HFS RESEARCH ROUNDTABLE | Post-event Recap
Bold conversations. Visionary leaders. Here’s what went down.
June 11, 2025 | 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY
This event was supported by Birlasoft and ServiceNow
On this page, you’ll find a curated collection of key takeaways, event photos, video highlights, and analyst insights that capture the spirit and substance of this roundtable event. We invite you to dive in and experience the bold, unfiltered thinking that defines HFS Research.
Being deskless doesn’t mean being dispensable—but that’s exactly how many organizations still treat the 70–80% of workers who don’t sit behind a desk. From lab technicians and plant workers to delivery drivers and field engineers, this segment of the workforce often gets left out of digital transformation roadmaps and HR strategies.
That was the central theme of our Executive Roundtable, which convened industry leaders, technology executives, and enterprise change-makers to discuss the challenges—and opportunities—of empowering this overlooked majority. The discussion was candid, solutions-focused, and filled with urgency.
Participants tackled questions such as:
The consensus: Change is overdue, and the time to act is now. We need inclusive technology, human-centric design, and smarter approaches to workforce orchestration—especially with Gen Z expectations rising and operational demands intensifying.
We captured four dynamic interviews featuring voices from HFS, Birlasoft, and ServiceNow that continue the roundtable’s bold conversation. Watch these exclusive video clips to hear what’s next for workforce design—and what leaders must do to close the gaps.
The Workforce We’ve Forgotten – and Why We Can’t Anymore
Ashwin Venkatesan, HFS Executive Research Leader, challenges conventional HR thinking by spotlighting the 70% of global workers operating outside traditional office settings. He shares why organizations must center their strategies around these employees, with culture and tech playing equal roles.
Productivity Reimagined – Humans + Agent Tech
Manju Kygonahally, CEO RoW, Birlasoft, emphasizes that true productivity gains will come from blending human capability with agent tech. His perspective reframes innovation—not as a top-down push, but as an inclusive model for workforce empowerment.
Gen Z Wants to Be Seen – Here’s How We Do It
Kelley Steven-Waiss, Chief Transformation Officer, ServiceNow, shares how a lack of personalization is alienating younger workers, and how technology can create experiences that help Gen Z feel heard, valued, and engaged—no matter where they work.
Culture Is the Hidden Cost of Disconnection
John Tomasello, EVP and Chief Human Resource Officer at Messer Americas, discusses why proximity to leadership isn’t the only way to influence culture. Staying digitally connected to deskless workers can profoundly impact morale and reinforce organizational values across distributed teams.
The conversation about the deskless workforce is just beginning—and the need for change is urgent. If your organization is grappling with how to design more inclusive, tech-enabled, and human-centered workforce strategies, we’d love to talk.
The full HFS Research report about this topic will be available soon. Stay tuned.
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