Awards | FriendSquare

About the Awards

At FriendsSquare, we believe that when people thrive, workplaces flourish.The FSQ People Excellency Awards is our way of spotlighting the individuals and organisations who are reimagining the future of work in India—with empathy, intention, and impact.

The FSQ People Excellency Awards is our tribute to HR leaders, culture innovators, and people-first organisations shaping the future of work in India.

This isn't just another award—it's a movement. A first-of-its-kind platform that celebrates the HR leaders, culture builders, and people-first powerhouses who are putting humans at the heart of business strategy.

We honour not just outcomes, but the bold ideas, inclusive mindsets, and human-centric initiatives that unlock both potential and performance.

Why Now?

Over 70% of employees say that feeling valued is the single most important factor in workplace satisfaction—and yet, recognition remains one of the most overlooked tools in building a thriving workforce

As workplaces evolve at lightning speed, one thing remains constant: it's people who power progress. In an era marked by rapid change, hybrid models, and increasing burnout, those who lead with empathy, foster belonging, and ignite innovation are not just valuable—they're essential.

Recognizing them now isn't just about handing out a trophy. It's about amplifying a message: People-first leadership matters.

Because if we don't stop to spotlight those creating positive impact today, we risk losing the very culture we're striving to build for tomorrow.

Nominate someone who's making work, work—for people. Let's honor excellence where it starts: with individuals.

Why Participate / Nominate

Be celebrated as a leader in people excellence. Media Visibility & PR Opportunities: Feature across premier publications and media outlets.

Access exclusive networking opportunities with top HR and business professionals.

Measure your people strategies against the best in the business.

Position your organisation as a top employer and workplace of choice.

Award Categories

Category Type	Award Category	Eligibility / Description
Individual Awards	Emerging Talent Awards	Professionals under 40 or in early career stages showing high potential in L&D or HR
	Mid-Level & Specialist Awards	Mid-career professionals or specialists showcasing leadership, innovation, or impact in people development
	Senior Leadership Awards	Senior executives driving strategic transformation and people-led excellence
	Diversity, Inclusion & Empowerment	Individuals actively promoting DEI and women's empowerment
	Entrepreneurial & Lifetime Awards	Entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, or veterans with groundbreaking or lifelong contributions to L&D
	Women in Leadership & Learning	Women driving transformation, mentorship, and workforce development
Industry-Specific Individual Awards	Information Technology	L&D/HR/Tech leaders driving reskilling, upskilling, or digital-first learning in IT
	Manufacturing	Professionals embedding L&D in operations, safety, and continuous improvement
	Business Consulting	Consultants integrating learning with client or firm strategy
	Hospitality	L&D professionals elevating customer service and frontline skills in hospitality
	Pharma	Leaders ensuring compliance, innovation, and future-ready skills in pharma
	Healthcare	Educators advancing patient safety, communication, and clinical education
	Media & Entertainment	Professionals fostering creative skills and innovation in media
	Design	L&D leaders enhancing creativity and design thinking
	Architecture	Architecture professionals promoting sustainable education
	Banking & Finance	L&D leaders driving tech-enabled, regulatory learning in BFSI
Organisational Awards	Digital, Data & Innovation	Organisations leveraging technology, data, and innovation to transform learning
	Team Excellence	Internal L&D teams demonstrating collaboration, transformation, and peer learning impact
	Culture & Strategy	Organisations embedding learning culture, agility, coaching, and mental health into workplace development

For full details and nomination guidelines, please download the Award Category Guide.

Download Guide

Judging Process & Criteria

Nominee Proposal Submission

1st March 2026

Final entries are collected and locked in for further evaluation steps.

Initial Screening

Our team reviews all submissions to confirm eligibility across the defined criteria.

Jury Evaluation

Expert panel assesses shortlisted entries using predefined criteria and scoring guidelines.

Awards Day and Winner Reveal

21st March 2026

The awaited moment when winners are revealed and gather to celebrate their achievements.

How our Awards Work

📝 Judging Criteria

We focus on unique accomplishments, ethical standards, innovation, and measurable impact.

💡 Pertinent Fairness & Integrity

Judges adhere to the competition's ethical code. Each nomination is evaluated on merit.

🔒 Confidentiality

All details submitted are kept strictly confidential by our team and judges.

How Judging Works

Grand Jury

Finalists are assessed by the grand jury to select the ultimate winners.
Winners are revealed and celebrated at the award ceremony.

Thorough Review Process

Expert judges bring deep industry insight to evaluate all entries.
A rigorous two-tier process narrows submissions to the top 5 per category.

Meet the Jury

Deepak Batra

VICE PRESIDENT at OPG Mobility & Power Pvt Ltd.

Deepak Batra has over 28 years of experience across sourcing, vendor development, and business leadership roles, primarily within the automotive sector.

He has worked with organizations such as Singer Sewing Machine, Escorts, UNOMINDA Group, FIEM Industries, and currently OPG Mobility & Power Pvt. Ltd. (formerly Okaya EV Pvt. Ltd.).

Drishti Gupta

Director, Transline Technologies | Founder, StorePulse AI | Co-founder, Now&Me

Drishti builds businesses that solve real problems and create impact.

Focused on turning technology and AI into practical solutions, from intelligent CCTV systems at StorePulse AI to safer, smarter infrastructure at Transline Technologies.Through Now&Me, she works to make mental health support accessible and communities stronger.

Neha Bhatnagar

Associate Director People Operations at Pretlist India Private Limited

An outcome-focused HR leader with nearly 20 years of experience across IT, emerging tech, e-commerce, and BFSI. She specializes in scaling organizations from 0→1→N and is a trusted advisor to executive leadership on HR digital transformation and M&A due diligence. She has led large-scale workforce growth, complex audits with KPMG and E&Y, and built HR Centres of Excellence from the ground up.

Adi Chakravarty

HR Advisor & Mentor at Janus by Optivus, Dawdle & TGHC

A seasoned CHRO, HR architect, and culture strategist with over 20 years of experience building and scaling people ecosystems across AI, SaaS, retail, hospitality, and high-growth startups. A founder-operator at heart, he brings a strong business lens to HR, blending org design, culture, compliance, and HR tech. He has led HR transformations at Quikr, Infosys, KFC, Reliance Brands, and currently advises VC-backed founders.

Gaurav Sharma

Chief Human Resources Officer at Balancehero India Private Limited

With over 22 years of experience across fintech, telecom, media, manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals, he has led large-scale workforce transformations, built HR functions from the ground up, and scaled organizations to 22,000+ employees. Known for his strong expertise in talent acquisition, organizational development, HR governance, and Board-level advisory. A Certified Independent Director and ESG professional, and is a nationally recognized CHRO and HR thought leader.

Tushar Joshi

Chief Human Resources Officer at Roha Dyechem Pvt Ltd

Tushar Joshi is a senior HR leader with rich, multi-sector experience across Food Ingredients, Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Engineering, and Automobiles. His global exposure spans working with multinational leaders such as Novartis, MSD (Merck & Co., Inc.), and Mettler Toledo, along with overseeing HR responsibilities across 24 countries in his role at Roha Dyechem. He has played a pivotal role in scaling businesses, enhancing productivity, and strengthening organisational capability across diverse environments.

Vishal Sagar

Director I Brand, Creative Strategy & Social at Pocket FM

An engineer by qualification, Vishal Sagar is a brand and content leader working at the intersection of storytelling, entertainment, and culture. With a career spanning advertising, media, and digital platforms, he has shaped brands by treating content not as communication, but as a cultural product. Vishal has led award-winning work across categories, with over 200 international and national awards, including India's first Filmfare given to an ad film. When not working, he’s usually talking about stories, movies, cricket while pretending these conversations are research.

Jaya Azad

Director (People & Culture) at Includovate

She has over two decades of experience advising founders and executive teams through phases of growth, transformation, and complexity. Her expertise spans organisational design, leadership capability, performance architecture, workforce strategy, DEI, and digital HR transformation. Jaya has led HR and business operations across startups and large organisations, including manufacturing, FMCG, media, consulting, and global research services.
Recognised with multiple national and global HR leadership awards, she brings a pragmatic, people-first lens to decision-making.

FAQ

The awards are for HR leaders, Founders, OD practitioners, and Organizations of all sizes. If you are a change-maker who believes that putting people first is the only way to build a successful future, you belong here. You can nominate yourself, your team, or a peer who deserves the spotlight.

It is a simple, 4 part process:
- Select your award categories.
- Submit your nomination and supporting evidence.
- Evaluation by our expert jury.
- Celebrate your success at the Grand Gala in Delhi.

Yes! If you have taken a step—big or small—to make your workplace more human, inclusive, or psychologically safe, we want to hear about it. You don’t need a massive budget or a global brand; you just need to show that your initiative was built with intent and created a real impact for your people.

It starts with a simple click. Just hit the "Nominate Now" button and fill out your initial details. Once submitted, our team will get in touch to guide you through the next steps and help you finalize your entry.