Starting a new job used to mean getting your laptop, a quick orientation, and maybe a few awkward intros over coffee. But now? Onboarding has become a whole different game, especially in a world where remote work, AI tools, and culture-first thinking are reshaping the employee experience from Day One.
So today, we're diving into what great onboarding actually looks like in 2025. What’s changed, what matters more than ever, and how companies can get it right.
And to unpack all of this with me is Aakash Thakur, Managing Director & CEO, TheHRBP Consulting & Advisory someone who’s been in the HR space for years and brings some rich, real-world insight into what employees truly need when they’re just getting started.
Host of this Episode: Sanjeevani Saikia
Guest Bio
Aakash Thakur is a Global Leadership, Talent, and HR Transformation Advisor, currently partnering with organizations to craft future-ready people strategies and build high-impact, inclusive cultures. With over two decades of experience, he has held leadership positions such as VP & Head Corporate HR at Vardhman Textiles, Director & Head HR South Asia with Omya, Head – Corporate HR CoE (Total Rewards) at Aarti Industries, part of the Corporate HR team at Reliance Industries, and Group Head – HRD & OD at AGC in the UAE.
He also contributes meaningfully to the academic and national policy space, serving as Industry Expert in Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) at IIM Mumbai, Board Member at SPICSM – Rashtriya Raksha University (under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India), and holds honorary positions on the Academic and HR Advisory Boards at IIMT Studies. Additionally, he serves as Advisor and Life Member at the Forum of Behavioral Safety (BeSafe) India.
A trusted thought leader and keynote speaker, Aakash was recently recognized as one of the Impactful HR Leaders at the ET EDGE HR Transformation Summit 2025 by ET Edge – Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. (The Times of India) and Median Research & Consulting Pvt. Ltd. He continues to blend human insight with business foresight to help organizations reimagine HR as a force for growth, purpose, and social good.
Connect with Aakash: Linkedin
Timestamps
(01:44) Aakash's corporate journey so far.
(08:48) Kicking off the conversation on what great onboarding looks like in 2025.
(11:05) Creative ways companies are making onboarding feel personal and connected, even from a distance.
(17:49) How tech is improving the process while keeping the human touch alive.
(23:28) Why great onboarding is key to keeping employees engaged long-term, and when to start tracking success.
Do Give a Read: 8 Easy Steps To Build a New Employee Onboarding Process
(26:52) What the “perfect” onboarding experience in 2025 would look like and the moments that matter most.
(33:31) Message from Aakash for our listeners.
