A Leader’s Sojourn

S. Ajay Kumar

IBM has long stood as a global symbol of diversity and inclusion. It’s a reminder that culture isn’t a side activity — it’s the foundation of enduring organizations. For students like Mansi- preparing for her campus recruitment- this culture shapes what she values in an employer. Leaders like Kazutada Kobayashi of Canon India and S. Ramachandran of CavinKare echo this — both emphasize responsibility- people connection- and the role of HR in creating workplaces where talent thrives. At HCL- CHRO Prithvi Shergill underscores the importance of harnessing diverse talent pools- while Seema Padman at Epsilon points to bold initiatives like Crafting a Better Epsilon and Ask Me Anything to strengthen engagement. HR leaders such as Pallavi Kapoor of EMC bring rich experience in competency development and talent assessment- reminding us that culture is not just about values but also about systems and practices. And whether it’s a startup in a garage or a multinational campus- the essentials remain the same — leadership- communication- flexibility- and genuine care for people. Over time- this extends beyond organizations too. Functional literacy and empowerment enable women to step out- make choices- and contribute to society’s development.