The 10th edition of CIO Power List 2024, held on the 7th of June, at Novotel, Mumbai International Airport was an extraordinary convergence of thought leaders, industry experts, and technology pioneers. Hosted by CORE Media, the event was a testament to the dynamic evolution of CIOs role in navigating today's technological landscape.
The event commenced with a ceremonial lamp lighting, symbolizing the beginning of a journey towards enlightenment and innovation. This was followed by a warm welcome note from Anoop Mathur, Founder, CORE Media, setting the tone for the day filled with insightful discussions and knowledge sharing sessions.
Industry Insights: Navigating AI, data, and digital transformation
As expected the anticipation was around GenAI, the potential and the challenges that come with it. Senior industry and IT leaders explored cutting-edge applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI (GenAI) that are transforming various industries and are a top priority for stakeholders across Enterprise India.
Ravinder Singh, Country Director, Enterprise & Govt. India & SAARC, Juniper Networks and Abhishek Gupta, Corporate Head, Information Technology, Dish TV shared the transformative potential of AI in enhancing customer experience, emphasizing the importance of an AI-native approach.
In a fireside chat with Anoop Mathur; Puneet Gupta, Managing Director & VP, NetApp India & SAARC discussed the role of Data in the AI ecosystem. The conversation shed light on how the integration of AI and advanced data infrastructure is shaping the future of technology, thereby enabling businesses to unlock new levels of efficiency, agility, and insight.
Vijay Reddy, VP and Business Head for Network and Network Security, TATA Communications did a deep dive into the IT infrastructure requirements for digital transformation. He also highlighted the importance of a strong network foundation, leveraging SD-WAN and SSE solutions.
Harnessing AI for Workplace Productivity and Service Management
Himanshu Rajpal, Regional Sales Leader for Slack, Service and Platform Solutions, Salesforce provided a comprehensive understanding on the integration of AI in workplace communication through Slack, showcasing applications of AI in enhancing productivity.
Mohit Patle, Sr. Director & Regional Business Head, Freshworks shared insights on various strategies to leverage GenAI in service management.
While Piyush Parashar, Territory Sales Manager, SymphonyAI Enterprise IT discussed accelerating business growth with advanced workflows, Manjot Singh, CEO & CoFounder, contexIQ and Ritesh Gupta, Partner, CitiusCloud Services explored the concept of crafting an AI-first enterprise.
Key considerations for enterprise AI were highlighted by both Sandeep Pendarkar, Sr. Director & GM, Hybrid Cloud Solutions, Hewlett Packard Enterprise India and Sachin Rao, Managing Director and CEO, Archon Consulting Systems.
Bridging the Gap Between Human Insight and Technological Advancement
Dr. Akash Khurana, a renowned actor and author of ‘Metamorphosis’ delivered a captivating discourse on ‘Humanizing Technology Through Mentoring.’ His perspective underscored the vital role of mentorship in today's world.
Dr. Nitin Paranjpe, Productivity Maverick, took the stage to share his expertise on how to enhance productivity through the strategic use of AI.
Addressing the IT Skills Gap and Fostering Innovation
The event was a rich exchange of knowledge sharing sessions. Industry leaders shared their expertise through engaging fireside chats and panel discussions.
Rajesh Uppal, Sr. Executive Director (HR & IT), Maruti Suzuki India spoke about their Digital Strategy and shared his perspective on how to integrate digital supply chain strategies into smart factories and distribution models.
The panel discussion on ‘The Customer Experience Transformation Imperative’ was another session that was truly engrossing. Session Chair Sampath Manickam, CTO - Technology Infrastructure, NSE, along with Vishal Bhatia, CDO, Canara Bank, and Jyothirlatha B, CTO, Godrej Capital, discussed the need for a robust technology stack to deliver exceptional customer experiences. They explored how advanced technologies like AI, data analytics, and omnichannel support can personalize and enhance customer journeys while maintaining strong data security.
The subsequent session on managing the widening IT skills gap brought together Jai Thomas, Vice President, IT Infra & Operations, VerSe Innovation; Manoj Srivastava, CIO, Easy Trip Planners (Ease My Trip), Sanjay Kukreja, CIO & Global Head of Technology, eClerx and Sunil Kumar, CTO, Shiprocket.
The IT skills gap is a growing challenge due to rapid technological advancements and this conversation explored its impact on businesses and proposed solutions like upskilling/reskilling programs and leveraging AI/cloud platforms to bridge the gap and foster a culture of continuous learning.
The discussion led by Rohan Padi, Partner, Advisory at KPMG on ‘Cultivating a Culture of Ingenuity’ featured Shraddha Ukalkar, CIO, Mercedes Benz and Vinod Sivarama Krishnan, CDIO, Essar. They shared strategies for fostering innovation within organizations, encouraging employees to take calculated risks and think outside the box, while also balancing this with the need for measurable outcomes.
The fireside chat with Manish Gupta, Group CIO of Aditya Birla Group and Vikas Gadre, Sr. Adjunct Faculty at NMIMS, explored how businesses can leverage modernization and transformation to thrive. The discussion provided real-world examples and practical advice for CIOs on enhancing operational efficiency and driving innovation.
Recognizing Excellence and Innovation
The event concluded with the CIO Power List 2024 felicitation ceremony, honoring over 111 CIOs from various industries for their leadership in digital strategies and contributions to their organizations' success.
Using a unique algorithm-based evaluation system, these honourees were recognized in two main categories—Business Icons and Technology Icons, and 37 subcategories including AI Icon, Transformation Icon, Banking Icon, Asset Management Icon, Digital Icon, Healthcare & Pharma Icon, and many more. The winners were appreciated for their contributions and their impact on the business landscape.
Following the prestigious ceremony, attendees enjoyed a vibrant evening of networking, gaining new connections, insights, and inspiration.
Ending on a High Note
The day concluded with a closing keynote by Kunal Pande, Partner at KPMG who highlighted the pressing need for robust cybersecurity measures in today's digital age.
As the curtains fell on CIO Power List 2024, the event once again delivered on its promise, offering a platform for sharing groundbreaking ideas, celebrating achievements, and envisioning the future of technology leadership.
