The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Erode Zone, organised its 12th CII Erode HR Conclave 2026 in Erode on Thursday, focusing on the role of artificial intelligence, skill development and human-centric leadership in building future-ready organisations.
Held under the theme ‘HR 5.0: Building Future-Ready Organisations through AI, Skills and Human-Centric Leadership’, the conclave was attended by over 100 delegates, including HR leaders, industry experts and senior management professionals. More than 25 speakers from leading organisations across the country participated.
K.M. Shanmugha Perumal, vice-chairman, CII Erode Zone, and managing partner, Ethical Paper Private Limited, highlighted the importance of human capital in driving business growth and competitiveness. Charles Godwin, HR Leader and public speaker, Zoho Corporation, spoke on integrating artificial intelligence into organisations, strengthening workforce capabilities and promoting human-centric leadership.
In a special address on ‘What Truly Makes a Great Place to Work: Leadership, Trust and Execution’, Prasad Kachraj, managing director, Great Place to Work, stressed the importance of trust-based leadership, employee engagement and a purpose-driven work culture. Laisa Jinan, co-chair, Taskforce on Agri Veer to Industry Veer, and head – HR, Danfoss Industries Private Limited, highlighted the need for industry-academia collaboration, continuous skill development and inclusive workforce growth.
The sessions covered managing Gen Z employees and multi-generational workplaces, preparing employees for generative AI, and transitioning from traditional job descriptions to skills-based organisations. Speakers also discussed internal talent development, upskilling, reskilling and responsible adoption of AI. A panel on HR transformation in Western Tamil Nadu industries examined employee engagement, productivity, digital HR initiatives, workforce retention and leadership practices, drawing lessons from successful and unsuccessful initiatives.
The concluding session discussed talent retention in Tier-II cities, with emphasis on employer branding, career growth opportunities, workplace flexibility and employee engagement. Participants stressed that technology adoption, continuous skill development and people-centric leadership would be crucial to building resilient and competitive organisations.
Published – November 05, 2026 06:33 pm IST
