Kolkata, Oct. 30 -- At a time when companies across the world are cutting jobs as investments increasingly shift towards Artificial Intelligence (AI), Bhawanipur Global Campus (BGC) chose an apt topic for discussion at a city hotel on Friday morning. Bringing together HR leaders and industry practitioners, the institution organised People Plus 2026: HR Conclave, to deliberate on the evolving dimensions of talent, leadership and the future of work.

Centred on the theme, 'Redefining Talent, Leadership & the Future of Work', the conclave focused on strengthening the industry-academia ecosystem through meaningful panel discussions, fireside conversations, a specially curated wellbeing workshop and an award ceremony.

Chief guest Prashant Sharma, Managing Director, Charnock Hospitals & SKM Group, spoke about the brain drain from Bengal over the past few decades and the need to nurture and identify talent within the state. Drawing on his experience of recognising talent, he outlined his simple formula of 'head, heart and hands'. Meanwhile, Abhijit Dutta, Managing Director, Accenture, Kolkata, emphasised that human involvement would remain central even in the age of AI.

A panel discussion on emerging workplace trends, digital HR, evolving talent expectations and contemporary leadership strategies drew particular interest from the HR professionals present. Prof Krishnendu Sarkar, Chief Academic Development & Collaboration and Dean, Student Welfare, BGC, stressed the importance of strengthening foundational knowledge in the AI era. "In the AI era, we need to gear ourselves with more foundational knowledge. Also, in the future, there will be more gigs," he said.

Sanjay Lal, Vice President & Head, Centre for Alumni, Career & Corporate Connect, BGC, highlighted the need for higher education institutions to go beyond academic knowledge and equip students with the skills and industry awareness required in the professional world. "Our larger objective is to prepare students for long-term professional growth and leadership," he said.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.