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In conversation with Uday Dodla, Senior Director, Automotive Business Development, Qualcomm India

Exhibit: How will technology change the automotive industry in 5-10 years?

Uday Dodla: Electric vehicles (EVs) will become mainstream in the next 5-10 years due to improvements in battery technology and nationwide charging infrastructure. Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) suited for Indian driving conditions will improve the safety quotient of cars. We will see progress in autonomous driving. Advanced cockpit systems will transform the console’s look and feel, and AI-driven personalisation will elevate in-car experiences. Data analytics will enable real-time contextual use cases. The same cybersecurity and privacy measures required in every other industry will also be expected of the automobile industry. In addition, technologies such as IoT, AI, and robotics will transform manufacturing in the Auto sector.

Ex: What is Qualcomm’s role in the automotive industry, and how has it evolved?

Uday: With over two decades of experience, Qualcomm is a trusted technology provider for the global automotive industry. We collaborate closely with global automakers and Tier-1 partners, who increasingly adopt our diverse portfolio of automotive solutions. In the past, the automotive industry primarily focused on cost-effective manufacturing, supported by R&D and skilled labour. However, the growing demand for intelligent, sustainable, next-generation features is driving advancements to enable more intelligent cockpits, connectivity, electrification, battery technology and autonomous driving, all built on a modular architecture. Automakers are redesigning vehicles’ electronics architecture and digital infrastructure, and we are positioning ourselves to be their trusted technology partner in this journey. We want to redefine the automotive and transportation tech landscape with ever-evolving products, technologies, and partnerships in all forms of vehicles – 4W Passenger Vehicles, 2 Wheelers & Commercial Vehicles. We focus on integrating consumer wireless technologies, semiconductors, cloud, and software platforms with technologies such as High-Performance. Edge Compute, 5G, AI and XR (Extended Reality) and adapt them to the Automotive domain. The Snapdragon Digital Chassis platform encompasses all these advanced features envisioned for the future car.

Ex: Can you tell us about any specific projects or collaborations Qualcomm is working on in the automotive sector?

Uday: We are working with players across the automotive ecosystem to build connected and intelligent vehicles. For instance, the recent Tata Nexon EV MAX and the Harrier and Safari are powered by our Snapdragon Digital Cockpit platform, as are Mahindra & Mahindra’s Scorpio N and XUV 700. We have invested in Ultraviolette Automotive through our investments arm, Qualcomm Ventures. The investment aims to enable the startup to scale up its presence in India and expand into international markets. We power the Smart Clusters on the OLA Electric S1 & S1Pro and the Ather Energy 450X scooters. Outside India, we have collaborated with Renault’s dedicated electric and software company, Ampere, and are working towards co-developing a centralised platform architecture for software-defined EVs powered by the Snapdragon Digital Chassis. Qualcomm also works with BMW, which focuses on the joint development of next-generation autonomous driving technologies. Our Snapdragon Ride Platform, developed for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving, also powers a fleet of vehicles by GM. Globally, we have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Autotalks to enhance the safety quotient of C-V2X (cellular vehicle-to-everything) solutions. Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication technologies are increasingly important as they become critical sensors for automotive safety systems. Autotalks’ V2X safety solutions will augment our Snapdragon Digital Chassis product portfolio. We are collaborating with Salesforce and Visteon to develop a new intelligent, connected vehicle platform and a next-generation digital cockpit.

Ex: How do you see 5G technology impacting the automotive industry, and what is Qualcomm doing to prepare for this shift?

Uday: The high speeds, low delays, and enhanced connectivity of 5G will help improve vehicles’ safety and efficiency. 5G will be the foundational platform for developing connected vehicles, autonomous driving, and intelligent transportation systems. It will enable better traffic management and allow vehicles to communicate with each other, pedestrians, and the smart infrastructure nearby. The integration of C-V2X technology with cellular connectivity will enable advanced alerts and driver assistance, significantly improving driver safety. We recently announced the Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF Gen 2 – our most advanced automotive modem-RF system. As 5G networks spread and strengthen across the country, we will see more and deeper collaborations between players in the automotive ecosystem.

Ex: How do you see the relationship between tech companies like Qualcomm and traditional automakers evolving in the coming years?

Uday: As car electronics evolve towards a Software Oriented Architecture and include aspects such as autonomous driving, and advanced cockpit systems with high-speed connectivity, there will be increasingly higher engagement between automakers and technology providers such as Qualcomm. While we work closely with our Tier-1 partners, we are seeing a shift among the automakers to have more direct conversations with technology companies to keep up with the fast pace of technology innovation. We have seen that automakers are willing to invest directly in platforms and create customised experiences for their loyal customers in-house. Rather than approaching opportunities on a component-by-component basis, we offer a comprehensive digital chassis solution aligned with most automakers’ long-term strategy.

Ex: Finally, what message would you like to convey to consumers and industry professionals about the role of technology in the future of the automotive industry?

Uday: Technology is transforming the way vehicles are built, operated, and maintained. And the pace of this transformation is constantly increasing. Historically, a good car design ensured good mileage and easy maintenance. Today, it is about designing user experiences, and that’s where technology comes into play. In the years and decades ahead, cars could become a part of massive, wirelessly connected technology platforms. We need to look at technology’s use and development through that lens.

Ex: Your insights on the future of mobility in India?

Uday: The demand for generative AI models is experiencing rapid growth. Models like ChatGPT, Stable Diffusion, and DALL-E have already garnered millions of users within a short span of time. These groundbreaking technologies are poised to revolutionise automotive user experiences. AI-enabled cockpits, informed by vehicle-related data, can offer highly personalised interactions. In-vehicle digital assistants can enable drivers and passengers to stay connected on the go. Enterprise APIs further allow third-party service providers to integrate their offerings, extending customer relationships into the vehicle. In India, we will surely see vehicles with 5G-enabled digital cockpits driven by a high-performance edge platform in the not-too-distant future. With their intuitive experiences, interactive displays, high-definition maps, advanced augmented reality displays, intelligent AI capabilities and smart navigation systems, these vehicles are set to alter the landscape of the driving experience in India radically.

Power Talk ft. Raj Kumar Rishi, Vice President and Managing Director, Dell Technologies India

Exhibit: What are the key responsibilities that come with your role as Vice President and Managing Director? Also, tell us about your journey with Dell Technologies India.

Raj Kumar Rishi: Our mission at Dell Technologies is to use technology to drive human progress, and my primary responsibility is to ensure that we consistently deliver on this mission by keeping customers at the centre of every product decision we make. Furthermore, as the VP and MD for the Consumer and Small Business segment, my job is to drive growth in India, which remains a top priority market for the company. It has been an incredible journey for me with this great company. I am a big fan of Dell’s openness, trust and empowerment culture.

Ex: Dell Technologies is a global technology leader. What specific strategies have you implemented to drive growth and innovation in the Indian market? Can you share some examples of how Dell Technologies India has successfully delivered value to its customers?

Raj: At Dell Technologies, we are relentless in our pursuit of providing the best-in-class customer experience. We truly believe that customers are the ones who drive us to bring innovations to our product lines every year. This approach has enabled us to make meaningful product decisions, such as improvements in thermal infrastructure in our gaming portfolio, a variety of form factors in the Inspiron and XPS series, the addition of an 18-inch form factor in the Alienware line-up after 2015 and providing budget-friendly gaming laptops without sacrificing performance under the G-series. Furthermore, we have taken a strong omnichannel approach with our extensive network of 632 Dell Exclusive Stores (DES), 3 Large Format Retail outlets (LFR), and over 5000 Multi-Brand Outlets (MBO) across 400 cities in India. To facilitate easy access and convenience, we have enhanced our store locator experience and lead management system, and we are constantly ensuring that there is a regular cycle for refurbishing these stores to increase the engagement rate. However, we recognize that we are living in an era in which the line between online and offline has blurred. As a result, our products are also available online at dell.com and other e-tail partners. This customer-first approach, combined with exceptional customer service and engagement with partners, has helped Dell Technologies become the most trusted brand in India for the fourth consecutive year, according to TRA.

Ex: How do you see the technology landscape evolving in India, and what opportunities and challenges do you anticipate in the coming years?

Raj: The country’s appetite for technology and the rate at which the technology industry is growing presents a significant opportunity for us to strengthen our offerings further. In the context of PCs, consumers in India are becoming more aware of what they require. A gamer, for example, is aware that improved thermals and performance will lead to marathon gaming sessions, a student is aware that a larger display and camera will make online classes more fun and engaging, and a creator is aware that 2-in-1 form factors, better connectivity, and immersive displays will lead to higher productivity while on-the-go. All of this is made possible by continuous innovation supported by integrating emerging technologies. With the convergence of traditional hardware, new technologies and architectures, such as AI and 5G, PCs can now deliver a brilliant, customized, and tether-free PC experience—and as we continue to embrace the digital-first world, we’re excited about how these technologies will shape the future of the PC industry.

Ex: The Indian gaming market is expected to grow from $2.8 billion in 2022 to $5 billion in 2025, growing at a 28-30% CAGR. What are some of the trends contributing to the gaming industry’s growth? How is Dell Technologies betting on the sector?

Raj: The Indian gaming market constantly evolves through innovation, investment, and overall efforts. The industry is thriving, with an expanding pool of gamers who want to consider gaming as a serious career option rather than just for leisure or entertainment. What we’re also seeing is that the industry is growing holistically. Thousands of software engineers, content creators, data analysts, game designers, social media specialists, venue operators, accountants, lawyers, and others are needed to make gaming more fun and realistic. This has increased the role of technology in gaming devices, and as a result, there is an influx of devices in the market every year that offers incredible power and performance. Given these shifting dynamics, we are dedicated to meeting the needs of all types of gamers. For example, for consumers new to PC gaming or moving from mobile to PC, the Dell G Series portfolio is a great place to start. On the other hand, Alienware has been designing premium, high-performance desktops and laptops for professional gamers. We have launched a robust product line-up across both these portfolios this year. In addition, our first gaming store in India demonstrates our ongoing commitment to engaging with Indian gamers. It’s more than just a store; it’s a hub for gamers and enthusiasts to meet, interact, and play their favourite titles on Dell’s latest devices while also exploring the various accessories and peripherals on offer. In terms of design, we’ve incorporated creative elements and cutting-edge technologies to keep players engaged and provide a comprehensive experience. The “Battle Zone,” which is essentially a section for gamers to face off against their opponents and try out the entire available ecosystem of devices, is the store’s main attraction.

Ex: Dell Technologies is known for its commitment to sustainability. Could you share some initiatives Dell Technologies India undertook to promote environmental responsibility and sustainable practices?

Raj: At Dell Technologies, sustainability is at the core of everything we do. We’re inspired by the opportunity to improve things for our future generations. As per our 2030 ESG goal of advancing sustainability, for every product sold, we will reuse or recycle an equivalent product, 100% of our packaging and over 50% of our product portfolio will be made from recycled or renewable materials. In fact, our new Inspiron laptops are shipped in packaging that is made from 100% recycled and renewable materials and is 100% recyclable. Select Inspiron notebooks also use seamless logo technology in the lid, which helps reduce waste in the manufacturing process.

Ex: What advice would you give aspiring professionals wanting to build a successful career in the technology industry?

Raj: In today’s rapidly changing world, we are presented with a plethora of career options that were once viewed differently. Gaming has seen a significant shift in perception, with people today being dynamic, social, and successful, and proud to identify as gamers. Careers in video editing have also grown in popularity. As a result, today’s youth must take advantage of the various opportunities available. In an ever-changing job market, they must embrace technology and constantly upskill themselves.

Ex: Lastly, could you share any recent milestones, achievements, or upcoming projects that Dell Technologies India is excited about and that our readers should look forward to?

Raj: Being named India’s most trusted brand for the fourth time in a row by TRA is a significant milestone in our journey because it truly embodies our customer-first approach. Additionally, opening our first gaming store in India this year is a watershed moment as it allows us to foster innovation, interaction, and community building. We have also launched a number of marquee devices across product lines to meet the diverse needs of our customers. To summarize, it’s been an eventful year so far, and we will continue to leverage our technology expertise and listen to our customers to deliver meaningful products.

In Conversation with Mr Roopak Krishnan – Head of Marketing and Category, Logitech India

Roopak leads the Marketing and Category for Logitech in India. He has been associated with the organisation for the past 17 years and worked across functions, including building, and strengthening Logitech’s leadership position in the gaming, personal workspace and streamers & creators categories in India. He has done a Master’s in business from Madras University.

Ex. What does sustainability mean to you and your brand?

As far as sustainability is concerned, it’s not a new topic for us because we have been part of a community from way back in 2007 onwards. Along the journey, like-minded companies have joined together to source more responsibly sourced material. However, in the last few years, Logitech has set some goals like by 2030, we want to reach a renewable energy milestone or remove as much plastic as possible by a certain percentage. We also publish a report every year called a sustainable report, which we usually share with our consumers or customers, where we inform on how much plastic we have reused. We use PCR plastic, which is post-consumer recycled plastic, and certain companies convert this into small pallets, and we use these pellets to make our products.

Similarly, there are products in gaming in which we use almost 40% of PCR plastic. That’s a significant initiative we have taken that gives a second life to the product plastic, which otherwise goes into earth fills or oceans. We are not only looking at the product alone, even the packaging. The packaging used to be plastic, but today, when you look at the packaging, we are moving from plastic to paper which can be recycled and will not add to the pollution. But the important thing is that paper must be sourced sustainably. So we source packaging paper from a set of organizations which gives you paper from a sustainable forest. So that is called FSE-certified (Forestry Workerships Council) forest. So we pick our packaging from there, which assures us that we are not cutting down trees in unblind ways.

Ex. Every brand has a specific marketing strategy that works best for them. Does Logitech move with a given set of principles or ideas?

We are known for our design and innovation, two big things consumers love Logitech for. Like there was a time when gaming products used to be wire products, today it’s wireless, and gamers love wireless products. We have been in this fear for so long that we understand that as the trend changes, design and innovation will be part of the principal core strategy of Logitech.

Ex. What’s the most powerful tool you use to gain your customers’ loyalty?

Be truthful because you cannot run any specific strategy to gain loyalty, but if you are truthful and consumers believe that what you’re doing is good, we feel that they will support that brand. I’ve been with Logitech for over 17 years, and I have seen that we are truthful in what we do. So we feel that be truthful to what you’re doing and consumers will follow.

Ex. Who are your biggest competitors?

I often get asked this question, but what happens is that we operate in a field where many brands are there and Logitech being an umbrella brand, I cannot pinpoint that he’s my biggest competitor. Under the Logitech brand, you have another sub-brand called Logi; we have Blue, a microphone, and Logitech G, our biggest gaming brand within the streamers ecosystem. We have Streamlabs, which is software, and then we have Nevo, which is a streamer’s camera. So, being such a big umbrella brand, when you ask about competition, I better go through a list of brands in each category. However, none of our strategies are competition centric. So that’s why we understand they exist. They bring in certain things, but what I bring is my value to the consumers. That’s what we look forward to. That’s the way Logitech has been successful for so many years.

Ex. With your new launch, how has the response been?

MX Mechanical came from a family of MX series, which we have been selling in India for quite a long time. For example, when I joined in 2000, we had a product called Amit’s Revolution. From there, it is a 6th-generation region of this mouse. And this is loved by the creators, community and coders. And we bring in more innovation based on the feedback and what they look for. It’s been just three weeks now, and till now, the response has been tremendous.

Ex. What are your personal and professional growth goals over the next two to three years?

Professionally, I have no idea, but as far as the company’s goals are concerned, we are looking forward. We are bringing the best products to India because we have been committed to India for a long time, and the last two years have been quite successful for Logitech within India. We have launched products almost every three months or four months. Whereas in the gaming, productivity, or personal collaboration space, we will keep introducing more exciting products in the next couple of years.

Ex. Suggest any good books for budding marketing minds?

I don’t read marketing books, but what I do read is more about some achievements done by everybody, entrepreneurs or successful people. Mostly, I read about what has worked and has not worked. I won’t recommend reading any book if it’s the experience that makes it work, and even if it’s a bad experience, it’s a good lesson for life.

How WeWork is shaping the Post-Pandemic world?

Work From Home or “WFH” is the latest trend, and it’s challenging to get folks to come to the office so much that the underlying sentiment is to quit rather than be confined to a desk space. WeWork has lots at stake, has prime-time real estate with 35 offices pan India, and is on a continually rising progress graph. We got Karan Virwani, 29-year-old CEO of WeWork India, with considerable stakes in the family-owned 3000 crore Embassy Group – one of the most influential names in Bangalore as a real estate developer. Ramesh Somani took him for a drive in the all-new Audi E-Tron in a stimulating conversation on startups, entrepreneurship, and everything in between.

Ramesh Somani: How did you get the idea from WeWork to get to India?
Karan Viirwani: It all started with my journey to starting my own business. When I was out of University, I started a hospitality business that is still running to this day, and we have a few restaurants around the city as of now. While I was doing that, even with the infrastructure and background that I had, it wasn’t easy to set up. When that happened, I went to work with my father and was training with him for almost two and a half years in the Embassy Group, where I just sat and listened to meetings and didn’t do anything significant but learn a lot.

I got considerable exposure to the real estate industry in India, and I saw that we were building a lot of office spaces for large companies. Still, no one was addressing any office space for smaller companies or startups or smaller businesses, and that’s where the idea of setting up smaller offices came into my mind.

Later on, when I was doing a lot of research, I kept reading about WeWork, and then WeWork came to India and looked for buildings for their expansion. That’s where we met, and that’s how we formed a partnership. It’s been four years since we first opened our first building, and I think we changed a bit of the country’s commercial office ecosystem.

RS: What has been your most significant learning in the Pandemic?
Karan Viirwani: I think regardless of what business it is, the pandemic has changed everyone’s plans. We went straight into controlling the costs, so we shut down all unnecessary spending, but we were lucky to get a round of funding. We raised about US$100 Million last year, just before the pandemic. So we had a lot of dry powder to survive these last two years. We managed the cash and kept as much of it in the Bank as possible. Lastly, we focussed on our people as much as possible, because finally, it’s the people who will bring the company back. Also, we’re lucky to have many good partners and build many good relationships over the journey. Unfortunately, many smaller companies left us, but many larger enterprises continued to stay with us today.

Ramesh Somani: You run WeWork as a separate entity. So tell us about that, how different you are from WeWork globally, and about your connections with them?
Karan Viirwani: I mean, now there are shareholders, and we have the brand name. So there is some amount of impact or connection. We’ve done it constantly since day one because we’ve focused heavily on building a profitable business. Even though we’re scaling very fast, we always keep an eye on making sure the unit economics are great. That allowed us to always have a business that made sense. Many people question the WeWork business model because of what happened globally. Still, if you spend time on the numbers and run this business with some discipline, it’s certainly a great business.

Ramesh Somani: What are the opportunities and challenges that you see now that work from home is coming? What do you think are the most significant opportunities and challenges ahead of WeWork?
Karan Viirwani: I think the world has a fun way of working itself out, and everyone would believe that the pandemic is terrible for us, but if you see what has happened, it’s changed everyone’s mindset on how to work and how the office needs to be treated. Earlier, people thought it was a must to have central headquarters, big offices, et cetera. But now people have realized that they want flexibility and want to be able to scale back. If something like a pandemic happens, they can reduce costs. I think coming out of this is an enormous opportunity for us. Right now, we’re probably going through the most significant threat of our business as there is no one coming to the actual office, but soon, we’ll hit back. If Zoom is a pandemic company, then I think WeWork will be the post-pandemic company for sure.

Ramesh Somani: What are the other technologies that fascinated you, and how tech are you? Also, what do you think of EV’s or particularly Audi E-Tron?
Karan Virwani: I’m very fascinated by technology. I think I was the first IT guy at WeWork. I think a lot about green tech; it has been fascinating to me, and anything that can help the environment to a more sustainable future is exciting to me. And about EV’s, I don’t think there’s any question about whether EVs are the future anymore and talking about Audi E-Tron, it is the first EV I’ve ever driven, and I’m going to remember this car for a long time. Also, what can I say about Audi’s? I’m a big Audi fan, it’s my favourite car company, and about E-Tron, it has an attractive futuristic design and luxurious interiors, and the driving experience is silently refined.

Ramesh Somani: What is the one truth you think people aren’t familiar with business and life on purpose?
Karan Virwani: I think people underestimate the value of really investing in a relationship long term. Some people always get transactional and always look at how can I gain something immediately from this relationship? I sometimes think just investing in a relationship without getting anything comes full circle at some point in life, whether it’s a year from today or ten years from today, that’s honestly something I’ve learned from my father.

Ramesh Somani: What do you think is one subject which all aspiring leaders should learn?
Karan Virwani: In today’s world, aspiring leaders should learn coding or anything related to understanding future technologies. Leaders and entrepreneurs should at least learn to understand it because leveraging that can be huge in the future because if you look at it, you are a customer of the future. Our kids are born today who grew up holding an iPad. So, I think coding should be taught in school, like a common language.

Ramesh Somani: One book that you keep reading or suggest to people, which is very inspirational?
Karan Virwani: I’m not such an avid reader, but I recently read this book by Ben Horowitz called The Hard Thing About Hard Things. And this has so many business lessons that I could relate to while growing a business that came about things, mistakes that I made, and how I should maybe handle certain situations better. I’m always following some entrepreneur or the other and trying to learn as much from that and more into youtube and watching videos.

Ramesh Somani: Are you into cycling? What are the things you do for fitness? And how do you keep yourself in such good shape?
Karam Virwani: I’m an early riser; I work out every day, and during weekends, I do lots of treks around Bangalore with my friends. I also like horse riding. We have one, which is an Embassy riding school. And so ever since I was six years old, I’ve been riding.

Ramesh Somani: How difficult is it to maintain a work-life balance?
It was initially tough to find that balance. But, I think for me, it’s not easy to say because work is a kind of life and life is a kind of work. It kind of merges in between because it’s something that we’re always doing, but I think the secret is having discipline, carving out time or taking particular time off in the year for family and people you love, or even taking a short holiday. That’s how I find it the easiest to balance.

Ramesh Somani: Every leader has to fail. The more they fail, the more they learn. Tell us some of your most significant falls? And how do you overcome them? What are the thoughts behind it?
Karan Virwani: I’ve had so many failures. Before WeWork, we had an online food delivery business, which I started through my hospitality and restaurant businesses. It was called Entree. If you look at it right now, it was a great idea, but it was not an easy task. It needs a lot of capital, and it’s more like you’re giving your life to that kind of mission. And that wasn’t necessarily my life’s mission.
We did gain a lot of popularity in Bangalore, but we had to shut down just for financial reasons. I think that was one of the most challenging conversations I had with the employees there and being upfront with them. I think that was one failure for sure. Still, I’m a believer that there’s no real thing as a failure. Even at WeWork, we constantly keep trying things, and failing, and learning from them. I believe you learned the most out of the losses, and we’ve learned a lot about what not to do.

Ramesh Somani: What does your garage look like? Also, what do you think about autonomous driving?
Karan Virwani: It’s all black. I have two Range Rovers and a lot of Audi cars. Now, many younger kids don’t even learn how to drive because they have Ubers and things like that. So over time, I believe autonomous driving will become a future.

Ramesh Somani: So where next and what next? What are your other plans? Karan Virwani: We have a lot happening. I mean, both within WeWork and outside. We’re going to grow the business; as I said, the opportunity we feel coming out of this will be vast and exciting. Also, on the Embassy side, we’re going through a significant merger with Indiabulls, which will take us through PAN India.

Ramesh Somani: What do you think of cryptocurrency and will you accept it?
Karan Virwani: Yes, that has the possibility of becoming a significant asset class within investment and a currency that people use, but I think it’s a bit of a bet. In India right now, it’s challenging, but once that gets better, there’s no looking back.

Ramesh Somani: Some life learnings such as entrepreneurship that you would like to share?
Karan Virwani: One is to stop worrying about things outside of your control. I think there are certain things you can control, and there are certain things you can’t. And a lot of people get stressed and worried about things that are outside of their control. So there’s no point in worrying about those and focusing on what you can control. Patience is probably good learning I’ve had over these last two years.

Ramesh Somani: How would you like your epitaph to look? How many desks did you sell that’s going to be on my tombstone? Karan Virwani: We have a running joke in the office where we always ask at the end, but how many desks? So maybe that, but I think it’s just to be known for someone, who always tried new things and outside of the box ideas, that would be enough.

Vinay Shetty | Top Leaders In Tech & Auto

Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on?
Vinay: Everything is possible if you give your 100% and that 100% is not based on someone’s perception.

Ex: What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn?
Vinay: Any leader, aspiring or established, should remember that vision should be complimented with execution, an honest approach with the result in mind and a path of how to achieve it.

Ex: One thing you believe is absolutely necessary for sustained growth
Vinay: A positive attitude and an ability to take on challenges without being bogged down by roadblocks.

Ex: One book you keep coming back to?
Vinay: Mahabharata

Ex: Leadership quotes that you live by
Vinay: Tough times don’t last, tough people, do.

Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic?
Vinay: Don’t take your life lightly – don’t waste precious time on frivolous things and value and cherish what you currently have.

Ex: What is your technology detox like?
Vinay: In the current WFH scenario, I think having the flexibility to manage to put aside your gadgets for even a few hours would qualify as a detox for me.

Ex: Apart from computing and gaming components, which other areas of information technology would you like to delve into?
Vinay: Artificial Intelligence and Space Technology Development.

Sameer Bhatia | Top Leaders In Tec & Auto

The newly announced solutions today include the 100% open source-based software CORTX™: the collaborative open-source CORTX™ Community; and the open, flexible reference architecture deployed as converged infrastructure Live Drive™ Rack, powered by CORTX.

Ex: What is your target audience in the Indian market for Seagate’s video surveillance products?
Sameer: With safety and security being the prime concern of individuals and organizations, surveillance systems in India are becoming an indispensable part of the country’s endeavor for a secured environment for its people. The rising need for advanced security, India’s smart cities agenda, growing IT infrastructure, increasing IT spending, surging need for video analytics and remote monitoring are the trends that have been driving the video surveillance market in India.

Ex: How significant has your role been in the foundation of a smart city?
Sameer: Seagate is continuously working towards innovations in data management space that can help transcend Smart Cities from vision and conceptual phase to reality. We are helping put data to work to help cities in their quest for comprehensive data systems.

Ex: How long do you think till the need for offline data saving is eliminated?
Sameer: Managing the storage of data is among the top 5 challenges highlighted in the Rethink Data report to exploit the potential of the data collected by enterprises. Modern-day technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), the growth of edge computing, edge data centers, and artificial intelligence (AI) coupled with consumer demand has led to data proliferation. This has led to the development of the concept of Data Sprawl. Defined by the Rethink Data report as the percentage by which the datasphere increases over time, data sprawl describes the spread of the growing data through various configurations—from endpoints through edge to cloud. Data sprawl also describes how business data is scattered. This distribution won’t change significantly over the next two years, indicating that enterprise storage environments will remain dispersed and complex for the foreseeable future. Enterprises will have an ever-increasing need to manage this scattered data wherever it exists.

Ex: Can you describe in brief Seagate’s marketing strategies for India?
Sameer: We connect with our customers and partners in the markets through the Seagate Insider partner program. This year, we will continue to focus on providing comprehensive training sessions and seminars as well as working on co-marketing initiatives to better identify evolving opportunities in the changing norms currently.

Ex: What are some opportunities emerging for Seagate keeping in mind the new normal?
Sameer: Over the years, there has been a surge globally in data creation and consumption – a trend that is helping us grow. Also, with an increase in the
number of connected devices in the new normal, there has been exceptional growth in the creation and consumption of data. In India too, we have been seeing strong demand growth in enterprise data management and also video surveillance.

Ex: What steps is Seagate taking for customer’s data protection?
Sameer: Improving data security is the most important factor driving the changes to how organizations manage central storage needs. Awareness about data preservation is another challenge that needs to be overcome to protect organizational information. Recurring data backup helps in keeping the data secure throughout and provides easy access to the information as and when it is required.

Ex: Apart from storage and surveillance devices, will Seagate like to venture into a completely new segment?
Sameer: In the recently concluded, Seagate’s first annual Datasphere event, we introduced revolutionary open-source object storage software, a reference architecture powered by it, and a corresponding developer community. All three additions have been developed to manage the massive surge and sprawl of unstructured enterprise data.

Rajan Vagadia | Top Leaders In Tech & Auto

Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on?
Rajan: I believe that the pace of change that will bring technologies such as AI, ML, Robotics, and Cognitive Computing will certainly lead to better times for humans. History has persistently proven this point; however, we need to believe in it rather than being skeptical.

Ex: One book you keep coming back to?
Rajan: Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun by Wess Roberts.

Ex: Leadership quotes that you live by
Rajan: “Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.” –William Pollard

Ex: How difficult is it to maintain a work-life balance?
Rajan: It is not difficult at all if you know when to stop or stop when you know.

Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic?
Rajan: Technology saved us yesterday, did it again today, and will do it tomorrow too. It is important to embrace it.

Ex: Some productivity apps and technologies you use in your daily life?
Rajan: Meditation applications to relax Video conferencing to stay in ‘touch’ OTT apps to stay entertained

Ex: What is your technology detox like?
Rajan: Meditating with help of smartphone apps.

Ex: How long do you think till AI is integrated into your processors?
Rajan: Qualcomm’s on-device Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a core player of Snapdragon chipsets since the 6-series (SD 660). We have fueled some brilliant attributes of AI to create intuitive and immersive everyday mobile experience. Today a good camera is a must and AI comes to aid. Snapdragon-enabled cameras capture stunning, professional photos and videos. We have also harnessed AI to create extended reality (XR) mobile applications across sectors. Our 5th generation AI Engine continues to bolster the interactive mobile gaming industry with real-time AI translation powering voice and speech recognition processes. Furthermore, since its dawn, the on-device personal assistant has been enabling
a truly customized performance. AI is everywhere, beginning with our processors.

Ex: If you would like to make a new category-specific processor, which category would you opt for and why
Rajan: At Qualcomm, we are fascinated by technology and how it can transform various industries. Our innovations have boosted the dynamics of the telecom world. But, more recently we have been empowering AI gaming, smart cities, automotive, and connectivity. The aim is to propel digital transformation beyond the capabilities of today’s applications. We are constantly brewing ideas to catalyze growth through our existing tech offerings. For instance, we are rediscovering the infinite role of 5G. So, we look forward to exploring and being inspired by the power of technology. We have and want to continue making technology available to all; we did it with 4G and now we are working towards ‘5G-for-all’, in India.

Sameer Raje | Top Leaders In Tech & Auto

Ex: Leadership quotes that you live by
Sameer: “I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become.” – Carl Jung “You got a dream, you gotta protect it. When people cannot do something themselves, they’re gonna tell you that you can’t do it. You want something, go get it. Period.” – Will Smith (from the movie – The Pursuit of Happyness) “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.” – Muhammad Ali

Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic?
Sameer: That wealth can also be measured as an ‘attitude of gratitude’, with which we remind ourselves every day to count our blessings.

Ex: Some productivity apps and technologies you use in your daily life?
Sameer: Zoom for meetings, calendar for scheduling, unified communication hardware like Jabra and Poly headsets, speakerphones and smartwatch with inbuilt GPS to track sports activities – integrated with the phone for calendaring and Zoom chat notifications.

Ex: What is your technology detox like?
Sameer: Focusing on my fitness is a detox time for me. I usually go for a run in the evening for 5-10 km. On the days when I don’t have early morning meetings, I cycle around Mumbai city and try to cover nearly 50 km before the city wakes up.

Ex: What are your views on the unanticipated boom for Zoom?
Sameer: Zoom saw huge adoption because of the simplicity and reliability of the platform. We are helping governments, schools, corporates, large businesses, and standalone users around the world to connect during these trying times. I am glad to be part of an organization that is helping humanity in this hour of crisis and will continue to do so.

Ex: How does Zoom plan to introduce AI in its software?
Sameer: At Zoom, the privacy and security of our users are of utmost importance and we will never compromise on this. We will continue to build and innovate on our platform, and announce the right features at the right time.

Ex: What is the one truth you believe in, that most people disagree with you on?
Sameer: It is all about the focus. No goal or dream is too big. If you set your mind, you can overcome any hurdle, achieve any target that may seem impossible at first.

Ex: What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn/focus on? Sameer: Establish a culture of caring from the beginning – caring for your customers and your partners. Most importantly, caring for your employees who feel proud to contribute to building great customer experiences. A grumpy employee cannot make a customer happy, so make sure you are taking care of your employees really well.

Ex: One book you keep coming back to?
Sameer: The book that inspires me the most is Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. This is for people who pursue their passions, push their limits, and strive to do better every day.

Anil Jain | Top Leaders In Tech & Auto

Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on?
Anil: No one will give you responsibility & ownership on a platter, you have to take it and own it.

Ex: What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn?
Anil: How to work in the new normal and get maximum productivity and cost control. The pandemic has changed the business rules and management control mechanism.

Ex: One thing you believe is absolutely necessary for sustained growth
Anil: A dedicated and motivated team. Growth will follow.

Ex: One book you keep coming back to?
Anil: Tipping Point

Ex: Leadership quotes that you live by Anil: Leadership and ownership is not dependent on what is your level in the organization. One needs to own and demonstrate these qualities, success will follow.

Ex: How difficult is it to maintain a work-life balance?
Anil: In the new normal it’s a problem since WHF is a 24 hours work schedule.

Ex: Some productivity apps and technologies you use in your daily life?
Anil: Good EPR solutions at the company level and a good smartphone for personal use.

Ex: What is your technology detox like?
Anil: Stop use of any gadgets that are Wi-Fi enabled on Sunday and listen to soft music.

Ex: What is the biggest change in trend you have seen since the IT boom in India?
Anil: The biggest change in trend has been work culture, change in office interiors, more use of IT, need for faster computing, and availability of data on the fly leading to faster decision making.

Kapil Gulati | Top Leaders in Tech & Auto

Ex: Leadership quotes that you live by
Kapil: “A leader is one who sees more than others see, who sees farther than others see, and who sees before others see.” – Leroy Eimes “No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself, or to get all the credit for doing it.” – Andrew Carnegie

Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic?
Kapil: The pandemic has forced us to ask what we really need to live reasonably well; and the answer in most cases is – not too much. The availability of food, water, shelter, communication, medicines, education, and entertainment on television & the internet has kept us going.

Ex: What is your technology detox like?
Kapil: Unlike on workdays when you are digitally tethered by your colleagues, I spend my weekends with my family. We mostly spend our time playing badminton, watching movies, even eat midnight snacks. I stay away from my phone and laptop and give my full attention to my family while I am with them.

Ex: What is Sennheiser coming out next with?
Kapil: For the past 75 years, Sennheiser has been shaping the future of audio. We have introduced some of the finest products across the globe and we believe in creating unique sound experiences for our customers. We are already working on the audio products that could define the segment 2 years from now. Additionally, we have a few products lined up in the coming few days and we are looking forward to seeing how consumers here respond to the same.

Ex: Upcoming audio trends to look out for?
Kapil: Currently, wireless earbuds are revolutionizing the entire audio industry. The smartphone makers are now doing away with the 3.5 mm headphone jack to make wireless headphones more convenient and appealing to customers as even consumers are looking for a seamless and hassle-free immersive audio experience. Sennheiser’s current focus is on creating 3D audio solutions to achieve as natural and immersive experience as possible in a range of applications. Sennheiser has a long history of pushing the boundaries of innovation in audio technology and a holistic approach to sound from capture to listening. AMBEO is born from the desire to deliver the ultimate sound experience, selectively including the most advanced 3D audio technology into new products, tools, and features.

Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on?
Kapil: I am a strong believer in miracles and it only happens if you have faith in them. Sometimes you feel lost, confused, and frustrated with life, and then things become better that changes your life. I believe that when you wish from all your heart and mind, even the universe starts working for you in your favor.

Ex: One thing you believe is absolutely necessary for sustained growth Kapil: Pursuit of resilience is something that I feel is the most important aspect and the first step for sustained growth. When complex business problems arise, one needs to meet them head-on and be resilient while working hard towards providing a solution. When we go through difficult circumstances at work, it’s the resolve of not getting bitter, weaker, or frightened, but rather get braver and face those challenges.