All Things Talent August 2025 Edition

Across India’s boardrooms and campuses, a quiet revolution is underway. From redefining first-job philosophies to rewriting the rules of skill development, talent leaders are crafting the playbook for how young professionals step into the workforce and soar from day one.

In this ‘First Flight’ edition of All Things Talent, we bring you powerful insights from 17 visionary HR and talent acquisition leaders who are shaping future-ready careers, globally competitive, and deeply human at the core. From the bustling corridors of India’s largest tech hubs to the emerging talent ecosystems of GCCs, this is the story of how freshers are becoming tomorrow’s leaders.

Cover Story: Talent Leaders Empowering New Professionals to Soar
A closer look at how India’s most forward-thinking organisations are not just hiring graduates, but transforming them into global contributors through mentorship, skill-building, and purpose-driven onboarding.

Leader Spotlights: Setting the Bar for Early Talent

Vision & Strategy

• Atul Sahgal, SVP and Global Head
  of Talent Acquisition — Tech and IOA, Cognizant — Why Cognizant’s First Job Philosophy Stands Out
• Kavita Mehra, Senior Director, General
  Management, Dell Technologies — As Talent Evolves, So Does Strategy: Dell’s Learning-First Approach
• Priyanka Anand, VP
  and Head of HR for Southeast Asia, Oceania &
  India, Ericsson — Ericsson’s Vision 2025: Talent, Innovation & the Future of Telecom

Insights & Research

• All Things Talent Survey — Inside the Minds of 1.5 Lakh Jobseekers
• Dr Pavan Gurazada, Sr Faculty, Great
  Learning, Adjunct Lecturer, Great Learning — Navigating In-Demand Skills in India’s Surging GCC Ecosystem

Early Talent Game-Changers

• Anshul Bhargava, SVP & Global Head
  Talent Acquisition, Firstsource — Why Firstsource Bets Big on Learnability and Skill-Based Hiring
• Ashish Garg, Head of Talent Acquisition,
  Wells Fargo India and the Philippines Region — Shaping Future-Ready Talent in BFSI: A Campus Strategy Perspective
• Nitin Nahata, CHRO, Gameskraft — Fresh Outta Campus, Straight Into the Game
• Narane Gundabathula, Executive Manager –
  Talent Acquisition, Hexagon R&D India — From Hyderabad to the World: Nurturing Freshers into Global Contributors

Sector Shifts & Skill Building

• Jaspreet Bakshi, Partner & India HR Leader, Marsh McLennan India — Risk, Resilience, and the Rise of GCCs: An Early Talent Vision
• Renu Shekhawat, Director and Head of
  Human Resources, APAC, Pitney Bowes — Inside Pitney Bowes’ Young Talent Development Journey
• Sudha Vutukuru, Head – Talent Strategy
  & Acquisition Leader – India, Asia, MEA, John Deere — Building Future-Ready Talent Pipelines
• Dr Antarpreet Singh, Director (Academics),
  WILL Education — Why Learning Needs a Bold Rethink Today
• Priyanka Amonkar, Head – Talent
  Excellence, People Growth & Development, Yotta — Careers Take Flight from Day One at Yotta

Special Panel: Can AI Truly Understand Fresh Talent?
Four leaders from diverse industries explore whether artificial intelligence can truly grasp the aspirations, potential, and personality of a new-generation workforce.
Featuring:

• Dinesh Menon, Founder’s Officer-People
  & Strategy, Onsurity
• Regina Thomas, Head of Talent Acquisition,
  India at Encora
• Gunjandeep Kaur, Director – HR Business
  Partner at Model N
• Yadhu Kishore, Sr. HR Director, Evernorth
  Health Services India