Dr. Sharmla Chetty

Dr. Sharmla Chetty is Chair of IWF UK and CEO of Duke Corporate Education, where she partners with organizations and leaders worldwide to drive business and workforce transformation. With more than 30 years of experience across global markets, including almost two decades at Duke CE, she advises boards and senior executives on governance, transformation and navigating complexity. Her work has spanned more than 85 countries.Sharmla is recognized globally for her work at the intersection of human-centered leadership, AI, performance intelligence and organizational resilience. Her current work examines how organizations, their workforces and operating systems are changing as AI transforms how work gets done, decisions are made and value is created. Central to this is performance intelligence: how human judgment, collective intelligence, data and technology can come together to strengthen decision-making, adaptability and long-term performance while preserving trust, inclusion and innovation.She is the founder of Women Leading Change, Lead with Her and The AI Club - initiatives advancing courageous leadership, AI fluency and the progression of women into positions of influence globally. She also serves on several boards and advisory bodies, bringing a broad perspective on governance, leadership and transformation. Originally from South Africa, Sharmla has built a global career across multiple continents, driven by a commitment to helping leaders and organizations create lasting impact for their communities and society.Dr. Chetty holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Middlesex University London, where her research examined leadership resilience and high performance in complex environments, an MBA from Henley Business School and a Master of Management in Business and Executive Coaching from the University of the Witwatersrand. Her research interests include board leadership, the future of work and people practices. She was named AWCA's 2025 Woman of Substance and 2023 CEO of the Year - Private Sector for her contribution to leadership and the advancement of women in business and society, and contributes regularly to global conversations on governance, executive education, AI and the future of work