PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Rudrapur
The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kashipur hosted its flagship Human Resource (HR) conclave, Samanvaya 2026 on the weekend, bringing together eminent industry leaders, senior HR professionals and management students to deliberate on the evolving world of work, changing workforce expectations and the future of talent management. The conclave provided a platform for meaningful industry-academia dialogue on how technological advancements, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), changing employee expectations and evolving organisational structures are reshaping employment and human resource management.
The event commenced with a panel discussion titled ‘Beyond the 9-to-5: What Will “Employment” Even Mean by 2040?’. The discussion examined how organisations must balance operational stability with innovation while adapting to rapid technological change. Sankalp Nanda, senior manager (HR Rewards) at London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), discussed the role of AI in entry-level hiring. He noted that AI is raising the bar for aspiring professionals, encouraging them to build depth of knowledge, which companies continue to value strongly. Nidhi Bharadwaj, executive vice president at Marsh, said management trainees are primarily assessed on how well they adapt to change, while lateral hiring prioritises empathy and the human element. She also cited reverse mentoring, in which young professionals mentor managers and bring fresh perspectives to leadership.
The second panel, ‘Beyond the Checkbox: What Will Strengthen the Resume by 2040?’, explored the changing parameters of employability, covering recruitment practices, business understanding, digital presence, problem-solving and organisational culture. Speakers said that resumes have evolved over two decades from factual records into tools of storytelling. A resume represents the personal brand and digital persona to prospective employers, they said.
Samskriti Ramgad, Vice President and Head – HR at BIG FM, said resumes “aren’t going anywhere” but are evolving in format. Arjun Mohan, AVP – HR at Mphasis, said recruiters now look beyond certifications to business understanding, adaptability and problem-solving impact, and that a clear story of resilience and value addition makes a candidate stand out.
Avneet Singh, AVP – HR at Axis Max Life Insurance Limited, observed that with both recruiters and job seekers using AI, employers look past resume statements to the authentic story and decision-making rationale behind a candidate’s achievements. The conclave concluded with an interactive exchange between the panellists and management students, giving them the opportunity to engage directly with practitioners on emerging workplace trends and evolving professional expectations.
