With calls to humanise leadership in an era ruled by algorithms, the POWERGRID HR Tech Conference 2025—held in knowledge partnership with SHRM—brought together national and global experts to discuss how people and technology can co-create a resilient, future-ready workforce.
Keynote Focus
Delivering the keynote address, Dr Yatindra Dwivedi, Director (Personnel), POWERGRID, urged organisations to dissolve the divide between humans and technology and adopt “humane leadership” in the age of AI. Highlighting POWERGRID’s adoption of Model Context Protocol (MCP)-based solutions, he said the industry was evolving rapidly from AI to quantum intelligence through research and innovation.
Dr R K Tyagi, Chairman and Managing Director, POWERGRID, in his inaugural address, described the power sector as the backbone of India’s development. He called for urgent HR transformation to address talent shortages, enhance inclusion and build a globally competitive, future-ready workforce.
Achal Khanna, CEO – SHRM APAC & MENA, said SHRM’s collaboration with POWERGRID was opening new learning avenues for the public sector. Sudhir Gadh, Chief Growth Officer & Strategic Advisor, SHRM, stressed that digital transformation must be a unified effort between public and private sectors to power India’s future.
Industry Insights
Industry veteran Manoj Kohli, former Country Head, SoftBank India, outlined a five-point framework for POWERGRID focused on competition, future-ready planning, upskilling, adoption of advanced technologies and building a high-speed, low-bureaucracy culture.
A fireside chat with Rashmi Govil, Director (HR), IOCL, explored the intersection of belonging, inclusion and performance, while a panel on succession planning emphasised data-backed yet human-centric leadership development.
The day concluded with cricketer Ajinkya Rahane sharing leadership lessons on calmness, resilience and nurturing young talent — underscoring that trust and discipline remain timeless drivers of excellence.