A new platform and methodology that connects existing human resources information systems with artificial intelligence has been developed by a Naveen Jindal School of Management alumnus. It is poised to propel the field into the predictive analytics era — while creating opportunities for fellow Jindal School graduates to navigate today’s challenging job market.
Sameer Ranjan, MSBA ’20, founder of Cognitive Sprints AI Labs, has launched CSAILabs PeopleStrat, a consulting framework that builds on traditional HR systems by applying AI-driven predictive analytics and behavioral insights to workforce data. The platform helps companies align employee skills with the jobs they will need to fill in the future. Over the next year, he plans to hire up to 100 recent Jindal School graduates from the MS in Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (STEM) program, focusing on those still seeking employment.
“Most individuals who haven’t landed jobs either have a skills gap or a luck gap,” he said. “I thought if I could extend their luck by giving them a chance to learn while on the job and at the same time expose them to multiple companies — where they wouldn’t have to worry about failure but just learn and deliver, they might create a chance for themselves to get hired with some real projects and gain paid experience.”
The Jindal School has, over the years, developed curricula that are interdisciplinary in nature, said Dr. Gaurav Shekhar, associate dean for administration, student success and alumni relations.
“Companies need people who can understand the business language well and connect them with technical skills that produce lasting solutions, something the Jindal School has been preparing its students for years to do,” he said. “The world needs innovative thinking backed by action, and Sameer’s work is one example of that. We take great pride in how our alumni are not only changing the world but also leading the transformations needed in these uncertain times.”
Ranjan explained that the hiring initiative is intended to train employees as strategic consultants.
“They will be able to sell the concept, build a solution and deliver insights to client leadership teams,” he said. “This will be a project-based compensation model for the first year, but after successful client delivery, trainees will be onboarded as full-time employees.”
He explained that new team members will be trained to apply advanced analytics and research to real workforce challenges.
“They will learn how to analyze HR data to detect talent gaps, model employee adaptability and design data-driven learning pathways,” he said. “Alongside practical casework, they will conduct research on current HRIS trends and benchmarks, helping them connect Peoplestrat’s framework with broader industry shifts. This blend of technical analysis, applied problem-solving and market research ensures they can deliver both insights and actionable strategies to organizations.”
As for the product they will be promoting, Ranjan explained that PeopleStrat evaluates an employee’s skills, personality and adaptability, then compares those attributes with an organization’s future direction.
“It highlights potential misalignments, recommends tailored learning pathways and pinpoints where teams may resist change,” he said. “Leaders get actionable insights into engagement and adaptability, not just static records. They get a much clearer view of whether the right people are in the right roles and what support and training they’ll need to grow. The result is a workforce strategy that is proactive rather than reactive — one that helps companies prepare their people for tomorrow while keeping them motivated and productive today.”
It is built for small- and mid-sized firms in industries such as manufacturing, mining and healthcare, especially those sectors where workforce stability is critical and there is uncertainty about how AI will reshape jobs.
The JSOM alumni hired through this initiative will be trained via MayaMaya, an AI-driven talent management platform integrated within PeopleStrat, which Ranjan developed in his role as chief technology and data science director at Catenate. If employees complete a project lasting four months or longer during the training program and also generate a predefined level of revenue, they will get paid in full.
“They will learn soft skills starting with training on how to approach companies, then analyze data and present actionable insights back to clients,” he said. “This is on-the-job training for every person who is part of PeopleStrat. They will also work with subject-matter experts to learn how to connect data insights with real-world applications. This will ultimately be part of a larger HR system or, in a broader perspective, what I call a People Management System.”
Ranjan said he has also established a strategic partnership with Amazech, headed by CEO Shanthi Rajaram, to expand PeopleStrat’s client outreach and strengthen its consulting delivery capabilities.
“Through this collaboration, Amazech will support us in identifying prospective clients while also assisting with data integration requirements that corporates may need to effectively implement and visualize the results of our PeopleStrat framework,” Ranjan said. “This partnership ensures that organizations not only receive deep analytical insights but also seamless integration into their existing systems, accelerating adoption and impact.”
