16 June 2025: “Human is not a resource. A human being is a tremendous possibility. If we approach human beings as resources, then we will never unfold their innate genius,” says Sadhguru who envisioned ‘Human is NOT a Resource’ - an annual program from Sadhguru Academy - based on this insight. In its 9th edition this year, the program was held over three days from 13th to 15th June at Isha Yoga Center Coimbatore. 80 participants attended the three-day residential program.
Facilitated by Ashutosh Pandey, Chief Business Officer, Mahindra Holidays, the program explored how organizational culture can enable the unpacking of human potential in business. Rajkamal Vempati, President & Head of Human Resources, Axis Bank; Manish Vij, Managing Partner, Smile Group; Augustus Azariah, CHRO, Kyndryl; and Dr. Shalini Lal, Founder, Unqbe were among the speakers who shared their perspectives on hiring, nurturing and retaining top talent in an uncertain future plagued by economic, geopolitical, ecological and social volatility.
Dr. Shalini Lal stressed the need to enhance the “ambiguity tolerance” threshold in business leaders which is critical for businesses to thrive through uncertainties. It’s one of the reasons why Rajkamal Vempati says she looks for people with the ability to learn and adapt quickly to change; they must not only have the ability but also the drive to survive and navigate through unexpected challenges. Younger employees looking to create social impact as much as personal growth may respond better to these uncertainties, says Dr. Augustus Azariah. As a generation unburdened by cares of basic survival, Dr. Azariah says they are driven as much by the experiences their role can offer as by the compensation package. In other words, they are more likely to relate to Manish Vij’s favourite acronym: DARE - dream big, act relentlessly, build relationships and you will have the edge over your competition.
The program also included a unique theater-based fun workshop that focused on two of the most critical leadership skills for people management - listening and observation. Facilitated by theater professional Akshara Misra, the workshop’s gamified modules challenged participants’ perceptions about their own listening and observation skills and how they can be enhanced to be more effective.
A panel of Isha’s most tenured volunteers - Swami Ullasa, Moumita Sen Sarma (Director, Sadhguru Academy), Saurabh Jain and Swami Sukhada - fielded questions from eager and curious participants about Isha’s own culture and how it shapes and influences the largely volunteer-run organization whose 17 million volunteers are spread across more than 400 cities globally.
About the program
Human is NOT a Resource is a three-day annual leadership program hosted by Sadhguru Academy. It is envisioned by Sadhguru to enable a transformational shift to seeing human beings as possibilities instead of mere resources. Apart from live case studies of successful people leaders, it offers practical strategies to reimagine people-centric workplaces. Over three days, participants are also introduced to simple but powerful Yogic practices to enhance their inner wellbeing, gain greater clarity and a sense of balance that are essential for effective leadership.
About Sadhguru Academy
Established by Sadhguru, Yogi, mystic and visionary, Sadhguru Academy offers the highest quality of leadership education by integrating external skill sets with tools for inner wellbeing.
