Sangam 2025: Industry leaders join academic experts at JKLU HR Conclave to groom talent for the future

Jaipur : Sangam 2.0, the annual HR Conclave at JK Lakshmipat University (JKLU), convened leading industry professionals, academic experts, and scholars to explore the growing need for stronger academia–industry partnerships to prepare a workforce capable of meeting future challenges.

Delivering the keynote address, Harsh Pati Singhania, Pro Chancellor of JKLU, presented an inspiring vision for higher education as a catalyst for creating an agile, adaptable talent pool.
“The future of work is interdisciplinary, collaborative, and global… Academic institutions must cultivate a holistic skill set that integrates both technical and soft skills,” Singhania emphasized.

Reinforcing the conclave’s theme, “Grooming the Talent for Future, Now,” JKLU Vice Chancellor Professor Vijaysekhar Chellaboina highlighted the importance of dynamic and relevant education.
“We want to ensure that what we teach stays aligned with the rapid pace of technological and social change. Our goal is to nurture talent that is not only academically strong but also industry-ready,” he said.

Prem Singh, President–Group HR of JK Organisation, stressed the need for practical exposure.
“Collaboration between industry and academia is critical… Students must be equipped not just for future challenges but also to drive innovation,” he noted.

Aligning University Capabilities with Emerging Workforce Needs

A key plenary session on “Aligning University Capabilities with Future Workforce Needs” featured distinguished leaders, including:

• K.S. Bakshi, Group Head (HR), Interglobe Enterprises

• Rajkamal Vempati, Group Executive & Head HR, Axis Bank

• Dr. V.P. Singh, Adviser & Distinguished Professor, Jaipuria Institute of Management

• Neeraj Narang, Senior Director, Global HCM Strategy, Oracle

• Debashish Bera, Managing Director (Partner), Accenture Strategy

• Achina Sharma, Director & HR Business Partner, Adobe

• Mahesh Garg, CTO, Indian Railways

The experts emphasized creating co-innovation spaces where academia and industry jointly develop solutions, research, and future-ready talent pipelines.

Tech Talent & Organisational DNA

Amit Malik, President – Japan, Asia Pacific & Australia at Wadzpay, delivered a compelling keynote on “How Tech Talent Shapes Organisational DNA.”

He highlighted the transformative influence of technology professionals:
“Tech talent determines whether an organisation is slow or fast. They define decision-making speed, safety, intelligence, and the overall workplace experience,” he said.

Panel 1: Co-Creating Future-Ready Managers

Moderated by Dr. V.P. Singh, the first panel featured:

• Neeraj Narang (Oracle)

• Debashish Bera (Accenture Strategy)

• Achina Sharma (Adobe)

• Dr. Nidhi Vashishth (Founder, Dakshta Consultants)

Discussions focused on curriculum innovation, internships, real-world projects, and mentorship programs as essential elements for preparing future-ready managers.

Panel 2: Power Skills of Tomorrow

A session moderated by Anurag Malik, Partner at EY, explored “The Power Skills of Tomorrow: Empathy, Communication & Design Thinking,” with insights from:

• Rajita Singh, Global Delivery HR Leader, Kyndryl

• Janani Prakaash, SVP & Global Head – People & Culture, Genzeon

• Mahesh Garg, CTO, Indian Railways

The leaders highlighted empathy-driven leadership, effective communication, and design thinking as critical for managing change and fostering innovation in complex environments.

Strengthening Industry–Academia Partnerships

The conclave underscored JKLU’s commitment to integrating industry insights into academic programs.
Professor Archana Shukla, Director, Hari Shankar Singhania School of Business, called for deeper collaborations across sectors to build a robust talent pipeline.

Sangam 2025 reaffirmed the university’s role as a bridge between academic excellence and industry expectations, preparing students to thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy.

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