SHRM Connect Live The Future of Work Is Global: Insights with Achal Khanna

Mike Aitken is EVP of Membership & Communities at SHRM, following 15 years of leading SHRM’s successful advocacy programs as Vice President of Government Affairs. Mike is a leading authority on the issues important to the human resource profession and drives SHRM’s membership vision, ensuring excellent member experiences, and implementing the organization’s newly developed business strategy. He applies his proven model of engagement to shape the future of work, workers, and workplaces. He is an expert relationship-builder across diverse constituencies and stakeholders, always seeking out the “win-win” in every situation. As a member of SHRM’s executive team, Mike also plays a key role in setting the strategic direction of the organization, offering important counsel on SHRM’s educational programs and professional development opportunities. Prior to joining SHRM in 2003, he spent 14 years with the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR), which represents more than 23,000 HR professionals at over 1,900 higher education institutions. In 2015 and 2016, Mike served as an employer representative on the U.S. delegation to the International Labour Conference.

Achal Khanna is the CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in India and the Asia Pacific and MENA region.

As a women leader, Achal is enthusiastic about women's empowerment, work culture, and leadership. Achal joined SHRM as COO for SHRM-India, was promoted to CEO-SHRM India, and now manages the global business development role. Achal Khanna is responsible for leading the Indian operations of SHRM, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and North Africa. In her current role, she is responsible for building the SHRM brand, expanding its business, and developing professional relationships with government agencies and other regional HR and business associations.

She has more than 30 years of work experience. Before joining SHRM in 2011, she was managing director for Kelly India operations, Vice president for GE, and Country Manager for Polaroid India. She has also worked in various capacities with DuPont, ITC, and Cosmo Group. Achal Khanna has diverse experience and a highly successful track record of building and operating successful and profitable businesses for leading multinational and Indian companies and managing their businesses across the globe. Achal is a recipient of the "Best Women Executive in India" award. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics, a Master's Degree in English Literature, and a Master's in Business Management from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, India.