Bengal Chamber holds second edition of The People Management Conclave

The conclave focused on themes like leveraging performance for strategic leadership, the journey from diversity and inclusion to belonging, and discuss the technological paradigm in creating the HR function of the future.

India is seen as the fastest growing economy among major world and its rapid growth will largely hinge on the ambition and passion of Indian business leaders.

Strategically, when planning for growth, manpower is a key factor driving and supporting the growth.

However, there needs to be a positive outlook towards planning, training, up-skilling manpower and continuously building capability.

According to a recent report of KPMG, a survey done on 1200 global HR executives from 64 countries, only 39 per cent have identified the need to redefine old models and think forward in collecting resources and insights and implementing technologies like AI, digital labour and analytics.

Said Subhodip Ghosh, Director General, The Bengal Chamber. “We from The Bengal Chamber have been trying to focus on ecosystem of HR and trying to provide a platform for stakeholders like members, corporate, educational institutes, consultants, government and government agencies to meet, network and work together. Skills are to be the new currency for HR professionals and differentiator of wages for corporate."

Somesh Dasgupta, Chairperson – The People Management Committee, Bengal Chamber, said, " The role of people management has to be revisited. There is a complex relationship between organization’s human resources and means of leveraging these resources to influence performance and develop strategic leadership to fuel organizational growth. Implementing strategic plans effectively is as critical as developing them. Leadership bears the responsibility to ensure that every manager in the organization understands the importance of identifying and developing the next generation of talent."

According to M.K. Singh, GM and Technical Secretary to Chairman, Coal India Ltd., "Human capital is the only capital which appreciates in value whereas all others depreciate. Managing human resource and people is the most challenging task. Prime facie top management should create super ordinate post and also see where industry is going. Days of monolith are counted. Resilience is a key factor. The main thing is to see how fast you can keep pace and reposition according to changing environment."     

Hemant Kanoria, Chairman,  Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited, said, "There should exist a balance between structure and the flexibility given to individuals for personal growth. We have now come from a environment of globalisation to one of protectionism. HR or Talent harnessing should be about understanding the environment in term of business model and environment. Society 5.0 is all about creativity. Organisations that are learning will always be contemporary, young and relevant. Disruptions are nothing but a process of re thinking. Successful organisations imbibe a learning culture and openness to change."

The inaugural session also was followed by two MoU signing sessions.

The Bengal Chamber signed two separate MoUs with the Calcutta Institute of Engineering and Management and the Haldia Institute of Technology.

This was followed by a book launch -- “HR Graffiti”.

Other key speakers present included Rahul Bose, Co – Chairperson - The People Management Committee, The Bengal Chamber and Global Manager Learning & Knowledge, IBM Global Business Services, Anand Pillai, Managing Director, Leadership Matters Inc., Paul Dupuis, Chief Executive Officer, Ranstad India, Rajiv Narang, Founder & CEO, Erehwon Innovation Consulting, Suresh Dutt Tripathi,  Vice President – Human Resources Management, Tata Steel Limited , Ajanta Chatterjee, Group Head L&T, Talent & OD, JSW Group,  Sonali Bhattacharya,  Senior Director – Enterprise IT Automation, Cognizant Technology Solutions, and Md Asif Iqbal, Associate Director, PWC India.

(Reporitng by Avirupa Das)