Leaders from India's social impact sector met in Bengaluru to discuss leadership, talent management and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) at the People Leaders Conclave 2026, organised by Arthan.

Held under the theme Making the Next Decade of People Leadership Visible, the conclave brought together founders, chief executives, human resources professionals and organisational development practitioners. It followed a Delhi edition held earlier this year.

Opening the event, Rahul Balakrishnan, co-founder of Arthan, said organisations often focus on hiring talent but give less attention to internal systems that support employees. He said clear roles, decision-making processes and feedback mechanisms are important for organisational functioning.

A panel on AI and leadership featured Sapna Karim, chief operating officer at Janaagraha; Dr Angela Chaudhuri, board member and adviser at Swasti; Shruti Goel, co-chief executive officer of Upaya Social Ventures; and Krisha Mathur, director at ACT.

Panelists discussed the use of AI in the social impact sector, including its potential applications and limitations. Dr Chaudhuri said organisations should consider whose perspectives are represented in AI systems and whether technology supports informed decision-making.

Shruti Goel said AI can improve efficiency but cannot compensate for poor-quality data or unclear objectives. She said organisations need to define problems clearly before adopting AI-based solutions.

Sapna Karim said purpose remains an important factor in attracting professionals to the social impact sector, while organisational practices influence employee retention. Krisha Mathur said organisations that encourage learning are better positioned to incorporate new technologies into their work.

The event also included the release of Arthan's study, What Does OD Actually Mean: Between Knowing and Doing – Perspectives from Social Impact Leaders on Organisational Development in India. Based on interviews with social impact leaders, funders and advisers, the report examines how organisations understand and implement organisational development.

Participants later took part in working group discussions on workforce planning, leadership, employee engagement and AI. The sessions focused on leadership succession, changing workforce expectations and the use of technology in organisational processes.

According to Arthan, the organisation has supported more than 1,800 leadership hires and conducted over 60 organisational development engagements during the past decade. It said similar conclaves will be held in other cities as part of its tenth anniversary programme.