Archana Upadhyay, CHRO, Hindustan Colas, speaks to India Employer Forum about workforce strategies, skilling for Industry 4.0, digital adoption, compliance, and the balance between automation and human skills.
She said, “With the current wave of technology adoption across industries, particularly with the Union Budget’s re-emphasis on infrastructure, manufacturing and allied industries are going to scale rapidly. Growth always means a greater need for competent talent. Workforce strategy, therefore, must begin with understanding the business—its growth trajectory, technology adoption, and future needs—and then ensuring that the right manpower, both in labour categories and managerial roles, is aligned with it.”
On academia–industry partnerships, she noted, “We must collaborate actively with academia to design curricula that reflect industry requirements, while also skilling people in our communities through CSR initiatives. The most evident gaps today lie in digital skills—AI, machine learning, robotics, and data analysis. The pace at which digitalisation is happening is much faster than the pace of workforce readiness. Building digital literacy and data fluency must be a top priority.”
Highlighting the softer dimensions of future readiness, she said, “As automation takes over routine tasks, human skills will become even more critical. Empathy, teamwork, visioning, and the ability to strategise based on data will define leaders of tomorrow. Beyond IQ and EQ, we must start emphasising SQ—spiritual quotient. Intuitiveness, agility, adaptability, and human connectivity will be as important as technical expertise. Organisations must focus on training programs and exposure that foster this balance.”
Speaking on compliance, she added, “Compliance must be built into the very processes of organisations so it cannot be bypassed. The framework should include awareness, education, and training, along with regular audits. With multilocational operations and varied regulatory requirements, it is vital that employees are sensitised to why compliance matters—not just how to achieve it. If people understand the purpose behind ESG and labour laws, compliance becomes internalised rather than imposed. Purpose-driven compliance, supported by digital tools like AI, is the way forward.”
📺 Watch the full interview: In Conversation with Dr. Archana Yemeshvary Ashok Upadhyay
About Archana Upadhyay
Archana Upadhyay is a seasoned HR leader with deep expertise in strategic workforce planning, skilling, and leadership development. Her focus lies in bridging academia–industry gaps, enabling digital adoption, and fostering human-centric leadership for future-ready organisations. With a strong belief in balancing technology with empathy and purpose, she advocates for building high-performing teams that are not only digitally fluent but also agile, intuitive, and inclusive. You can connect with her 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.
