AMA hosts HR Conference on “Human and Al – Intelligence in Transition: Structuring the Future of Work”
Ahmedabad, The Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA) successfully organized its landmark 24th HR Conference 2026, centered on the theme, “Human and AI – Intelligence in Transition: Structuring the Future of Work.”
The conference brought together distinguished HR practitioners, global thought leaders, seasoned HR executives, and industry pioneers who shared invaluable insights on the shifting paradigms of human capital and artificial intelligence.
The conference commenced with an inspiring Welcome Address by Mr. Mohal Sarabhai, Vice President of AMA and CEO of Ambalal Sarabhai Enterprises Ltd. The Chief Guest Dr. Ajay Ranka, Chairman & Managing Director of Zydex Group, delivered a powerful Inaugural Address on “Designing Globally Relevant Organizations in the Age of AI and Robotics.” Dr. Valery Yakubovich, Executive Director of the Mack Institute for Innovation Management at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania delivered a keynote address.
The Conference featured three high-impact panel discussions tackling the most urgent questions facing modern human resources.
The first panel on “Who Designs Work Today: HR Frameworks or Algorithms?” featured insights from Dr. Rima Ghose Chowdhury (President & Global CHRO, Datamatics); Mr. Bharat Patel (Chairman & Director, Yudiz Solutions Ltd); and Ms. Neetu Wadhawan (Deputy CHRO, VFS Global) on balancing automated efficiency with human-centric design. The session was moderated by Ms. Priyanka Verma (Dy. Secretary General, Federation of Gujarat Industries – FGI).
The second panel on “Legacy Meets Logic: Can AI Replace Human Intuition in Business Transitions?” was addressed by panelists Dr. Rahul De’ (Founder & CEO, Memoric AI, Retired Professor of Information Systems, and former Dean of Programmes at IIM Bangalore); Mr. Sandeep Mudaliar (Sr. Vice President and Head of Human Resources, Analytix Solutions); and Dr. Saagarika Ghoshal (Managing Director, MATCHBOARD LLP), who explored the irreplaceable value of human empathy and gut instinct in corporate evolutions. This session was moderated by Mr. Jigar Kansara (Head of Human Resources, Bosch Home Comfort India Ltd.).
The third panel on “Learning Vs Prompting: Is AI Changing How Gen Z Thinks and Grows?” featured Mr. Sahil Sonwadiya (Recruitment Executive, Sonani Industries Pvt Ltd); Ms. Shruti Pancholi (HR Executive, Integrity Healthcare Solutions); and Mr. Shiv Rawat (CHRO & Vice President – HR, V-Trans Group). The discussion focused on workforce upskilling and the psychological shifts in the younger generation. Dr. Shreshtha Dabral (Director, Academy of Human Resource Development – AHRD) moderated the discussion.
Prof. Rajesh Chandwani (Chairperson, Academy of Human Resource Development – AHRD and Faculty of Human Resource Management, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad) addressed a special session. Mr. Kumar Manish (State & Comms Lead-Gujarat, IPE Global) addressed on “Gender Bias in AI-driven entry-level hiring.” An interactive Case Study and Engagement Activity, led by Mr. Nishad Joshi (Associate Vice President, EY-Parthenon) and Ms. Bhavna Phulwani (Assistant Manager, HR, Techerudite), provided attendees with practical takeaways to implement in their respective organizations.
Mr. Kamalkumar Dabawala (Chairman & MD, Continuous Learning Pvt. Ltd.) coordinated the conference. Mr. Unmesh Dixit (Executive Director, AMA) presented the Vote of Thanks, expressing gratitude to all participants and outreach partners: the Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD), HR Circle, and HR Milestone.
