Balancing “horsepower and heart” with Vidya Shankaran

Vidya Shankaran is the Head of AI Talent at PeerIslands, overseeing the end-to-end talent functions that power the company's innovation. She is a people and strategy leader with a proven track record of driving change at the intersection of talent, technology, and business. Her leadership philosophy—balancing “horsepower and heart”—combines bold, data-driven execution with instinct, care, and emotional intelligence. Biased for action, transformation programs are her area of passion and strength.A passionate advocate for the modern, fractional workforce, Vidya believes the future of work lies in high-impact, flexible talent models. She champions community building and the creation of vibrant talent ecosystems, sourcing deeply experienced professionals who can deliver transformational results without the overhead of traditional structures. She champions “pay-per-use” access to expert talent and the integration of legacy knowledge with new-age tools and thinking.Vidya served as Senior Vice President of Customer and Employee Success at Revature, where she oversaw the full lifecycle of employee and client engagement. Prior to that, Vidya served as Chief Operating Officer for Cognizant Digital Engineering, where she led operational strategy, workforce transformation, and P&L for a high-growth tech business unit. She delivered consistent year-over-year growth (+15%) while pioneering inclusive talent programs that became models for the broader organization. Her tenure included integrating acquisitions, advancing DEI benchmarks, and accelerating skill development for the cloud era.A strategic and results-driven Talent and HR leader, Vidya brings deep expertise in driving organizational transformation, full-lifecycle talent management and acquisition, and employee engagement and enablement. Whether leading enterprise-wide change or scaling talent programs, Vidya consistently aligns people strategy with business outcomes, creating talent ecosystems that deliver long-term value.