Mumbai,
May 22nd, 2026 : SHRM Tech26, the 12th edition of SHRM’s
flagship conference on HR and workplace technology, opened today at the Jio
World Convention Centre, Mumbai, bringing together more than 2,500 HR and
business leaders, including over 500 CXOs and 150+ speakers from India and
around the world. Held under the theme “Connected Intelligence,” the
two-day conference is examining how organizations can combine human capability
with AI-powered systems to transform decision-making, workforce strategy, and
enterprise performance.
From
boardroom strategy to frontline execution, Day 1 discussions reflected a clear
shift in how organizations are moving beyond AI experimentation toward
scalable, and responsible adoption. Opening the conference, Achal Khanna,
CEO, SHRM APAC & MENA, said the future of work will belong to
organizations that can seamlessly connect people, technology, and data. “Connected
Intelligence is about creating workplaces where human capability and artificial
intelligence amplify one another.
The
organizations that will lead tomorrow are those that use technology not just to
automate tasks, but to enhance decision-making, strengthen culture, and unlock
the full potential of their people,” said Achal
Khanna, CEO, SHRM APAC & MENA. The opening keynote, “From
Connection to Cognition,” was delivered by Vinay Tonse, Managing
Director & CEO, YES BANK, who spoke about how leaders can build
intelligent ecosystems that convert information into insight and insight into
action. Throughout the day, SHRM Tech26 featured a high-impact lineup of
keynote addresses, panel discussions, and concurrent sessions covering
workforce transformation, employee experience, recognition and rewards,
well-being, talent acquisition, and enterprise AI.
Sessions
such as - The 2026 Blueprint for an Engaged Workforce, Global
HR Playbook that Actually Drives ROI, and Workforce 2030: The Next
Frontier of Talent and Transformation highlighted the growing
importance of skills-based organizations, measurable HR outcomes, and
employee-centric design.
A
series of discussions focused on how organizations are redesigning the employee
experience. Conversations on benefits, well-being, and recognition explored how
companies are using data and technology to create more personalized and
meaningful experiences for employees.
Sessions
such as From Benefits to Behaviour, The New Wellbeing Stack,
and The Core R&R Playbook underscored the role of financial,
mental, and physical wellbeing as strategic drivers of engagement, retention,
and productivity. Day 1 also placed a strong spotlight on AI’s impact on work
and business performance. In his impact address, Krishnakumar Natarajan,
Former CEO of Mindtree and Managing Partner at Mela Ventures, examined how
leaders can guide AI-driven workforce transformation. Later, Manish Gupta, Group
CIO, Aditya Birla Group, argued that the new competitive advantage lies not in
talent or technology alone, but in the ability to scale intelligence across the
enterprise.
One
of the day’s marquee sessions, “Connected Intelligence in Action: Agentic
AI Redefining Enterprise Performance,” presented in partnership with
Workday, explored how organizations are moving from isolated HR systems to
connected intelligence layers capable of initiating decisions, orchestrating
actions, and improving enterprise agility. The session featured Richard
Rekhy, Vice Chair, Grant Thornton Bharat & Former CEO, KPMG in India, Sunil
Jose, President, Workday India; Harjeet Khanduja, Senior Vice
President - HR, Reliance Jio; and Kavita Kurup, Chief People Officer,
Cyient.
Additional
highlights included discussions on quality talent acquisition, future-ready
skills, cloud-based HRMS platforms, and the evolving role of leaders in an
AI-powered world. The day concluded with the Future-Tech Track, “Workforce
2030: Skills, Systems, and Shifts,” featuring senior leaders from
PepsiCo India & South Asia, and Google India, who shared insights on
building resilient organizations equipped for the next decade.
Commenting
on the significance of the event, Gaurav Bansal, Director, Marketing &
Communications – SHRM India, APAC & MENA, said SHRM Tech26 reflects
the conversations that matter most to business leaders today. SHRM Tech26 is
where the future of work becomes tangible. Day 1 made it clear that
organizations are focused on scaling AI responsibly while keeping people at the
center. The ideas and insights shared here provide a practical roadmap for
leaders looking to drive transformation with confidence,”.
“At
SHRM, our focus is on helping organizations build future-ready and
people-centric workplaces. Through SHRM Tech26, we are bringing together HR and
business leaders to discuss how technology and human intelligence can drive
stronger employee engagement, workplace transformation, and business growth,”
said, Surajit Bit, Senior Director – Operations
& People Engagement, SHRM India, APAC & MENA.
With
discussions spanning technology, culture, leadership, and strategy, SHRM Tech26
Day 1 reinforced one central message: the future of work will be defined by
connected intelligence, where AI augments human potential and HR plays a
pivotal role in shaping enterprise success.
SHRM
Tech26 continues tomorrow with additional sessions on workforce innovation,
leadership, and emerging technologies.
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.