The The Economic Times will host the sixth edition of the NexTech Human Capital India Summit 2026, positioning it as the country’s most future-focused forum at the intersection of human capital, technology, and business transformation. This year, Workday joins as Presenting Partner for the two-day event, which is expected to draw more than 2,000 CHROs, CXOs, policymakers, and HR innovators.
With 80+ global and Indian speakers and over 100 HR technology partners, the summit is shaping up as one of India’s largest HR gatherings—at a time when AI is rapidly redrawing the boundaries of workforce strategy.
AI Moves From Experiment to Enterprise Strategy
Anchored under the theme “Minds & Machines: Shaping Tomorrow,” the 2026 summit reflects a pivotal shift. AI and GenAI are no longer side projects tucked into innovation labs; they’re central to talent, leadership, and organizational design.
The agenda focuses on:
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Real-world AI and GenAI impact on workforce planning
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Scaling future skills and reimagining learning ecosystems
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Designing human-centric, inclusive high-performance cultures
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Redefining the CHRO as a strategic business architect
That last point is particularly telling. As automation accelerates and global competition intensifies, CHROs are increasingly expected to steer enterprise-wide transformation—not just manage talent pipelines.
A Global Line-Up With Boardroom Gravity
Headlining the summit is Dave Ulrich, Professor and Co-Founder of The RBL Group, widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in HR and leadership. He will be joined by Jason Oxman, President and CEO of the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), bringing a policy and global technology lens to workforce discussions.
The speaker roster extends beyond traditional HR circles. Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal and cultural icon Usha Uthup are slated to share perspectives on resilience and sustained excellence—an intentional nod to performance culture beyond corporate walls.
On the corporate side, India Inc.’s HR heavyweights will take center stage, including leaders from Axis Bank, Google India, NTPC, Apollo Tyres, ONGC, Bharat Petroleum, Tech Mahindra, and more. The CEO cohort features senior executives from Mercedes-Benz India, Emaar India, Adani Group GCC, Metropolis Healthcare, Muthoot Homefin, and Godrej Industries.
The ecosystem conversation is further bolstered by executives from Workday India, Keka, KPMG, Coursera, and Airbus KSA—signaling a blend of enterprise buyers, technology providers, and global HR leadership.
Beyond Panels: Curated Leadership Platforms
What distinguishes NexTech from a typical conference is its layered engagement model.
In addition to keynote sessions and panels, the summit will feature:
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CXO Circle: Invite-only closed-door strategy dialogues
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NexTech Leaders League & Learning Leaders League: Curated peer networks
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Mentorship Lab: Structured conversations between senior leaders and emerging talent
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Emerging Leaders League Awards: Recognizing HR leaders under 40
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ET Human Capital Awards 2026: Celebrating excellence in people strategy and culture
This multi-platform approach reflects a broader shift in professional events—from content consumption to ecosystem building.
India’s Workforce Moment
The summit arrives at a critical juncture for India’s workforce narrative.
As multinational companies expand Global Capability Centers (GCCs) and domestic enterprises invest in digital transformation, India is positioning itself as a global talent powerhouse. But scaling that advantage requires:
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AI-enabled workforce agility
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Robust skilling frameworks
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Policy alignment with technological change
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Stronger public-private collaboration
Events like NexTech increasingly serve as convergence points for those conversations—where enterprise leaders, policymakers, and tech vendors align on practical strategies rather than abstract trends.
Workday’s Strategic Signal
Workday’s role as Presenting Partner is also significant. Enterprise HR platforms are racing to embed AI deeper into core systems—from workforce planning to skills intelligence. Sponsoring and shaping the narrative at a summit of this scale signals commitment to the Indian market and its growing influence in global talent strategy.
For HR technology providers, India is no longer just a talent supply market—it’s a proving ground for next-generation workforce models.
The Big Picture
If 2024 and 2025 were defined by AI experimentation and restructuring headlines, 2026 appears poised to focus on operationalizing intelligence at scale.
The NexTech Human Capital India Summit 2026 aims to move the discussion beyond hype, exploring how human ingenuity and machine intelligence can coexist in sustainable, high-performance workplaces.
For CHROs navigating economic volatility, digital acceleration, and evolving employee expectations, that conversation is no longer optional.
Registration for the summit is now open via the official NexTech Human Capital platform hosted by The Economic Times.
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