The 7 people you meet at an SHRM conference
SHRM India Annual Conference 2019

The 7 people you meet at an SHRM conference

I first attended the annual SHRM India Annual Conference as a blogger in 2014. Roy Maurer, an online editor for SHRM.org invited me to cover the conference. I had written a few articles for SHRM earlier that year (6 characteristics of high-performing global HR teams, Managing Asian Talent and the key HR trends for the year).

Roy always made my writing look better than it was – crisp, on point and suitable for the online medium :)

 I sent him a series of reports from the 2014 conference and he synthesized them into this report.

 That experience piqued my interest to look for the various types of people you meet at the SHRM conference.

 An initial typology was a part of my 2014 report but I have since elaborated on the concept in a fun way.

 Here are the 7 types of people you can expect to meet at the annual SHRM India conference:

 The serendipitous chance meeting that can change your life

Isn’t this the secret reason why we go anywhere special? That special a-ha moment when you know your life will never be the same again. Even the most mundane experiences take on a new meaning and energy. Your perspective has changed – even when the change may not be outside, it is inside.

Papa CJ and Sharad Verma

Every other person is looking for such meetings. They do happen. You meet a role model, someone who has inspired you, someone who shares the same dream to make a difference, to build a great workplace, to contribute in a meaningful way. You have a cup of coffee. Then some more. Things go from there and soon you realize it’s the meeting that changed the course of your life and career.

The unstoppable social networker who can teach you personal branding

You will meet many people who are masters of social media. People who have carefully crafted their messages and refined the art of sharing, involving and celebrating.

You can meet the celebrated and some of the most talented people are in the SHRM Blog Squad team and part of the annual HR Influencer list:

Abhijit Bhaduri, Gautam Ghosh, Achyut Menon, Anish Aravind, Harlina Sodhi, Kunjal Kamdar, Ashish Gakrey among others.

The accidental guru who can make a difference to your career

There is no dearth of gurus these days. Panelists, keynote speakers, influencers, people who are part of one or the other lists. The diversity of available gurus is matched only by the wide variety of interests and topics - leadership, talent analytics, technology, diversity and inclusion, wellness. Take your pick, strike a conversation, and immerse deeply into an enlightening discourse.

John Mattone with Sharad Verma

The immaculate selfie seeker who will make you look good every time

The advent of smartphone technology is matched by the dexterity and daring required for yet another unique selfie. It could be the angles, the props, the setting, the facial expression, the filters used. The craft of the selfie keeps evolving and if you have not been cued in yet, you will be surprised by the techniques.

The gifted talent that you have been looking for your team

SHRM is also a place where you can hunt for smart talent for your team. From the exuberant, cued in, tech savvy millennials to the seasoned professionals with real expertise. Conversations can be pseudo interviews. You can see talent in action here – which talks they attend, how they contribute, depth and breadth of insights, presence on social media, drive, energy and passion. There is enough hat can help to curate, not just ideas, but a truly gifted team.

The long lost friend that you wanted to meet

The colleague you have not since 2009. The classmate you have not met since graduation. The friend in the neighbouring office. The commute partner. You never know who you will run into at the SHRM conference, bringing back lovely memories. It is a nice time to reconnect and reminisce.

The achieving alum who can inspire you to new levels

The startup wunderkind who got funded and is the talk of the town. The famous author who everyone knows about. The unlikely jetsetting CEO. The global hero whose beaming face adorns every website and business magazine.

Yes, they are all there. You can rub shoulders with them at the SHRM India 2019.

#SHRMIAC19 – Register here - SHRM India Annual Conference, 10th and 11th October, New Delhi.


Aayushi Kashyap

Head of Paid Marketing @Cube

5y

Sharad Verma, as a leader, you have proven your ground and excelled in the field of HR. Kudos! I, on behalf of peopleHum (www.peopleHum.com), the fastest-growing people management platform globally, would like to invite you for a short interview, so that we could publish your story for the world to read and be motivated. We have interviewed some of the top HR leaders(Listed by Forbes, Thinkers50, Harvard Business Review, HR Magazine, Wall Street Journal, etc.) of the world. I do hope you will let us have the opportunity to know you better, soon.

Murlee Dhar Shyam

Strategic HR Leader | Total Rewards & People Analytics | HR Tech Transformation | M&A & Startup Scale-Ups | Business Catalyst | Educator & Mentor

5y

Congratulations 👍

Very nice Sharad. I think Sponsors, Tech Partners, Resourcing Partners, Head Hunters who will ensure filling your wallet with their visiting cards fall in 7 types 😎!!!

Congratulations Sharad👍

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