Imtiyaz Arshad, Chief General Manager, CEO & Secretary – Skill Development at HPCL explains on India Employer Forum how hands-on training, lean process excellence and participative change-management combined to close skill gaps, drive productivity and scale employability across HPCL’s operations.
Moderated by: Balasubramanian A, Senior Vice President & Business Head, TeamLease Services Ltd.
Imtiyaz spoke extensively about the skill gap that impacts the Indian workforce and education system. Imtiyaz Arshad said, “Employability improves only through hands-on practice, not by mugging up information. Practice builds confidence. Information has lost its traction. Today, everything is available at your fingertips. The real value comes from knowing HOW, not WHAT. Our education system still focuses on the WHAT, when industry needs people skilled in the HOW,” when asked about employability and how education has changed over the years.
When asked to comment on employed vs employable, Imtiyaz Arshad said, “Behaviour is about expression. The world responds not to what you think, but to how you express it. The moment you express, you become vulnerable, and that’s how learning happens. You must be willing to fail to be employable. Fail, get up, and run again. Teachers focus on the top five students. Trainers focus on the last five.”
When questioned on productivity he said, “Lean simply means removing FAT, waiting time, excess motion, excess inventory. Remove the fat and productivity rises. Small improvements, done consistently, can create humongous gains over time. We improved LPG bottling productivity by nearly 50% through small, disciplined steps. Don’t build the perfect product first. Build a prototype and let the customer tell you what to change.”
Talking about skilling and success, Imtiyaz said, “Agility means not blocking your money on untested ideas. Validate fast, iterate faster. Success is an overused word. I’ve failed a hundred times, but that’s how you finally reach 100%. Three months of focused skilling in IoT, automation or instrumentation can make any graduate industry-ready. India doesn’t lack technical talent, we lack functional and behavioural skills.”
Watch the Full Samvaad: In Conversation with Imtiyaz Arshad, Chief General Manager, CEO & Secretary – Skill Development, HPCL
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About Imtiyaz Arshad
Imtiyaz Arshad is a seasoned business leader with over 38 years of distinguished experience in the downstream Oil & Gas sector, specialising in Skill Development, Productivity Enhancement, Project Management, and Change Transformation. A Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, PMP, and ISO Lead Auditor, he has led large-scale national initiatives across HPCL, including transformative programs like Utkarsh and Utkrisht, which boosted productivity across LPG plants, POL depots, and terminals nationwide.
As Chief General Manager, CEO & Secretary – Skill Development at HPCL, Imtiyaz has spearheaded impactful capability-building programs, designed behavioural and functional training for thousands of employees, and championed participative management models that earned global recognition, including the prestigious ATD Excellence in Practice Award (USA).
A project leader who successfully commissioned a 651-km LPG pipeline during the pandemic, Imtiyaz blends analytical rigour with people-centric leadership. Having transitioned from an introverted operations professional to a sought-after corporate trainer, he now focuses on skilling, employability, leadership development, and campus-to-corporate readiness for Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha.
He continues his mission as a trainer, consultant, and transformation coach, helping organisations enhance productivity, quality, safety, and managerial excellence through modern tools, Lean Six Sigma, and experiential learning. You can connect with Imtiyaz here.
Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in this article, including any accompanying data, are the sole responsibility of the author and should not be construed as reflecting the official policy or position of India Employer Forum.
