The T.A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Manipal, in partnership with People Business Consulting, has announced the Top 75 finalists for the T.A. Pai Young HR Leader Awards 2025. The awards form a flagship segment under the Great Manager Awards (GMA) platform and aim to spotlight India’s most promising young HR professionals shaping the future of people leadership.
The initiative is designed to identify, recognise, and nurture the next generation of HR leaders—professionals who are driving innovation, organisational transformation, and people-centric strategies across Indian enterprises.
Celebrating Excellence in HR Leadership
Instituted by People Business, the Great Manager Awards is one of India’s most respected leadership recognition platforms, honouring excellence across three marquee categories: Top 50 Companies with Great Managers, Top 100 Great Managers, and Top 30 Young HR Leaders.
The 2025 edition witnessed an overwhelming response, with over 1,500 nominations received from organisations nationwide. Following a rigorous multi-stage evaluation process, 75 exceptional HR professionals were shortlisted to progress to the next phase of assessment.
An orientation programme for the finalists was held on October 24, 2025, where Rahul Mahajan, Country Head – Great Manager Awards (People Business), congratulated the shortlisted leaders. He emphasised the larger purpose of the initiative, stating, “This programme is designed to identify and develop India’s future HR leaders—the CHROs of tomorrow—who will positively disrupt how organisations perform and succeed.”
Leadership Perspectives on the Future of HR
Sharing the broader vision behind the awards, Dr. Sandeep Krishnan, CEO of People Business, highlighted the role of the platform in shaping the profession. “The objective is to build a strong cohort of HR professionals who will define the future of HR in India. The Great Manager Awards not only recognise leadership excellence but also amplify the visibility and growth of HR talent across the country,” he said.
Dr. Jayanthi Thanigan, Chairperson – PR & Branding at TAPMI, reiterated the institute’s focus on responsible leadership development. “At TAPMI, we go beyond creating managers—we nurture leaders who are responsible, compassionate, and competent. Our long-standing collaboration with People Business reflects a shared commitment to developing leaders who balance performance with purpose,” she noted.
Adding an industry lens, Dr. Praveen Purohit, Senior HR Leader at Vedanta Group and long-standing GMA jury member, spoke about HR’s evolving strategic mandate. “Organisations that position HR as a driver of business outcomes consistently outperform others. Future HR leaders must focus on organisational design, talent mobility, AI-led assessments, and progressive reward systems to prepare for the workplace of tomorrow,” he said.
Shaping the Next Generation of HR Leadership
The 75 shortlisted finalists will now undergo advanced assessments and jury interactions in the coming weeks. The process will culminate in the announcement of the Top 30 Young HR Leaders at the Great Manager Awards Ceremony, scheduled for December 3, 2025, at The Westin Garden City, Mumbai.
For more than eight years, TAPMI and People Business have worked together to strengthen India’s leadership ecosystem, consistently championing the development of HR professionals capable of driving meaningful organisational and societal impact.