On August 30th, 2025, the Vinod Gupta School of Management (VGSoM), IIT Kharagpur, hosted its flagship HR Conclave, Vaachna 2025. This year’s theme, “Leadership Reimagined: Forging Future-Ready Managers for a New Era”, reflected the transformation of leadership in the face of Industry 5.0, rapid digitalization, and evolving workforce expectations.
The conclave brought together a distinguished panel of HR leaders:
Mr. Arjya Kumar Mishra – Group CHRO, Patil Group
Mr. Arunangshu Chatterjee – CHRO, Vedant Fashions Limited (Manyavar-Mohey)
Mr. Deep Banerjee – Head HR, Huhtamaki
Mr. Koushik Mukherjee – Head HR, PCBL Chemical Ltd., Durgapur
Mr. Prashant Deshpande – CHRO, Grow Indigo Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. Sunil Naik – VP HR, DHL Global Forwarding (India & South Asia), who also moderated the session
Mr. Sunil Naik, Vice President – Human Resources, India and South Asia, DHL Global Forwarding, opened the discussion as the moderator. Drawing parallels with a cinematic narrative, he divided the conversation into three acts - conceptual perspectives, skillsets for young managers, and advice for the next generation of leaders. He emphasized that leadership today is being continuously redefined, shaped by agility, adaptability, and a human touch.
Beginning with the conceptual frame, Mr. Arjya Kumar Mishra reflected on the journey from manager to leader, emphasizing that while management is relatively easy, leadership demands resilience and constant evolution. He highlighted the role of structured programs like Management Trainee schemes in helping young professionals grasp leadership early. Adding to this, Mr. Deep Banerjee focused on authenticity as the cornerstone of leadership, stressing the importance of honesty, humility, and ownership. Together, they underlined that true leadership is about continuous growth, empowering teams, and building genuine, transparent connections.
Shifting the discussion to vision and organizational culture, Mr. Arunangshu Chatterjee emphasized that compelling vision and strong execution drive excellence. He stressed the importance of leaders serving as role models, embedding shared values, and demonstrating empathy and inclusivity to foster a cohesive culture. Echoing this, Mr. Koushik Mukherjee highlighted that sustainable growth stems from leaders who build credibility and trust, noting that teamwork is not just a process but a mindset anchored in shared purpose. He urged leaders to prioritize people and relationships over short-term outcomes. Adding a personal dimension, Mr. Prashant Deshpande likened leadership to being a ‘virtual parent,’ rooted in care, empathy, and emotional intelligence. For him, effective leaders create nurturing ecosystems where individuals feel safe, valued, and empowered to grow while remaining true to themselves.
Bringing the discussion together, Mr. Sunil Naik summarized the collective wisdom of the panel. He highlighted that tomorrow’s leaders must embody self-awareness, compassion, flexibility, genuineness, and perseverance. The conclave closed with an engaging Q&A, where leaders discussed on how to recognize and reward authenticity, balance task orientation with people care, build trust in teams, and help young managers avoid common mistakes.They also addressed the growing influence of Gen Z employees, noting that reverse mentoring, buddy programs, and feedback-driven cultures are key to harnessing their openness and sense of responsibility.
To sum up, Vaachna 2025 was an engaging exploration of leadership in a rapidly changing world. The conclave underscored that while technological change and global challenges reshape the business landscape, the qualities that define true leaders remain timeless: integrity,trustworthiness,vision and versatility.
