Compensation is a key factor in an individual’s choice of career paths, particularly at the junior levels. As the year draws to a close, HR professionals around the world are united in facing compensation-related quandaries, particularly in terms of increments for the coming year. At the same time, with attrition rates still elevated across sectors, companies are struggling both to hire new talent and to retain existing employees.
A recent India CHRO Forum session in Delhi, organised as a free-wheeling peer-to-peer exchange, brought out learnings, perspectives and best practices. This podcast summarises these discussions.

Until recently, start-ups of all shapes and sizes were achieving ridiculously high valuations based on little more than an exciting idea and a young, motivated promoter. Money was practically free, investors had little else to punt on, and there was enough appetite in the market to swallow all sorts of ideas. The turn of the interest rate cycle last year changed all that and, for now, caution has replaced exuberance. There are important lessons to be learnt from this experience so as to not repeat the same mistakes when the cycle turns up again.
The attached paper offers Adit Jain's perspective. 

As 2023 dawns, India moves closer to one of the most decisive elections it will face in recent history. Politicians and parties are gearing up for major state elections in 2023, which many believe could set the tone for the general elections due mid-2024. The odds of Prime Minister Narendra Modi wining a third consecutive term are high. Ergo, the BJP will have another term to pass pending legislation, introduce new policies and implement its vision for India.
Politics will begin to overshadow everything this year in anticipation for the general elections. At a recent joint session of the India CEO and CFO Forums, Jyoti Malhotra, national and Strategic Affairs Editor at The Print, provided her journalistic insight on the current political dynamics in India.
This podcast captures the highlights from the session as well as the ensuing discussion

Digital Transformation is an increasingly important activity for businesses in the post-pandemic era. Even though the term evokes the image of a process brimming with complex technology, digital transformation is as much a cultural process as it is a technological one. Given that a reorientation in organisational culture is integral to digital transformation, CHROs are well-positioned to facilitate such change.
At a recent India CHRO Forum session in Bangalore, Pankaj Rai, Group Chief Data Analytics Officer at Aditya Birla Group shared his experience driving digital transformation in large organisations. This podcast summarises the discussion. 

IMA’s Q4FY23 (Jan-Mar) quarterly Business Confidence and Performance Index (BCPI) survey reveals an uptick in business optimism. At 62, the headline index rose by 5 points from Q3. (On each parameter, numbers above 50 indicate net optimism, while those below 50 suggest net pessimism.) The macroeconomy index has climbed to 53.7, pulling out of ‘bear territory. The business expectations index is up 3.8 points to 65.6, and Capex intent has also improved by 2 points, rising to ~62. 
At a recent joint online session of the India CEO, CFO, CMO and CHRO Forums, we presented the headline results from the latest edition of the BCPI. This set the context for an open-house discussion among our members about their respective organisations and sectors. This podcast summarises the discussion.

Headlines in the last few months have been dominated by layoffs. It started amongst ‘big tech’ companies, which had gone on an uncontrolled hiring binge in previous months, but is now spreading to others, including companies in old economy businesses. The ostensible reason for this is the turn in the business cycle, triggered by relentless rate hikes across major economies. But there are other factors at play too, as this podcast explains.

Western sanctions have pushed Russian oil exports underground and catalysed the creation of a new and complex oil supply chain. The various links in this chain include tankers for shipment, financiers that cough up the money until payments are received from the end customer and, perhaps most significantly, insurers. The centre of gravity for oil trading has rapidly shifted from Geneva to Dubai, bankrolled to a large extent by the Russian states.
India and China have so far benefited from discounted prices on Russian oil and Brent prices remain substantially below their June 2022 peak. However, as GDP growth in China rapidly accelerates - perhaps even to 10% this year - oil importers like India may soon need to contend with prices in excess of USD 100  a barrel. This will have a huge impact on India’s current-account position, as well as consumer demand and sentiment.
In this podcast episode, Adit discusses his thoughts on the subject.

Over the long term, the rupee has depreciated by an average of 3-4% a year against the dollar. Like any EM currency, it has had long periods of stability interspersed with high volatility. In recent times, rising economic uncertainty, coupled with fast-shifting geopolitical dynamics, has impacted the differentials and thereby the rupee.
At a recent India CFO Forum session in Bangalore, Neeraj Gambhir, Group Executive, Treasury, Markets, and Wholesale Banking Products, Axis Bank, decoded the factors behind the rupee’s recent movement, provided a medium-term outlook for the currency and presented the options before CFOs. This podcast summarises the discussion.

The global hierarchy is undergoing a great reshuffling due to a variety of geopolitical factors. While great power rivalries play out in different theatres, India's unique position and novel approach to foreign policy can be powerful tools to advance its national interests. 
At a recent joint session of the India CEO and CFO Forums in Pune, Harsh Pant, Professor of International Relations at King’s College London and Vice President – Studies and Foreign Policy at Observer Research Foundation, articulated how geopolitical trends are likely to shape up in 2023, and their likely impact on India’s business environment. This podcast summarises the discussion. 

In a socially networked world, people remember and are loyal to brands that are linked with a ‘cause’. A recent report on Gen-Zs by advertising-and-PR-firm Havas Group reveals that 70% of young Indians prefer to buy from brands that align with their environmental/social ideology. The pay-off from Cause-Based Marketing (CBM) – campaigns built around social causes but with a subtle, revenue-driving objective – is potentially huge. This podcast discusses how companies can align themselves with social causes, and provides some do’s and don’ts.