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About the Conclave
As AI transforms how enterprises operate, the question is shifting: not “what should we learn?” but “what should we prepare for?”
This conclave brings together a right-sized group of senior L&D leaders for meaningful, peer-driven conversations on enabling AI-first roles across the enterprise.
Unlike advisory-led sessions, this conclave thrives on collective wisdom—where leaders co-create strategies, challenge assumptions, and leave with practical takeaways that matter.
The Speakers
Scott Emigh
General Manager, Worldwide Learning
Scott Emigh serves as General Manager of Worldwide Learning Delivery & Programs at Microsoft, where he leads global skilling initiatives to empower customers and partners with Microsoft’s cloud technologies. He is instrumental in advancing Microsoft’s mission to skill 100M+ learners globally by FY26, overseeing a diverse portfolio of training programs driven by data and regional insights.
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Elisa Graceffo
General Manager, Worldwide Learning
Elisa currently leads the Learning Lab in Microsoft Worldwide Learning. The Learning Lab is pioneering education for the AI-powered workforce through its delivery of AI, Copilot, Cloud and Security learning and credential experiences that help people and organizations around the world maximize their potential.
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Geoff Hirsh
Senior Director, Worldwide Learning
Geoff Hirsch is Senior Director of Microsoft’s Worldwide Learning (WWL) Partner Channel. In this role, he is responsible for Channel Strategy and overall Learning Partner engagement. His team works closely with Learning Partners to increase skills and adoption of Microsoft technologies globally to help enterprises achieve their goals.
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Vijay K Thadani
Vice-Chairman & Managing Director, NIIT Ltd.
Vijay K Thadani is the Co-Founder of the NIIT Group, currently holding the position of Vice Chairman and Managing Director of NIIT Ltd. He has led the Group’s globalisation efforts, taking the NIIT flag to over 40 countries. He is also the Co-Founder of the not-for-profit NIIT University, envisioned to be a role model in learning, research, innovation, and sustainability for the Knowledge Society
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Director, Learning & Development, CGI
Srilata serves as Director of Learning and Development at CGI. She brings over two decades of rich leadership experience spanning IT, Healthcare, Financial Services, Consulting, and Global Delivery industries.. Skilled in shaping organizational capabilities, leadership pipelines, and inclusive talent strategies, she now leads APAC-wide learning transformation for the organization.
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Srilata Kolachana
Hanumesh V J
AVP, Education, Training & Assessment, Infosys Ltd
Hanumesh serves as AVP in Education, Training and Assessment at Infosys Ltd. He leads competency development initiatives in cutting-edge technologies, ensuring the workforce remains future-ready and aligned with evolving industry demands. Closely collaborating with business leadership, he focuses on bridging skill gaps and driving capability building to accelerate talent transformation across the organization.
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Ariram Kandasamy
Senior Director of Engineering, JPMC
Ariram serves as Senior Director of Engineering at JPMC, bringing over 22 years of experience across Amazon, MetricStream, and Oracle. He has led global engineering teams, architected scalable enterprise platforms, and driven innovation across finance, retail, and enterprise software. He now leads GenAI and Agentic AI initiatives to advance developer productivity, platform intelligence, and AI-driven decision-making.
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Pankaj Jathar
CEO, NIIT Ltd
Pankaj serves as the CEO of NIIT Limited. With over 25 years of experience at global corporations such as Etsy, Amazon, and Accenture, he has led transformational change across consumer-focused businesses and technology-driven industries. At NIIT, he continues to drive innovation and growth
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Dr. Yogesh Kumar Bhatt
EVP & Head – New Technologies, NIIT
Dr. Yogesh is EVP & Head of New Technologies at NIIT and a veteran in corporate education with over 25 years of experience spanning training, education, research, and consulting. In his current role, he drives business transformation by shaping how talent development will evolve in the new AI-enabled organization, both for NIIT’s customers and for NIIT itself.
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Manikandan Ekambaram
Senior Vice President - RPS Consulting Ltd.
Mani serves as Senior Vice President at RPS Consulting, an NIIT subsidiary. With over 30 years of entrepreneurial and professional experience, he has led business management and transformation for leading organizations such as VMware, Oracle, and Dell. At RPS, he oversees business management with a focus on transformation, P&L, growth, and expansion.
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Building Blocks of the Conclave
12.30 PM - 2.00 PM
Lunch & Registration
2.00 PM - 2.15 PM
Opening Provocation: The Rise of AI-First Roles
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A sharp 15-minute lens on emerging AI-first personas—why they’re critical and where they’re misunderstood.
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Speaker: Pankaj Jathar
2.15 PM - 3.30 PM
Roundtable Dialogues: Real Challenges, Real Contexts
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What’s emerging, what’s working, and what’s just noise?
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Where’s the friction in skilling for AI-first capabilities?
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How do we measure readiness when roles are still evolving?
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If we choose to think differently, what could be those choices?
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Moderated by Dr. Yogesh Bhatt
3.30 PM - 3.45 PM
Coffee Break
3.45 PM - 4.00 PM
Strategy Spotlight 1
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From Baseline to Breakthrough: Scaling AI Skills Across The Workforce
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Speakers : Srilata Kolachana
4.00 PM - 4.45 PM
Fireside Chat: Global Perspectives
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Candid conversation on how enterprises are preparing for AI-First roles
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Speakers: Scott Emigh, Elisa Graceffo, Geoff Hirsch, Vijay Thadani
4.45 PM - 5.00 PM
Coffee Break & Networking
5.00 PM - 5.15 PM
Strategy Spotlight 2
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The Skill Shift: Amplifying Human Potential in AI Driven World
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Speakers : Hanumesh V J
5.15 PM - 5.30 PM
Strategy Spotlight 3
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AI Empowered Engineers, Amplified Productivity
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Speakers : Ariram Kandasamy
5.30 PM - 5.45 PM
Synthesis Session: From Insight to Action
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Co-created by delegates: a tangible framework or checklist to take back, born from shared intelligence.
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Speaker: Manikandan Ekambaram
Why This Conclave Matters
Right-Sized:
25 delegates for depth,
not crowd.​
Meaningful Conversations:
Sharp, peer-led dialogues,
not presentations.
Collective Wisdom:
No prescriptive advice; strategies
emerge from leaders in the room.
​Tangible Outcomes:
Leave with a framework you
co-created, not static notes.