Elevating frontline and essential workers is where the future begins.
Dr Dave Ulrich & Dr Archana Arcot
Dr Dave Ulrich
Rensis Likert Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan, Partner, The RBL Group
Father of Modern HR
Ranked as the #1 management guru by Business Week, profiled by Fast Company as one of the world’s top 10 creative people in business, a top 5 coach in Forbes, and recognized on Thinkers50 as one of the world’s leading busines
Dr Dave Ulrich
Rensis Likert Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan, Partner, The RBL Group
Father of Modern HR
Ranked as the #1 management guru by Business Week, profiled by Fast Company as one of the world’s top 10 creative people in business, a top 5 coach in Forbes, and recognized on Thinkers50 as one of the world’s leading business thinkers, Dave Ulrich has a passion for ideas with impact. In his writing, teaching, and consulting, he continually seeks new ideas that tackle some of the world’s thorniest and longest standing challenges.
His bestselling books and popular speeches shape the corporate agenda. Dave has written 30 books and over 200 articles
Dr Archana Arcot
Managing Partner - Metamorphyst
A Distinguished CHRO and global HR strategist, Dr. Archana brings over two decades of experience across both tech and tech-enabled industries—from Heading HR for InfosysBPM Americas to CHRO of Unifi Aviation—where she led people operations for over 40,000 essential frontline workers acro
Dr Archana Arcot
Managing Partner - Metamorphyst
A Distinguished CHRO and global HR strategist, Dr. Archana brings over two decades of experience across both tech and tech-enabled industries—from Heading HR for InfosysBPM Americas to CHRO of Unifi Aviation—where she led people operations for over 40,000 essential frontline workers across 200+ airports.
She is passionately focused on elevating the Essential Worker Economy and reshaping the future of fractional leadership
Five E Framework for Frontline & Essential Employees
5E Framework is a practical roadmap to redesign and sustain the Frontline and Essential workforce..
CHRO Circle for Reshaping Essential Workforce
1. Esteem: Build Pride & Job Dignity
Too often, frontline jobs and workforce are overlooked. According to the Employer Bridge survey, over 70 percent of frontline workers seek dignity and pride in their work. Raising the esteem of these jobs starts with purpose-driven messaging, employee referrals, inclusive hiring practices, realistic job previews, and rethinking job titles, uniforms, and onboarding language that signal respect from day one. Recognizing and celebrating their contributions in internal narratives attracts talent, fosters pride, and reduces early attrition.
2. Engagement: Use Digital Tools to Drive Connection
When workers feel unheard, they disengage. Engagement is more than periodic surveys. Engagement today means real-time, two-way communication using mobile-first tools—for scheduling, onboarding, safety alerts, performance feedback, and recognition. Give frontline teams a voice through digital town halls and co-created pilots. Get to know their back-stories, hopes, and fears. When frontline employees feel connected, informed, and involved, engagement deepens—and outcomes improve.
3. Equilibrium: Design Work That Works for Life
Unpredictable schedules, last-minute changes, and rigid shifts are top drivers of burnout and attrition. Frontline workers need predictable schedules that align with the realities of their lives—whether that’s childcare, other jobs, or health needs. Introduce flexibility through self-service shift swaps, four-hour schedule blocks, and AI-driven tools that match availability, skills, and preferences. Empowering supervisors to approve time-off, rotate shifts fairly, and support life events helps build everyday trust. Equilibrium isn’t just about time—it’s about holistic well-being. Embed financial wellness tools, mental health resources, and resilience training into the frontline experience. Rewarding experience (not just credentials) and recognizing effort (especially from customers) goes a long way toward boosting morale and retention.
4. Enrichment: Pave Career Pathways
Growth is one of the most overlooked needs of frontline workers. According to LinkedIn’s 2023 Workplace Learning Report, 93 percent of employees would stay longer with access to learning and development. Embed microlearning into daily work, use AI to personalize skill-building, and create clear career paths from the frontline to leadership. Upskilling is a retention driver and performance booster.
5. Empowerment: Human-First Leadership in an AI World
Frontline teams are closest to the customer but often furthest from decision-making. Empower these employees by equipping them with real-time data, mobile dashboards, and AI tools to make smarter, faster decisions. Seek and act on their opinions since they often sense early warning indicators of customer malaise. Free managers from administrative tasks so they can focus on care, coaching, and connection. Invest in managers to increase their empathy, inclusion, and conflict resolution. In today’s AI-driven world, human-centered leadership at the frontline becomes a multiplier for culture, trust, and customer satisfaction.
CHRO Crew
Raj Reddy
Dr Archana Arcot
Dr Archana Arcot
A seasoned Technopreneur and Investor with 25+ years of experience, Raj has led AI/IT enterprises globally and executed large private equity deals. He specializes in building, scaling, and transforming businesses—from startups to mature organizations—across global markets. Raj has held global leadership roles in companies with over $6 billion in revenue and more than 150,000 employees
Dr Archana Arcot
Dr Archana Arcot
Dr Archana Arcot
Dr Archana for over 20 years has led strategic human resource planning and transformative Global HR programs as CHRO, integrating strategic vision with effective change management, ensuring our human capital strategies drive organizational success. She has spearheaded initiatives that garnered international recognition for HR excellence.
Meera Karani
Dr. Geetraj Singh
Dr. Geetraj Singh
With 15+ years of experience , Meera drives transformation in the tech sector with a focus on innovation, efficiency, and sustainable growth. She specializes in scaling operations, securing funding, and delivering actionable solutions for CEOs and CxOs, particularly in early-stage startups.
Dr. Geetraj Singh
Dr. Geetraj Singh
Dr. Geetraj Singh
With a PhD in Business Psychology from Oxford and 20+ years of global experience, Dr. Geetrajspecializes in corporate training, talent assessment, and startup consulting. He has conducted workshops in 30+ countries, focusing on team effectiveness, performance management, and organizational growth through scientific methods