Powering the Next Evolution of Work: Introducing the People Matters Content Advisory Council 2026-27

In an era where the "future of work" is no longer a distant horizon but a lived, daily reality, the noise surrounding human capital strategy has never been louder. From the rapid integration of artificial intelligence to the complex nuances of global leadership and the shifting sands of employment law, the modern business leader isn't suffering from a lack of information, but from a lack of clarity.

At People Matters, we have always been at the forefront of the "People and Work" conversation. We don't just report on changes; we curate the intellectual infrastructure that allows leaders to navigate them. Today, we are doubling down on this commitment. We are thrilled to announce the formation of the People Matters Content Advisory Council for 2026-27.

A People Matters CEO’s initiative, the Council will bridge the gap between emerging macroeconomic trends and practical organisational needs, ensuring our content remains distinctive, thought-provoking, and humane, while remaining responsible, credible, and aligned with the global communities we serve. Acting as a guardian of industry benchmarks, this group is dedicated to fostering a progressive dialogue that empowers leaders and redefines the future of people and work.

Moreover, amidst a landscape where economic, technological, and social change converge, the Council stands as a true multidisciplinary "brain trust." From HR practitioners and organisational strategists to experts in employment law, technology innovators, and business leaders at the cutting edge of people strategy, the Council represents the full spectrum of the people and work ecosystem. It is uniquely positioned to navigate the complexity of a polycrisis era by fusing diverse operational insights and perspectives that mirror the interconnected realities of modern business.

The vision is clear: uphold the highest standards in shaping industry narratives and deliver top-notch community experiences. By leaning on the collective wisdom of this council, People Matters aims to solidify its position as India and the APAC’s most robust ecosystem for the people and work community, ensuring our content ecosystem remains the primary compass for HR, Business, and Tech leaders globally.

"At People Matters, our mission has always been to lead the world of work into its next iteration. This Council is our commitment to excellence; it is the engine that will power our ability to turn uncertainty into a competitive advantage. By synthesising the wisdom of these industry experts, we are defining the trajectory of industry’s dialogue," said Pushkar Bidwai, CEO at People Matters.

The Council will convene regularly to challenge assumptions, surface blind spots, and ensure People Matters is always one step ahead by anticipating trends rather than following them. From navigating the ethical complexities of an augmented workforce to reshaping the very structure of leadership, the Council’s strategic influence will be embedded in every major initiative we undertake.

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We are honoured to introduce the distinguished veterans who will be guiding our editorial and research strategy for the coming year. Their diverse backgrounds ensure that our content remains multi-dimensional, crossing the boundaries between traditional HR and the broader business landscape.

To challenge current paradigms, business strategies and talent strategies must cleanly intersect. Driving this high-level transformation is Anand Shankar, Chief Transformation Officer at Deloitte South Asia, a transformation titan who brings a macro perspective to our roadmap. Shankar notes that the industry is well past the point of gentle encouragement:

"HR doesn’t need more cheerleaders. It needs honest interlocutors — practitioners, business leaders, employees, technologists, and the occasional uncomfortable outsider — all willing to ask the questions the room keeps postponing. That’s the Council I want to be part of," said Shankar.

Working alongside him to anchor these truths in systemic organisational change is Anita Ramachandran, Founder of Solvexus and an Advisor at Mercer Consulting. With decades of pioneering work in HR consulting, Ramachandran’s insights into organisational design and leadership coaching ensure our content remains grounded in operational excellence. She views this new council as a launchpad for a mindset shift, aiming to inspire HR leaders to think like entrepreneurs and confidently contribute at the Board level through meaningful insights that directly move the business needle.

As technology redefines organisational boundaries, our innovation strategy is steered by global future-of-work voice Jason Averbook, Co-Founder, Now to Next, whose digital expertise will propel People Matters at the absolute vanguard of human-centric technology and workforce transformation.

Bridging the critical gap between this tech-driven future and commercial scalability is entrepreneur and investor Pankaj Bansal, Founder & Managing Partner at Caret Capital. Bansal brings a distinct multi-layered commitment to the council's roadmap, focusing on three key pillars: connecting HR leaders through a vibrant community that stays ahead of market shifts via an AI agent, structurally organising and uplifting the vital blue-collar ecosystem, and transforming People Matters into an essential individual partner alongside its traditional corporate relationships.

And in a world where the legal landscape of work is being aggressively rewritten—from gig economy regulations to AI ethics—the council requires rigorous governance safeguards. This critical compliance lens is anchored by Aakash Choubey, Founder & CEO of Becoming Quotient. His insights will challenge the community to look past superficial case studies:

"The HR community generates enormous practitioner wisdom, but too little of it becomes rigorous, evidence-based knowledge that compounds over time. I hope this council helps People Matters push the research agenda toward questions that are harder but more consequential: not just what leaders are doing, but what is actually working, for whom, and why," said Choubey.

Bringing these complex legal frameworks and digital tools down to earth requires real-world validation. This is provided by corporate practitioner Naveen Narayanan, CHRO at Biocon, who balances massive operational scale with continuous innovation. Narayanan reinforces this focus on real-world execution, noting that actionable insights and strategic decision-making are increasingly critical to help human capital leaders navigate volatile market scenarios, making the council's responsibility to deliver deep expertise a vital mission.

The framework for this Council was developed in collaboration with Pritish Gandhi, Director, Leadership & Rewards, Khaitan & Co., also serving as Strategic Advisor & Council Steward at People Matters. Gandhi’s background in executive leadership and talent retention helped shape the Council’s architecture to ensure it addresses the complexities of a competitive global market.

According to Cheshta Dora, Head, Research & Content at People Matters, the Council was created out of an urgent need for discernment in an era of constant change, where the community requires a trusted filter. “We brought this Council to life to ensure that every insight we publish is pressure-tested by the industry’s sharpest minds, moving us from being a platform of record to a platform of strategic foresight,” said Dora.

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As we embark on the 2026-27 cycle, the People Matters Content Advisory Council is shaping a bold new blueprint anchored in strategic alignment with boardroom priorities, deep and actionable insights, radical innovation in how we deliver knowledge, and an unwavering commitment to community needs. This unified approach will bring richer research, more challenging debates, and content experiences finely tuned to the evolving demands of our stakeholders. 

The future of work is being written now, and together with our Council, People Matters is dedicated to ensuring it is a future that empowers and elevates everyone.