The role of Human Resources is no longer confined to recruitment, compliance, or employee administration. As organisations face increasing complexity and workforce challenges, HR is being called upon to play a far more strategic role in business decision-making. This shift was the central theme of the “HR to CEO” workshop hosted by Ethika Insurance Broking Pvt. Ltd. on December 20 in Bellandur, Bengaluru.
The workshop was designed to help HR professionals rethink their role—from operational executors to strategic business contributors. Rather than focusing on traditional leadership narratives, the session examined how HR can influence productivity, organisational energy, and long-term sustainability by adopting a CEO-like mindset.
The session was led by Susheel Agrawal, Founder and CEO of Ethika Insurance Broking Pvt. Ltd., who emphasised that HR already holds significant influence over the most valuable organisational asset—people—but often underestimates its business impact.
“HR touches every stage of an employee’s journey,” Agrawal said. “When HR understands business realities and aligns people strategies accordingly, it becomes a driver of outcomes, not just a support function.”
HR as a Strategic Partner to the Business
A key focus of the workshop was repositioning HR as a strategic partner to business leadership. Participants discussed how HR decisions around hiring, engagement, performance management, and culture directly affect organisational costs, productivity, and retention.
The workshop challenged HR professionals to look beyond processes and ask business-oriented questions: How does employee disengagement impact revenue? What is the cost of attrition? How does workplace energy influence performance?
By reframing these questions through a business lens, the workshop encouraged HR leaders to participate more confidently in strategic discussions.
The Concept of Chief Energy Officer
One of the defining ideas introduced during the session was the concept of HR as a Chief Energy Officer. Participants explored how HR plays a crucial role in shaping employee energy levels—whether through policies, leadership behaviour, or workplace culture.
The workshop highlighted that energy at work directly influences collaboration, innovation, and decision-making. When employee energy is low, even strong systems fail to deliver results.
HR professionals were encouraged to take ownership of this aspect by designing experiences that support engagement rather than drain it.
Measuring the Return on Happiness
The workshop also introduced the idea of Return on Happiness (ROH)—a framework that connects employee happiness with measurable business outcomes. Participants examined how disengagement, stress, and burnout silently erode productivity and increase hidden costs.
Rather than treating happiness as an abstract concept, the workshop positioned it as a business metric that HR can actively influence and track.
Participants shared examples where improved engagement initiatives led to reduced attrition and stronger team performance.
Moving from Support to Impact
The session concluded with reflections on how HR professionals can move from a support mindset to an impact mindset. Participants agreed that HR’s credibility increases when it demonstrates business understanding and measurable outcomes.
The “HR to CEO” workshop underscored a growing reality in modern workplaces: HR’s future lies in its ability to connect people strategy with business performance. Through this
initiative, Ethika Insurance Broking Pvt. Ltd. reinforced its commitment to enabling HR leaders to step into more influential, outcome-driven roles.
Website = https://www.ethika.co.in/
