Companies do not run on numbers, strategies, or even technology. They run on people—their ideas, their drive, and their ability to turn vision into reality. Yet, despite all the rhetoric about employees being a company’s greatest asset, many organizations treat talent as a resource to be managed rather than a force to be empowered. The difference between a thriving business and a struggling one often comes down to how well it cultivates its human capital.
Human Capital Management (HCM) is meant to bridge this gap—aligning talent with strategy, fostering leader ship, and creating environments where employees can contribute meaningfully. But too often, organizations focus on processes over purpose, measuring efficiency while neglecting engagement. Leadership development programs exist on paper but lack the cultural depth to truly inspire. Learning opportunities are offered but not personalized, leaving employees unmotivated. Companies invest in recruitment but struggle with retention, failing to nurture the very talent they fought to acquire. HCM is more than policies and training sessions; it is about shaping workplaces that fuel potential rather than drain it.
This is where Sukanya Patwardhan stands apart. As the Global Head of Learning and Organizational Development at Jade Global, she doesn’t just design leadership frameworks—she transforms them into lived experiences.
With an illustrious career spanning multiple prestigious organizations, Sukanya has made a significant impact in the fields of leadership, talent strategy, and work force transformation. Sukanya attributes her professional journey to the invaluable guidance of her family, teachers, and mentors. Holding a master’s degree in inorganic chemistry, she began her career as a technical assistant with a Department of Science & Technology fellowshipat Pune University’s Physics Department, where she worked on advanced Surface Science technologies. Encouraged by accomplished scientists and educa tors, she pursued an interdisciplinary M.Phil., earning grade A and publish ing her research in a prestigious International journal. While she was passionate about science, she also discovered a deep interest in working with people, which led her to transi tion into Human Resources.
Determined to build expertise in the field, she saved money for further education while simultaneously balancing three teaching roles –chemistry at the National Defense Academy, conducting her M.Phil research & Technical Assistant role. She then enrolled at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai and won a gold medal as an all rounder student. This phase of her life instilled discipline, leadership, and resilience, qualities that have shaped her career.
Her HR journey began with leadership roles at SKF bearings and cummins India, where she played a pivotal role in workforce development and organizational transformation. She then joined IBM, where she spent a decade in global leadership roles, designing and implementing impactful talent strategies. Later, as Practice Head at the Tata Group’s Leadership Development Centre, she coached CEOs and CXOs, focusing on major programs in leadership, ethics, sustainability, diversity and coaching initiatives. She also led the program for IAS officers and top officials in the government sector. Reflecting on her career, Sukanya high lights the many “aha” moments that reinforced her belief in the combined and complimentary power of people and technology to drive meaningful change. Each role has been a stepping stone, contributing to her deep commitment to fostering impactful leadership and human development. Guided by top-class professionals and an unwavering passion for learning, she continues to shape the future of talent and organizational excellence.
Sukanya envisions a transfor mative future for HR, driven by Artificial Intelligence(AI) and uncoming techologies . She believes that while AI will streamline administrative functions like payroll, compliance, recruitment and likes. HR’s true value lies in fostering human connection, purpose, and innovation. Real time people analytics will enable personalized learning, performance enablement, proactive workforce plan ning, customer centricity and enhancing positive work atmosphere. As AI becomes more integrated into the workplace, HR must champion critical thinking, creativity, and ethical leadership ensuring technology enhances, rather than replacing human potential.
A strong advocate for continuous learning, Sukanya herself an avid learner, emphasizes that thriving organizations embed learning into their culture. She highlights the importance of psychological safety, diverse learning styles, and structured policies to foster a growth mindset. Beyond job role definations, defining impact descriptions and leveraging data-driven insights help individuals upskill effectively. She believes that people managers play a crucial role in cascading learning culture across all levels, making development an organization al priority rather than an exclusive leadership initiative.
Recognized for her leadership in Diversity & Inclusion, Sukanya approaches D&I as a mindset rather than a compliance measure and getting more women to work force. She has led programs in leadership development, workplace transformation, and early career excellence, emphasizing the fundamental human need for safety, belonging, and recognition. She believes that true inclu sion goes beyond policies— it requires leaders to challenge and overcome biases and create environments where diverse perspectives fuel innovation and long-term success. For her, authentic D&I is about valuing individuality and differences while fostering collective growth, ensuring that organizations thrive on respect, collaboration, and shared purpose.
Sukanya emphasizes that leadership transcends gender nationalities, colour etc, with self-leadership, business leadership, and people leadership being essential for success. She believes that while women in leadership face unique challenges, the broader focus should be on fostering inclusive cultures where men and women complement and value each other. Overcoming limiting beliefs and embracing diverse leadership styles help drive collaboration and innovation for business success.
For her, leadership is about celebrating individual strengths beyond so called differences, and promoting workplaces rooted in mutual respect and growth. With experience across global cultures, Sukanya highlights the importance of cultural awareness in talent development. She stresses that businesses must integrate cultural understanding of the entire ecosystem of the busi ness into their strategies, ensuring respect for diverse worldviews. Drawing from Geert Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory, she advocates for inclusive company cultures that embrace differences, enhance collaboration, and drive long-term success in an interconnected world. Her research thesis at Cambridge University, UK focused on women’s empowerment through Nobel laureate Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach, which emphasizes real opportunities for individuals to achieve well-being. She applies this framework to work place development, seeing HR as a catalyst for unlocking human potential. By applying Amartya Sen’s capability- approach by, creating real opportunities, and empowering employees as co creators of success, organizations can drive sustainable growth, innovation, and competitive advantage in the evolving global economy.
Sukanya integrates neuroscience and neuroplasticity into her leadership coaching, helping leaders reshape thought patterns and emotional responses for effective decision-making. Drawing from several neuroscientists & thought leaders’ insights on brain processing, she works with clients to clear negative memory associations that trigger stress. Her approach has empowered and transformed personal & professional lives of over 100 leaders across 17 countries by helping them regulate emotions, lead with clarity, and foster resilient, emotionally intelligent workplaces.
With experience at IBM, Tata Group, and Cummins Ltd., Sukanya has witnessed cultural transformations driven by digitization and evolving business models. She highlights the proactive strategies these organizations employ—rooted in strong values and ethical leadership—to sustain resilience through change. She points to Cummins India’s seamless transition to a full subsidiary, IBM India’s rapid expansion while maintaining its core identity, and Tata Group’s enduring commitment to “Leadership with Trust” as examples of cultural strength.
Sukanya is deeply committed to sustainability in leadership development, a passion strengthened by her master’s in sustainability leadership from Cambridge University, UK. Through this research-driven program, she explored systemic transformation across economies, societies, and climate, emphasizing regenerative leadership. She aligns with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership’s mission to accelerate sustainability across businesses and societies, recognizing the critical role the corporate world plays in shaping a ethical and responsible future. Sukanya believes today’s leaders must integrate sustainability into their strategies, balancing business success with long-term environmental and social impact. Through her coaching, she actively contributes to this transformation, advocating for leadership models that drive meaningful lasting change.
In her role at Jade Global Software Pvt Ltd, Sukanya leads Learning and Organizational Development, aligning with the company’s core philosophy—“WE CARE & INSPIRE.” With over 21 years of expertise in enabling business growth through cutting-edge technologies, Jade Global is a trusted partner for enterprises globally. Sukanya spearheads leader ship development at all levels building a strong leadership pipeline through innovative programs, including the Gen Z- focused campus-to -corporate initiative, the next level leaders mentorship, and a work-integrated learning partner ship with BITS Pilani and several other customised learning initiatives. She also champions the company’s Employee Volunteering Program, DISHA, which empowers employees to support education and skill-building for underprivileged children.
By integrating neuroscience- based leadership development and design thinking, Sukanya nurtures collaboration and innovation within the organization. Under her guidance, Learning & Organizational development remains a cornerstone of Jade Global’s purpose-driven culture, ensuring sustainable growth, employee engagement, and long-term success. envisaged by the Founder & CEO Mr. Karan Yaramada, Sukanya proudly proclaims that her association with Jade during last 5 years has helped her evolve even better as a human being and a professional
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