human Resources, Infosys Leadership Institute and Education and Research, Infosys; Mr. D Shivakumar, Vice President and Managing Director, Nokia India; Mr. SY Siddiqui, Managing Executive Officer-Administration (HR, Finance, IT & COSL), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.; Mr. Thomas Antony, Executive Director – HRD, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.; Mr. K Ramachandran Pillai, Chairman cum Managing Director, National Textile Corporation; Mr. Hari Thalapalli, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief People Officer, Mahindra Satyam; Mr. Anil Chhikara, Founder and President, 24x7 Learning; Mr. Rajesh Rai, Director – HR, Benetton India Private Ltd.; Mr. Rajneesh Singh, Group Head HR, Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.; Mr. Sanjay Modi, Managing Director - India, ME & SE Asia, Monster.com; Dr. Ganesh Shermon, Partner & Country Head - People and Change Practice, KPMG; Mr. K Pandia Rajan, Managing Director and CEO, Ma Foi Randstad; Mr. James Thomas, Country Manager – India Operations, Kronos Incorporated; Dr. S. Mohan, Director HR, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, amongst others.

The Conclave concluded with a panel discussion on the HR imperative from a PSU perspective, which broadly discussed the changing business dynamics of PSUs in India and talent and performance dimensions.