Human Resource Management underpins the entire spectrum of business operations, where the impact of decisions matters more than intent. The field has evolved significantly, and today HR professionals must be agile, open to change, and ready to explore new possibilities,” said Dr. Kiranpreet Kaur, Chief of People, CPM India.

Delivering the keynote address at the 13th International Conference on ‘HR 5.0: The Human-Centric Future of Work’, organized by SDMIMD, Mysuru, under the BCIC–SDMIMD Centre for Management Excellence, Dr.Kiranpreet highlighted the rapid transformation of the HR landscape. She noted that recruitment and other HR processes are increasingly technology-driven, improving efficiency and saving time. Reflecting on the post-COVID work environment, she observed that several once-unimaginable practices have become routine. Emphasizing the future of HR, she stated that while technology will play a pivotal role in addressing employee challenges, its ethical and effective adoption is crucial. She also pointed out that employee mindsets often pose practical challenges, with minor issues sometimes consuming valuable time that could otherwise be devoted to more critical concerns.

Mr. Rajesh Jha, Country Sustainability Manager, ABB India, was the Guest of Honour at the inaugural function and delivered a special address on sustainability and HR. He stated that HR plays an important role in an organization’s achievement of its objectives and that even one HR action could have significant ramifications throughout the entire company. Mr. Jha confirmed that HR must partner with other departments to ensure that employee well-being is integral to driving the company's long-term sustainability. At the same time, he also emphasized that to sustain long-term success, organizations must adopt a strategic focus on employees' welfare, employee safety, community involvement, customer relations, and social responsibility from a business perspective. Mr. Jha offered examples from his organization to demonstrate what ‘Sustainable HR’ is in practice.

Dr. (Lt. Col.)S. N. Prasad, Director, SDMIMD, Mysuru, delivered the introductory remarks, wherein he highlighted sensitive HR policies and recent developments in the field, effectively setting the context for the conference deliberations.

The conference started with the delivery speech by Dr.Mousumi Sengupta, Dean – International Relations and Conference Chair, SDMIMD, Mysuru. She introduced the central theme of the conference and explained that the conference focuses on HR 5.0, a progressive paradigm that integrates advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation, and data analytics. It endures human values of empathy, inclusivity, and meaningful relationships.

Major Highlights of the Conference:

A major highlight of the first day of the conference was the alumni panel discussion, comprising of the distinguished SDMIMD alumni. The panelists have Mr. Prajwal UI, Director – HR, Unisys India; Ms.Madonna Niveditha, Head of Marketing, Diligent Global India; and Ms.Kalyani Anil, Senior Manager – HR, Oracle India, who shared their professional insights and experiences with the participants.

The valedictory ceremony was glorified by Mr. Jahangir Shaikh, Director – HRBP, Zepto, as the Chief Guest. The conference also included technical sessions by experienced speakers such as Prof. Kamal Jain, Director, FROST and Distinguished Professor, IIM Raipur, and Ms.Hemlata Ramu, Senior Director – HR, Biocon Biologics.
Another key highlight of the conference was a panel discussion on “Leveraging Technology for Human-Centricity at Work.” The panel comprised Mr. Atul Sharma, National Vice President, ISTD and Founding Director, Solutions Wilcom Company; Ms. Smitha Bopanna, Director, Noesys Software Pvt. Ltd.; and Mr. Naresh Babu Deevi, Chief Growth Officer, Husys Consulting Limited.

There were over 100 attendees at the conference from all different sectors. Over 70 research presentations made by researchers provided an engaging forum for a comprehensive discussion on how HR will lead the development of workplaces that focus on maximizing the value of human input, while taking advantage of digital transformation.