Events

Prof. (Dr.) S. Sundar Manoharan is the Director General and Vice Chancellor of Pandit Deendayal Energy University, with over three decades of leadership in higher education, scientific research, and technology innovation. A renowned academic and institution builder, he has led four universities and pioneered initiatives in nanotechnology, renewable energy, semiconductor technologies, and translational research. Holding 35 patents and over 125 research publications, Prof. Manoharan is widely recognized for building innovation ecosystems that bridge academia, industry, and government, while advancing research, entrepreneurship, and future-ready talent development.

Rajkamal Vempati is the Group Executive & Head of Human Resources at Axis Bank. Rajkamal is a member of the Management Committee and a passionate advocate of sustaining a human workplace & creating an inclusive culture geared for the future. Her team of HR professionals at Axis Group is focused on nurturing distinctive career experiences that matter to the people and wherein they thrive. Axis Bank has been recognized externally as an employer of choice for its Diversity, Equity & Inclusion efforts and its Giga Opportunities program has been widely lauded. She is also the Co- chairperson of FICCI HR Committee. She graduated in Science from Himachal Pradesh University and holds an MBA from XLRI Jamshedpur. She is a recipient of “Distinguished Alumnus Award” from XLRI, Jamshedpur and she has also been honored with Honoris Causa, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). by Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies.

Prior to Axis Bank, she was heading Human Resources for ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company. Rajkamal was a consultant with Hewitt Associates, part of the HR Leadership Program at GE Capital and has worked with ICICI Prudential Life Insurance across diverse roles.

Personally, having experienced the drop out from career due to long distance marriage and re-entering the workforce subsequently with a young daughter, she is super passionate about mentoring and coaching female executives so that they remain in motion in careers of their choice. Her favourite pastime is planning for holidays and itineraries with her family and friends.

Lakshmi is Senior Managing Director and Lead for Human Resources for Accenture in India. With over 25 years of HR experience, she is currently responsible for leading the human capital strategy for Accenture in India focusing on enabling 310,000+ people in India to be successful, professionally, and personally.

Lakshmi joined Accenture in 2003 and has held numerous HR leadership positions, supporting different Accenture businesses both locally and globally. Prior to joining Accenture, she has worked with iGate (now Capgemini) and Nestle. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Presidency University, Kolkata, and an MBA in Human Resources from XLRI, Jamshedpur.

Lakshmi is a strong advocate of enabling equal and empowering cultures and enjoys mentoring young people, especially young women from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and at their early career stages. She is a Melvin Jones fellow of Lions Club International and supports activities that enable persons with disabilities. Lakshmi also co-chairs the FICCI’s HR & Skills Committee and is on the advisory board for XLRI's Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusive Leadership (CGEIL). She regularly features on Business World People's lists of Most Influential Women in HR and has also been recognized among top HR Thought Leaders in the country by ETHR World in 2024.

Lakshmi lives in Bangalore with her family including her husband, son, and parents-in-law. She enjoys traveling discovering local cultures, foods and languages and can speak 5 languages fluently.

An alumnus of BITS Pilani, Mr. Sanjay Bahl brings over 35 years of leadership experience across EdTech, Skill Development, Telecom, Electronics, Retail, Talent Transformation, Rural & Social Sectors, and Online Education.

With a proven track record of creating new ventures, driving successful turnarounds, and leading large-scale organizational transformations, he has consistently delivered sustainable growth across geographies including India, the Middle East, Africa, and other emerging economies.

He has held multiple leadership roles as President, CEO, and Managing Director, leading cross-functional, multi-location teams and building strong customer and partner relationships to drive business excellence.

A strategic thinker and collaborator, Mr. Bahl has spearheaded joint venture partnerships with industry, government, and institutions, managing B2C, B2B, B2G, and PPP models aimed at profitable and scalable growth. He works closely with government bodies, academic institutions, and industry organizations to align policies and implement initiatives that empower youth and enhance workforce capabilities in both domestic and international markets.

His leadership philosophy is grounded in a deep understanding of strategy frameworks and emerging technologies — including AI, ML, GenAI, IoT, 5G, and Industry 4.0 — and their transformative impact on business models, talent ecosystems, and career pathways.

Recognized for his innovative approach to business transformation, operational efficiency, and ability to navigate competitive markets, Mr. Bahl has contributed significantly to organizations such as NIIT, upGrad, Centum, Airtel, CASIO, and Crompton Greaves.
 

Virginia Aranzazu Bauzá Iraola is the Head of Human Resources (HR) for Airbus India & South Asia. In her role, she is responsible for driving the company’s people strategy across the region and shaping an inclusive, high-performance culture that supports innovation and long-term business growth. Her core mission is to foster leadership, develop talent and ensure Airbus India remains a great place to work by connecting business priorities with human potential.

A pragmatic and people-focused leader, Virginia’s leadership is defined by a blend of empathy, adaptability, and strategic foresight. Virginia is dedicated to fostering an environment that empowers employees and ensures they feel valued and engaged.

Her career at Airbus, spanning nearly two decades, is marked by a series of impactful leadership roles across the company's divisions and geographies. Prior to her current position, she served as Head of HR for Global Business, Finance, and International at Airbus Helicopters in Marignane, where she was instrumental in driving global mobility, executive international talent management and international M&A projects.

Previously, Virginia held various senior HR roles in Germany and France supporting critical transformation programmes within the company. Her extensive international experience, having lived and worked in Spain, Switzerland, France, Germany, and Belgium, enriches her global perspective, a crucial asset for leading diverse and multicultural teams. Virginia holds a Master’s Degree in Business from the University of Augsburg, Germany, and is fluent in Spanish, German, French and English.

Sonica Aron is a transformative leader and one of India’s most influential voices in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). She is the founder of Marching Sheep —a purpose-driven organisation that’s redefining the DEI landscape. In her past, she held leadership positions across global corporations like Philips, AkzoNobel, Roche, Vodafone, and PepsiCo. Under her stewardship, Marching Sheep has partnered with 400+ organisations across 50+ countries, delivering strategic DEI and HR interventions that are bold, inclusive, and deeply human. Sonica’s people-first philosophy and fearless advocacy have earned her recognition from Forbes India, Fortune India, the US Embassy, and the Government of India, with honours including Top 10 Women Entrepreneurs, Most Valued Leader, Gender Impact Award, and Entrepreneur of the Year. She is a board member of Gender@Work India Trust, a regular speaker at platforms like FICCI, national news channels, and premier institutions including the IIMs. Her insights are frequently featured in leading publications such as Forbes, ET, Times of India, Live Mint, and Business World. Through Marching Sheep, Sonica has launched pioneering initiatives like SheMarches, She-returns, pwd hiring, Unleash, and some pioneering studies like MarchingSheep Inclusion Index 2025 where the business case of diversity was detailed , 21 Marching study on disability inclusion across 17 countries—each one pushing the boundaries of what inclusive leadership can achieve. Beyond the corporate sphere, Sonica is a passionate changemaker—working with acid attack survivors, the transgender community, and marginalised groups, driven by her belief that real change must begin both in society and the workplace.

Parineeta is the Vice President – Human Resources Leader at Albertsons Companies India. With more than two decades of experience across organizations including Albertsons, IKEA India, Carrefour India, and Genpact, she has led large-scale people transformation, culture-building, and organizational growth initiatives. An XLRI Jamshedpur alumna and ICF Associate Certified Coach, Parineeta is widely recognized for her work in developing future-ready organizations, strengthening leadership capability, and creating inclusive workplace cultures.

Ruchir is the Vice President & Head – HR, Foods Division at ITC Limited. With over two decades of experience in human resources and employee relations, he has led strategic people initiatives across talent management, organizational development, workforce planning, employee engagement, and industrial relations. An alumnus of SCMHRD Pune with executive education from Cornell University, Ruchir is widely recognized for his ability to integrate business strategy with people practices and build high-performing, future-ready organizations.