Cover Story, HR Power Play: Cost Center to Value Creator

Beyond HR: The CHRO as The Architect of Business Value

12 hours ago

Today, the CHRO is expected to be a strategic business partner working alongside the CEO and CFO to shape organisational capability, culture, productivity, innovation, and sustainable growth. In this conversation, Uma Rao G brings a business-oriented perspective on how HR can become a powerful driver of enterprise value. Her insights explore the changing expectations from HR leadership, the impact of AI and technology, the transition toward skills-based workforce planning, and the strategic levers through which HR can directly influence productivity and profitability.

What should today’s CHRO bring to the CEO and boardroom that goes beyond traditional people management?

UR Today’s CHRO should be a value-creation strategist, moving HR from just managing talent to driving business results. When I worked at an automobile company, new BS V1 norms were introduced unexpectedly, and we had to adapt in under three years. As an HR leader, I saw how important it was to connect business goals with how people work, making sure our organization’s structure, culture, and skills supported our strategy. This meant spotting skill gaps before the market changed and building focused training and talent plans to stay ahead. By showing that people are key to productivity, innovation, and growth, I could give the board and CEO the insight they needed to succeed in a changing market.

What capabilities-both technological and human-will HR leaders themselves need to develop to remain credible business leaders in an AI-driven organisation?

UR To stay credible as...

Uma Rao G

Most recently, Uma has served as the Chief Human Resources Officer at Sekhmet Pharmaventures. She is a strategic HR leader with over three decades of experience collaborating with businesses across diverse sectors, including pharmaceuticals, automotive, IT, petroleum, and manufacturing. She is the Adjunct Professor of Practice at ICFAI and has also turned an entrepreneur with Consulting and Advisory Services. Una is dedicated to continuous learning and is pursuing her PhD too. Uma has also received many professional awards.

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