India, Nov 15 : The SHRM India Conference 2025 opened on Friday with powerful conversations on the evolving world of work, transforming Delhi’s Taj Palace into a vibrant hub of ideas, innovation and leadership. Over 2,400 attendees joined in person, while 2,100 participants tuned in virtually, marking a strong start to one of India’s largest HR gatherings.
The day began with a welcome address from Achal Khanna, CEO of SHRM APAC & MENA, who urged participants to view work as a meaningful force that unites people and builds purpose. The opening also featured a soulful performance by singer Esther Lalduhawmi Hnamte and a young choir from Ragaaz Studios, presenting “A Whole New World.”
The highlight of the event was the keynote by Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., President and CEO of SHRM. In his impactful address, he emphasized that the workplaces of the future must be inclusive, flexible, and purpose driven, blending human potential with technological advancement.
A fireside chat featuring Partha Neog of Vantage Circle and Manu N. Wadhwa of Sony Pictures Networks explored how AI and digital tools are reshaping employee recognition systems and creating measurable value for organizations.
Several important reports were launched during the day. SHRM India, in collaboration with Quantiphi and Google Cloud, unveiled “Driving Enterprise Productivity with Agentic AI,” offering insights into how AI can elevate decision-making and empower employees.
Another significant release was Keka’s “Inside India’s HR Pay Pulse” report, presented by Achal Khanna and Tapan Acharya, analyzing shifting compensation trends across the country. The LinkedIn–SHRM “Talent Strategy Playbook: The Future Starts Now” was also introduced.
Reflecting on the day’s success, Achal Khanna stressed that the future of work is not a conflict between humans and technology but a harmony of AI, empathy and purpose in building thriving workplaces.
The conference also featured several high-level panel discussions, including a session with Richard Rekhy of Grant Thornton Bharat and Sanjeev Jain of Wipro, who shared leadership perspectives on the “new code of work.”
Masterclasses and Learning Tracks were major highlights, offering participants hands-on insights into AI adoption, leadership development, and talent transformation. Experts such as Shaakun Khanna discussed the power of agentic AI in HR, while Sandeep Alur of Microsoft spoke about designing “AI-First HR” systems.
Additional sessions by O.C. Tanner, CFA Institute, ZingHR, Avvanz, Hogan Assessments and others covered workplace culture, leadership challenges, social media hiring, and public sector talent strategies rounding off an impactful Day 1 at the SHRM India Conference 2025.