Editorial
-AlayaBrown
Digitising Tomorrow’s Impact
Itrulybelievethattechnologyholdsthepowertotransformour
worldandthatiswhatishappeningrightnow.Fromthe incorporationofAIintooureverydaylivestotherefinementin automobileindustrywithelectricvehiclesmovingustowards sustainability,everysectorhasbeentransformed.Andthisyearisjust atrailerofhowthefuturewilllooklikewithadvancementin technology.
AndsomeofthesetransformativechangesareleadbysomeforwardthinkingleadersinIndia.Inanerawhereeverydayanew breakthroughisannounced,theseindividualsarenotupdatedwiththe latesttechnology,theyaredevelopinginnovations.Theyanticipate disruptions,decodecomplexcustomerpainpoints,pivotwith precision,anddeliversolutionsthatreshapeindustriesandlives.
Ourlatestedition, India’s Top 5 Transformational Leaders in Technology, 2025,spotlightsexactlysuchtrailblazers.Thesearenot justCEOsorfounderswithimpressivebalancesheets;theyare architectsofthefutureindividualswhohavebuiltworld-class organisationsfromIndiansoilwhilecompeting(andoften outperforming)globalgiants.Theirstoriesrevealthemindset,grit,and strategicforesightrequiredtoleadwhenyesterday’sinnovation becomestoday’scommodity.
Inthepagesahead,you’lldiscoverhowtheybalanceaudaciousvision withoperationalrigor,createculturesoffearlessexperimentation,and remaingroundedamiddizzyingsuccess.Theirjourneysarea masterclassforeveryentrepreneur,intrapreneur,andaspiringleader whobelievesIndianinnovationcanandmustleadtheworld.
AsIndiastridestowardbecomingaglobaltechnologypowerhouse, thesefiveindividualsarenotmerelyparticipatinginthatrise.Theyare acceleratingit.
Turn the page for an inspiring read!
Architecting Innovation at the Forefront of AI and Software Development
Maxson Lewis
Powering India’s EV Ecosystem with Vision and Technology
Rahul Mergu
Building Secure, Scalable, and Future-Ready Tech Ecosystems
Creating Business Impact
Exploring the Strategies of India
Digital Transformation Leaders
Innovating Future Markets
How Emerging Tech Visionaries India Are Shaping the Future of Business
Editor-in-Chief
Managing
Art
Business
Business
Digital
Co-designer
Marketing
Technical
Featuring Person
Ajeet Kumar CEO & Founder
Akhil Singh Co-Founder and CEO
Organisa on
Cyberjeet Pvt Ltd cyberjeet.com
Ques AI ques .com
Maxson Lewis Founder & Chairman
Magenta Mobility magentamobility.com
Rahul Mergu Senior Vice President (Informa on Technology)
Vijay Krishan Gupta Founder & CEO
MarketsandMarkets marketsandmarkets.com
Think Future Technologies tus.com
Brief
Ajeet specializes in cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, and cloud services, offering solu ons like threat detec on, vulnerability assessments, compliance audits, and secure so ware development to protect digital assets and enable business agility.
Akhil develops AI-driven educa on technology that personalizes learning paths, enhances teacher efficiency, and uses data analy cs to improve student outcomes na onwide.
Maxson leads the development of integrated electric vehicle fleets, advanced charging infrastructure, and innova ve technology to enable efficient, sustainable urban logis cs and deliveries in India.
Rahul directs IT infrastructure and cybersecurity ini a ves, leading digital transforma on through cloud adop on and robust security measures, while aligning technology strategies with overall business goals.
Vijay drives innova on by delivering engineering talent and technology solu ons, focusing on product development, AI integra on, and prac cal business transforma on through so ware.
Architecting Innovation at the Forefront of AI and Software Development
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Think Future Technologies
Technologychangesfasterthanmostofuscan handle.Manytrytokeepup,butafewseemtosee thefuturebeforeitarrives.InIndia’schangingtech scene,thebestleadersarenotonlyskilled.Theyalsocarry values,adjustquickly,andstaystrongunderpressure.
VijayKrishanGupta,Founder&ChiefExecutive Officerof ,isoneofthose ThinkFutureTechnologies people.Thegrowthofhiscompanycomesfrommaking productsandservicesthatactuallyhelppeopleinbusiness. Buttherealdifferenceliesinhowheworkswith technology.Hebalancespracticalitywithvisionandalways holdsontotheideathatprogressshouldserveapurpose.
Hisjourneybeganfarfromboardroomsandglobalclients. Bornintoadefensefamily,helearnedearlywhatdiscipline, resilience,andconstantchangelookedlike.Fromhisschool daysinDelhitoheadinganinternationaltechfirm,his journeyhasnotbeenaboutfollowingafixedplan.Ithas beenaboutcuriosity,determination,andmakingtheright choices.Intheend,hisstoryisoneofdailygrowthand helpingothersgrowtoo.
Let’s explore how one leader’s vision and expertise are redefining success in India’s tech ecosystem!
RootsinMovementandDiscipline
Vijay’searlyyearsweredefinedbyalifeofmobility,a hallmarkofadefensefamilyupbringing.“Icomefroma defensefamily—myfatherwasintheAirForce—sowe
movedacrossIndia,”herecalls.Theserelocationsexposed himtovariedculturalcontexts,instillingadaptabilityand resiliencefromayoungage.InDelhi,hewalked approximately1.5kilometerstoandfromschooleach day—asmallbuttellingexampleofdisciplineingrained earlyinlife.Later,whenhisfatherwaspostedto Bangladesh,theexperiencefeltakintolivingabroad,even thoughitwaswithinSouthAsia.
Insixthstandard,hejoinedDhaka’sGreenHerald InternationalSchool,anupscalemissionaryinstitutionwith adiversestudentbodyrepresenting10–15countries.“Many teacherswereIndian,someBangladeshi—highlyeducated andinspiring—andtheschool’sfocusonreading,writing, arithmetic,andstrongvaluesshapedme,”Vijaynotes. Theseformativeyearscultivatedbothacademiccuriosity andaglobalperspective,preparinghimforchallengesthat transcendednationalboundaries.
SubsequentpostingsbroughthimbacktoIndia,through MeerutandDelhi,beforesettlinginKanpurforthe completionofhisseniorsecondaryeducation.This transitorychildhood,whilechallenging,impartedcrucial lessonsinobservation,culturalsensitivity,andthepursuit ofexcellence,whichwouldlaterbecomefoundational pillarsofhisprofessionalphilosophy.
InKanpur,heappliedthesamedisciplineandcuriositythat haddefinedhisschoolingyears,focusinghisenergieson academicsandproblem-solving.Theeffortculminatedin hisadmissiontotheIndianInstituteofTechnologyKanpur,
“Our mission is to be the technology company of choice, delivering great software and services while enjoying the journey.”
oneofthecountry’smostcompetitiveinstitutions.Itwas here,amongsomeofthebrightestmindsinthecountry,that hebeganshapingtheideasandchoicesthatwoulddefine hiscareer
ChoosingthePathLessTravelled
AtIITKanpur,Vijayinitiallysecuredadmissionin mechanicalengineering.However,aseeminglyincidental conversationduringClass11redirectedhiscareer trajectory.HeoverheardadiscussionaboutaKerala-based companycalledSolutron,whichofferedemploymentfor computersciencegraduatesat₹10,000permonth.That snippetofinformationsparkedadeterminationtopivot.
EventhoughcomputersciencewasanascentfieldatIIT during1981,Vijaypursuedabranchchange.Thedecision, whilepractical,alsoreflectedadeepintuitionforemerging opportunities.“Eventhoughcomputersciencewasavery newbranchatIITatthetime—thiswas1981—Iworked hard,gotpermissiontochangemybranch,andswitchedto computerscience.ThatoneconversationIoverheard ultimatelydrovemychoiceofdepartment.”Thisearly instanceofstrategicforesightunderscoreshiscapacityto identifyandactonopportunitiesaheadofthemainstream curve.
FormativeExperiencesandLifelongLessons
Vijay’sformativeyearswerepunctuatedbymomentsthat profoundlyshapedhisworldview.Fromthesirensof1965
inChandigarhtotheanxietiesofthe1971war,herecalls earlyencounterswithuncertaintyandrisk.Theseevents cultivatedbothempathyandcourage,influencinghis approachtoproblem-solvingandleadershipinlateryears.
Hisacademicjourneywasequallytransformative.AtGreen Herald,hestruggledinitiallywithEnglishbutfounda mentorinDr.ShamimAhmad,ayoungMBBSstudent. Throughstructuredteachingandmotivationalquizzes,Dr. Ahmadinstilledbothdisciplineandcuriosity.Vijayrecalls, “Inseventhayoungteacher,Dr.ShamimAhmad—an MBBSstudent,about19—changedthings:in45-minute classeshetaught~40minutes,thensprangaquiz,and toppersor10/10scorersearnedlarge,high-qualityposters ofairplanesandcars(oftenfighterplanes).Itwashugely motivating;wehadseveralclasseswithhimdaily,and that’swhenIreallytookoff.”
SisterImalda,theprincipal,providedfurtherguidancein precisionandexecution.Azeroonhisfirstessaydueto illegiblehandwritingbecameanopportunitytolearn calligraphyandperfectpresentation.Theseexperiences impartedenduringlessonsindiligence,attentiontodetail, andthepowerofincrementalimprovement.
Amongthephilosophicaltenetsthatstayedwithhim,one standsout:“Competewithyourself”—alessonemphasizing self-improvementoverexternalcomparison.Hecreditsthis adviceforshapinghisethosbothpersonallyand professionally,teachinghimtomeasureprogressthrough self-reflectionratherthanexternalbenchmarks.
“Don’t compete with others. Compete with yourself. Make yourself better—every day.”
TheSparkofTechnologicalCuriosity
VijayattributeshisinitialfascinationwithtechnologytoDr ShamimAhmad,whointroducedhimto How Things Work, abookthatexplainsmechanicalandfunctionalprinciples. “ThankstoDr.ShamimAhmad,Ialsodiscoveredthebook HowThingsWork,whichexplainshowvirtuallyanything functions.Itsparkedmyinterestinengineeringandtaught methatthingsarelogical,engineered,andfollow physics—soyoucanworkbackwardtofixorunderstand them.”Thisearlyengagementwithsystemsandlogiclaid thegroundworkforhiseventualcareerincomputerscience andentrepreneurship.
FromEmployeetoEntrepreneur
Initially,entrepreneurshipseemedanabstractconcept, distantandcapital-intensive.Graduatinginthemid-1980s, Vijayaimedforasecurejob.Hisprofessionaljourney beganwitharoleatanAppledistributorinIndia,wherehe workedonlibraryautomationandmulti-languagesoftware. By1989,theadventofWindowsPCsofferedan opportunitytoleverageexistingknowledgeintoproduct development.
Recognizingamarketneedandamomentoftechnological alignment,heandhiscolleaguesdecidedtobootstrap.This pragmaticapproachmarkedthebeginningofaseriesof successfulventures,includingInPage.com.Vijayreflects, “Customerpulldroveit.WithWindowsnewlyoutand pricedformassadoption(Applewas3–4timescostlier),a
“I don’t chase headcount or revenue; I chase great software, great service, and a rewarding journey.”
Windowsproductwouldscale;wehadavalidatedproblem, andtheonlyquestionwasdeliveryspeed.No epiphany—justrightplace,righttime,andapragmatic choicetobootstrapandgetahead.”
LessonsfromBuildingInPage.com
ThedevelopmentofInPage.comillustratedcrucial entrepreneuriallessons,particularlythepitfallsof perfectionism.Despitebeginningworkin1991,the product’slaunchfaceddelaysduetoexcessiverefinement byhisIITbatchmate.Byinstitutingahard deadline—bookingaboothatPragatiMaidan—Vijay enforcedadisciplinedreleaseschedule.“Perfectionisthe enemyofgood,”heexplains.Thestrategypaidoff:early customersvalidatedtheproduct’svalue,anditwentonto dominateDOS-basedcompetitors,atestamenttotheimpact oftimelyexecutionoveridealizeddesign.
TheGenesisofThinkFutureTechnologies
Followingsuccesswithmultipleproducts,Vijayrealized scalingbeyondInPage.comrequiredadifferentapproach. Heandhisteamshiftedfromproductownershipto providingproductdevelopmentservicesforclients—a modelthatleveragedtheirexpertisewithoutnecessitating substantialcapitalinvestment.Thus,ThinkFuture Technologieswasborn.Thecompany’sfirstbusiness originatedthroughIITalumninetworks,demonstratingthe enduringvalueofprofessionalrelationships.
Frominception,Vijay’svisionemphasizedpeopleand process.Henotes,“Fromdayonewe’vebeenemployeefirst—ourpeopleareoureyesandearswith customers—andbycaringfor,understanding,andtraining themwell,theydelivergreatcustomerexperiences.”This philosophyunderpinsthefirm’sapproach,creatingaculture ofownershipandinnovation.
EvolvingVisionandStrategy
Overtheyears,TFThasshiftedfromaproduct-first orientationtoaservices-ledmodel,whileretaininga productcapability Thisevolutionreflectsmarkettrends whereintegration,composability,andcustomerexperience oftensupersedestandaloneproductofferings.
Leadershipchallenges,particularlyintheearlystages, requiredVijaytobedeeplyinvolvedinhiring,onboarding, andmentorship.Hesharesapivotalmemory:“Istill rememberoursecondhire:asharp-lookingcandidate walkedinwithhisrésumé,saidhewaslookingforajob, andwehiredhim.Heopenedoureyestowhatwe’dbeen missingwhilelaser-focusedonproducts—Java,Eclipse,the broaderecosystem—andfromtherewereallyscaledup.” Suchengagementsexemplifyhiscommitmenttonurturing talentwhilemaintainingstrategicfocus.
BalancingInnovationandStability
AcentraltenetofVijay’sleadershipissafeguarding operationalstabilitywhilefosteringinnovation.Helikens thistobuildingacake:“Thinkofacake:thebasematters
most;creamandicingareextras.Wefocusonthe base—projectsrunningwellandcustomerscared for—whichcreatesroomtoinnovate.”Innovation,inhis framework,isincremental,practical,andorientedtoward measurableimprovementsincost,time,orquality
ThisphilosophyhasenabledTFTtoexploreareaslikeRPA (AutomationTwin)andhealthcaresolutions(YHealth), leveragingbenchstrengthforparalleldevelopmentwhile sustainingclientsatisfactionandoperationalreliability.
AdaptingtoUnforeseenChallenges
TheCOVID-19pandemictestedTFT’spreparednessand resilience.Fortunately,thecompany’sprioradoptionof flexibleworkarrangementsandlaptopissuanceensured minimaldisruption.Safety,work-lifebalance,andstrategic costmanagement—suchashalvingofficespace—allowed TFTtonavigatethecrisiseffectively Theexperience reinforcedtheimportanceofforesight,agility,and employee-centricpoliciesinsustainingbusinesscontinuity
Long-TermVisionandPhilosophy
Vijay’sapproachtolong-termplanningeschewsrigid targetsinfavorofquality,adaptability,andvaluecreation. HeemphasizesculturaladoptionofAIandcontinuous incrementalimprovement:“Ifsomethingtakesanhour today,makeit59minutestomorrow;ifyoushippedthree bugs,aimforzeronexttime.”Thismindsetreflectshis broadervisionofpositioningTFTasthetechnology companyofchoicefordiverseclients,focusingondomain
“Triangulate your answers—verify them from another path until they make practical sense.”
depthandpracticalsolutionsratherthanmerelyexpanding headcountorrevenue.
GuidingPrinciplesandLeadershipValues
TwoqualitiesdefineVijay’sleadership:fairnessand integrity.Inmomentsofconflictordecision-making,he asks,“AmIbeingfair?”andensuresalignmentwithboth employeeinterestsandorganizationalobjectives. Meticulousadherencetocommitmentsreinforcestrustand credibility,settingatonethatpermeatesthecompany culture.Thesevaluesnotonlyinforminternaldynamicsbut alsoshapeclientrelationshipsandstrategicpartnerships.
FutureTrendsandOpportunities
Lookingahead,VijayisparticularlyexcitedaboutAIand theopen-sourcemovement.Reflectingonhistorical experiencewithpattern-matchingEnglish-to-Hindi translation,henotes,“What’schangedwithGenAIisreal languageunderstanding...Thatshiftunlockshuge possibilities:computersalreadyoperateatscaleandspeed; addlanguageunderstandingandyougetagenticAI,onfloorassistants,evenrobots.”Complementingthisisthe democratizationoftechnologyviaopen-source contributions,whichacceleratesinnovationandreduces
entrybarriersfor emergingteams.
LessonsLearnedand Advicefor Entrepreneurs
Somelessonscome hardbutleavelasting impact.Vijayrecallsa strugglewith mathematicsinClass7, whichtaughthimthe importanceof triangulation—verifyin gresultsagainstreality. “Thathabitofpractical verificationchanged everything—bythe final,Iscored 95/100—andthelesson hasstayedwithme eversince.”
Toyoungentrepreneurs,heofferspragmaticcounsel:avoid redundantreinvention,understandcustomerneeds,and prioritizedeliveringtangiblevaluebeforeseekingexternal funding.“Createsomethingvaluablefirst.Ifcustomerswill pay,you’veprovenworth—thencapitalfollows.”Speed, practicaliteration,anddemonstrableoutcomesremainhis cornerstonerecommendationsfornavigatingtoday’sfastpacedtechlandscape.
ALegacyofPracticalInnovation
Vijay’sjourney,fromamobilechildhoodanddisciplined schoolingtopioneeringsoftwareproductsandleading ThinkFutureTechnologies,exemplifiestheintersectionof curiosity,strategy,andhuman-centeredleadership.His storyunderscoresthattechnologicaltransformationisnot merelyaboutcodeorcapital—itisacumulativeeffectof experiences,mentorship,ethicalgrounding,andthecourage toactpragmatically ThroughTFT,Vijaycontinuestoblend innovationwithoperationalexcellence,inspiringanew generationofleaderstobalanceambitionwithintegrity, foresightwithadaptability,andhumanvalueswith technologicaladvancement.
Mr.MaxsonLewis Founder&Chairman
MagentaMobility
MaxsonLewisistheFounderandChairmanof MagentaMobility,India’slargestelectric vehiclecargofleetoperator Amechanical engineerfromMumbaiUniversityandanMBAgraduate fromIIMMumbai,Maxson’scareerspansovertwo decadesintheautomotive,technology,andenergysectors. Hebeganhisprofessionaljourneywithfiveyearsinthe automotiveindustry,followedby15yearsatAccenture ManagementConsulting,whereheledtechnologyand electricitytransformationprojectsacrossglobalmarkets, includingCanada,Singapore,Australia,HongKong,the USA,andtheUK.
Theturningpointinhiscareercamewiththerealization that“electricityisthenewoil.”Drivenbythisconviction, MaxsonreturnedtoIndiatoestablishMagentaMobility. Today,underhisleadership,Magentahasevolvedintoa technology-drivenlogisticsplatformmanagingoneof India’slargestEVfleets,alongwithadvancedcharging infrastructureanddrivermanagementsystems.Hisjourney fromautomotivetotechnologytoenergyhasmadethe creationofMagentaanaturalculminationofhisexpertise andvision.
Let’s delve into the interview details below!
Howwouldyoudescribeyourleadershipstyle,andhow hasitevolvedovertheyears?
Iseeleadershipasacontinuouslyevolvingprocess.Inmy earlyyearsasaclassrepresentativeduringengineeringand laterasVicePresidentatIIMMumbai,leadershipmeant leadingfromthefrontandbringingpeoplealong,even withoutformalauthority.
“Technology will be the saviour for businesses and societies, and the speed at which we adopt it will directly define the speed at which we succeed.”
MyreallearningbeganatAccenture,whereIworkedwith globalCXOsandledteamsof200+peopleacross geographies.Thatexperiencetaughtmetwofundamentals thatIcarryeventoday:aleadermustbetruetothemselves andtheirteam,andhonesty,aboutsuccessesaswellas mistakesbuildslastingtrust.
AtMagenta,mystylehasfurtherevolved.WhileItake responsibilityfordecisions,Ihavebecomefarmore consensus-driven.I’verealizedthatgreatideascancome fromanywhere,andthebestoutcomesemergewhenyou respectdiverseperspectives.Today,myleadershipisa balancei.e.,collaborativeandinclusive,butfirmwhenit matters.
Whathasbeenthemosttransformativeinitiativeor projectyou’veled,andwhatimpactdiditcreatefor yourorganizationorindustry?
Themosttransformativejourneyformehasbeenbuilding Magentaoverthepasteightyears.Icallitmy“P2Pjourney -“ProprietortoPyun”-leadingfromthetop,butalso rollingupmysleevesatthegroundlevel.
ComingfromAccenture,whereIworkedwithglobal leadersonhigh-impactprojects,entrepreneurshipwasa completelydifferentchallenge.Itrequiredunlearningthe corporatewayandrelearninghowtobuildfromscratch. Thatprocesshastransformedmepersonally,whilealso shapingMagentaand,inasmallway,theEVecosystemin India.
Withoutoverstatingit,IbelievebothMagentaandIhave playedaroleinchanginghowpeoplethinkaboutEVsin thiscountry
Whichemergingtechnologiesdoyoubelievewill redefinetheindustryinthenext5–10years,andwhy?
Twostandoutforme.
First,intheEVandenergyspace,it’sbatterytechnology. Thewaywestoreandconsumeenergyisundergoinga fundamentalshift.Justasmobilephonesturnedeveryone intoa“batterycarrier,”EVsareevolvingwithhigherdensitybatteries,smarterBMSsystems,andinnovative chemistries.Thefutureliesincompact,high-capacity batteriesthatcanstoremoreenergy,chargefaster,and dispenseitefficiently.Thatwillcompletelyredefine mobilityandenergyusage.
Second,beyondmyindustry,IbelievetherealgamechangerisArtificialIntelligence.Afterlanguage, mathematics,andcomputing,AIisthenextleapfor humanity.It’salreadytransforminghowwethink,learn, andoperate,andwe’reonlyscratchingthesurfaceofits potential.Fromsimplifyingtaskstoenablingentirelynew waysofproblem-solving,AIwillfundamentallyreshape industriesandsocieties.
Inshort:batterieswilltransformhowwemove,AIwill transformhowwelive.
Whatmajorchallengeshaveyoufacedwhile implementingtechnologicaltransformations,andhow didyouovercomethem?
Inmy15yearsatAccentureandthelasteightyearsat Magenta,I’veneverseentechnologyitselfasthechallenge, itkeepsevolving.IstartedwithGW-BASICwritingmy owncode,andtodaywehaveAIwritingcodeforus.The realchallengehasalwaysbeenadoption
Toooften,peopleviewtechnologydefensivelyasathreat ratherthanasanenabler.We’veseenthispatternbefore: computerswereoncefearedfortakingawayjobs,yetthey endedupcreatingentirelynewindustriesandefficiencies. ThesamenarrativeisrepeatingtodaywithAI.
InmarketslikeIndia,thischallengeissharperbecause technologyoftencompeteswithlow-costhumanlabour, whichmakesadoptionslower.Buttherealopportunitylies inseeingtechnologynotasareplacement,butasa multiplier,improvingpeople,businesses,andthesystems aroundthem.Thatmindsetshifthasbeen,andwillremain, thebiggesttechnologychallenge.
Howdoyoufosterinnovationandcollaborationwithin yourteam,especiallyinarapidlychanging technologicallandscape?
Magentaoperatesinaverytraditionallogisticsindustry where,eventoday,manyoperatorsstilltrackvehiclesby simplycallingdrivers.Fromthebeginning,wesetouttobe differentandtobuildacompanythatoperatessafely, smartly,andsustainably
Thatmeantputtingtechnologyatthecore.Weinvested earlyinourowntelematicsplatformcalledNormic,which notonlytracksvehiclesbutalsomonitorscritical parameterssuchasbatteryhealthandtemperature,enabling proactiveinterventions.Wealsodevelopedaseamless drivermanagementplatformbyintegratingtoolslike DigiLockerlongbeforetheybecamemainstream,making onboardingandcomplianceassimpleasafewclicks.
IntheEVchargingspaceaswell,manyoftheplatforms usedinIndiatodayarebuiltonconceptsfirstintroducedby Magentain2018.Forus,technologyisnotanadd-on;itis thebackbonethatallowsscale,efficiency,andreliabilityin anindustrythathashistoricallyresisteddigitaladoption.
Whatadvicewouldyougiveaspiringtechnologyleaders whowanttomakeasignificantimpactinthefield?
Technology,whilepowerful,isoftenoneofthemost inhumansystemsiflookedatinisolation.Adoption, however,requiresaveryhumanapproach.Gettingpeople onboardisboththebiggestchallengeandthebiggest successfactor
AtMagenta,wefocusoncreatingaclearmandate, providingtraining,and,mostimportantly,keepingchannels openforideastoflowfromthegroundup.Someofourbest innovationshavecomefrompeoplewhousethesystems everyday.Forexample,adriveroncetoldus,“Icannot
keeptypingandtappingsomuch,makeitsimpler.”That insightledustoredesignourplatformtobemoreintuitive.
Iliketocallitmakingsystems“I-proof,”notina derogatoryway,butasaremindertomyselfthattechnology shouldalwaysbesimple,intuitive,andalmostselfexplanatory.ThatishowwefosteradoptionatMagenta:by ensuringtechnologyadaptstopeople,nottheotherway around.
Lookingahead,whatisyourvisionforthefutureof technology,andhowwouldyoulikeyourworktobe remembered?
Justaselectricitybecamethenewoil,todaytechnologyhas becometheultimateenabler.Itisnolongeroptionalitis mandatory.Technologywillbethesaviourforbusinesses andsocieties,andthespeedatwhichweadoptitwill directlydefinethespeedatwhichwesucceed.
Exploring the Strategies of India Digital Transformation Leaders
Inthe21stcentury,India’sdigitalrevolutionhasbecomeoneofthe strongestforcesforeconomic,social,andtechnologicalgrowth. Whatbeganasanefforttoimproveinfrastructurehasturnedintoa nationwidemovementchanginghowcitizens,businesses,and governmentsconnectandoperate.In2025,IndiaDigital TransformationLeadersarenotonlydrivingbusinesssuccessbutalso reshapingthenation’seconomyandsociety,makingdigitalinclusiona foundationofnationalprogress.
The article focuses on how India Digital Transformation Leaders are leading innovation, customer focus, and collaboration to build sustainable businesses and create a more connected and inclusive digital future for the country.
TheDigitalTransformationImperative
DigitaltransformationinIndiagoesbeyondsimplyusingnew technologies.Itmarksatotalshiftinhoworganizationsoperate,with cloudcomputing,dataanalytics,IoT,andblockchaindrivingthe change.India’sgoalofachievinga$1trilliondigitalGDPby2025 reflectsitsdeterminationtobuildgrowthonthreestrongpillars: reliabledigitalinfrastructure,equalaccesstodigitalandfinancial services,andwidespreaddigitalliteracy
Thisgrowingdigitalecosystemsupportsorganizationsthatcombine technologywithinclusion.Themostsuccessfulamongthem,theIndia DigitalTransformationLeaders,turndigitalopportunitiesintoreal businessvalueandsocialprogressthroughinnovation,customerfocus, andcollaboration.
KeyStrategiesofDigitalLeaders
• InnovationasaGrowthCatalyst
InnovationinIndiadoesnotonlystopatthelevelofaproject;itisa cultureofthetopcompaniesinIndia.Theyleveragetechnologyto streamlinebusinessandmaketheiroperationsmoreefficient,andcreate newbusinessmodelsthatrevolutionizebusiness.
Otherexamplesofthesuccessfulresultsofstrategic innovationarecompaniessuchasTataConsultancy Services(TCS).Theprocessofworkflowdigitizationand theautomationofthecoreprocesseshelpedthecompanyto improveitsproduction,reducecosts,anddefinetheculture ofconstantimprovement.Theseindicatorsprovethat operationalexcellenceislong-termandcanbecreated throughlong-termplanningoftechnologyusage.
• Customer-CentricDigitalization
Everysuccessfuldigitaltransformationstartswith understandingthecustomer.IndiaDigitalTransformation Leadersfocusonpeople,notjustsystems,whendesigning theirdigitalstrategies.
Paytm,aleaderindigitalpayments,followsthiscustomerfirstapproach.Byemphasizingsimplicity,safety,and accessibility,Paytmmadedigitalpaymentspossiblefor millionswhohadneverusedsuchservicesbefore.Itslocal languageoptionsandpartnershipswithsmallandlarge businessesalikehelpedturnmobilepaymentsintoa nationwidehabitandatoolforfinancialinclusion.
Thispeople-focusedapproachgoesfarbeyondfinance. Acrossretail,healthcare,andeducation,digitalleadersare usingtechnologytosimplifyeverydaylifeandoffermore personalizedexperiences.
• Data-DrivenDecisionMaking
Datanowdrivesbusinesssuccess.Companieslike BigBasketandShoppersStopuseanalyticsandIoTto improveinventory,personalizemarketing,andmanage logisticsmoreefficiently Thesedata-ledmethodshelp businessesreducewaste,improveservicequality,andmake faster,smarterdecisions.
Theinsight-drivenapproachofIndiaDigital TransformationLeadersshowshowdataturnsuncertainty intoopportunity.Byusingaccurateinformationandhuman expertisetogether,businessescanstayaheadofchanging marketsandcustomerneeds.
• ThePowerofPartnerships
Changewillbesuccessfulwhenteamworkisinplay.Indian digitalleaderswillinglyengagewithtechnologycompanies, educationalinstitutions,andgovernmentagenciestobring newideasandensurethattheyhaveamassimpact.These partnerships,beitinthemanufactureofthedigital
instrumentsortheassociationwiththesocialprograms, provideIndiawithanextrapushasfarastheinternational digitaleconomyisconcerned.
Thesepartnershipsalsoaddressabroaderobjective,which istomakethecountrydigitallyempowered.These organizationsensureabalanceddevelopmentof communitiesandbusinessesbyensuringthattheinterests ofbotharecompatiblewithnationalinterests.
ChallengesandtheWayForward
Indiaisyettoovercomethechallengeofdigital transformationdespiteitsstrides.Someorganizationsfailto adaptduetooldhabitsandsystems.Inresponse,India DigitalTransformationLeadersinvestintraining,change managementandlifelonglearningsoastoallowemployees tobetechnologysavvy.
Anothersignificantthreatiscybersecurity Tryingtobuild thetrustofthepopulation,businessesareenhancingthe securityoftheirdataandsurveillance.Theproblemofskill gapshasalsoappearedtobeurgent,andcompaniesare moreconcernedwiththeprocessofupskillingtoprepare workersfordigitaljobs.Simultaneously,organizationsare modernizingold-fashionedsystemsbyconnectingthe traditionalplatformswiththenewonlinesolutionsto establishasmoothbusiness.
Conclusion
IndiaDigitalTransformationLeadersjourneyisnotabout makingaprofit,butaboutanationaltransformationtowards innovationsandinclusiveness.Theirworkdemonstrates howtechnologycanempowerpeopleandmakeeconomies strongwhenemployedwithpurposeandvision.
TheseleadershaveturnedIndiaintoadigitalexcellence modelbyencouraginginnovation,collaboration,and customerorientation.Theirexperienceteachestheworlda lot:intheeventthattechnologyisusedbypeopleand improvement,itisarealgrowthengineandcollective prosperity
India’s Top 5 Transformational Leaders in Technology, 2025
RAHUL MERGU Building Secure, Scalable, and Future-Ready Tech Ecosystems
Digitalecosystemstodayshapebusinessstrength andmodernleadershipcomesfromindividuals whoblendstrategicvisionwithresilienceand innovation.AmongthemstandsRahulMergu,a transformativepresenceintheITworldandtheSeniorVice PresidentofInformationTechnologyat MarketsandMarkets.Hisjourneybeganwithastrong interestinusingtechnologytosolvereal-worldproblems, aninterestsparkedduringhisearlyyearsincoreIT operations.Theseearlyexperiencessharpenedhistechnical skillsandguidedhismissiontobuildsecure,scalable,and future-readytechnologyenvironments.
Ashiscareerprogressed,Rahulhelpedorganizationsgrow bymodernizinginfrastructure,advancingcloudadoption, andstrengtheningcybersecurity.Heledmajorinitiatives thatimprovedglobaloperationsandreshapedtechnology frameworks.HisleadershipinimplementingZeroTrust securityearnedhimtheISMGDynamicCISOAward,akey milestoneinhisprofessionaljourney
Rahulhasbecomeanaward-winningtechnologyleaderand avaluedparticipantintheindustrytoday.At MarketsandMarkets,oneoftheleadingnamesinmarket researchandconsulting,hecontinuestodrivedigital transformation,improveresilience,andguideteamstoward amoreefficientandfuture-readytechnologyindustry
Let’s explore his perspectives, experiences and the leadership principles that drive his work.
Canyoubrieflyintroduceyourselfandsharethe journeythatledyoutoyourcurrentroleinthe technologysector?
MynameisRahulMergu,andI’vebuiltmycareeratthe intersectionofITInfrastructure,Cybersecurity,and DigitalTransformation.Overtheyears,Ihaveledlarge-
scaletechnologyfunctionsacrossglobalenvironments, workingwithGCCs,enterpriseorganizations,andhighly regulatedsectors.
Myjourneystartedwithapassionforhowtechnologycan solvereal-worldbusinesschallenges.IbeganincoreIT operations,movedintoinfrastructuremodernization,and eventuallytransitionedintoseniorleadership,overseeing strategicITprograms,cloudinitiatives,cybersecurity frameworks,andhigh-availabilityinfrastructure.
WithcertificationslikeCISMandCCISO,anddeephandsonexpertiseinAWSandAzure,Ihaveevolvedintoa technologyleaderknownforstrengtheningresilience, optimizingcost,andenablingscalabledigitalecosystems.
Howwouldyoudescribeyourleadershipstyle,andhow hasitevolvedovertheyears?
Myleadershipstyleiscollaborative,transparent,and outcome-driven Ibelieveinempoweringteamsthroughclarity, accountability,andinnovation.
Overtheyears,asIworkedwithdiverseteamsandglobal stakeholders,mystyleevolvedfromtask-oriented leadershiptostrategic,people-firstleadership,onethat focuseson:
• Guidingteamswithvision,notjustinstructions
• Buildingtrustandpsychologicalsafety
• Encouragingacultureofexperimentation
• Aligningtechnologyinitiativeswithbusinessvalue
Ileadwiththemindsetof“enable,empower,elevate.”
Whathasbeenthemosttransformativeinitiativeor projectyou’veled,andwhatimpactdiditcreatefor yourorganizationorindustry?
OneofthemosttransformativeinitiativesIledwasthe end-to-endmodernizationofaglobalITInfrastructure ecosystem,including:
• Migrationtohybridcloud(AWS/Azure)
• ImplementingZeroTrustArchitecture
• Strengtheningcybersecurityposture
• Achievinginternationalcompliancestandards(ISO 27001:2022,GDPR,ISO27701)
• Improvinguptimeto99.99%
• ReducingIToperationalcostsby30%throughcloud optimization
Thisinitiativenotonlyimprovedresilienceandsecuritybut alsoacceleratedtheorganization’sdigitalroadmap, enablingbusinessunitstoscalefaster,innovatequicker,and operatewithgreaterefficiency.
Whichemergingtechnologiesdoyoubelievewill redefinetheindustryinthenext5–10years,andwhy?
Ibelievethefollowingtechnologieswillreshapethefuture:
1.GenerativeAI&AutonomousAIAgents
Transformingoperations,cybersecurity,decision-making, andcustomerexperience.
2.EdgeComputing
Reducedlatencyandimprovedreal-timedataprocessing forIoT,manufacturing,andautomation.
3.ZeroTrust&AdaptiveSecurity
Securityarchitecturesdrivenbyidentity,posture,and continuousvalidation.
4.Cloud-NativeInfrastructure(Serverless,Containers,AIOps)
Highlyscalable,efficientplatformsenablingrapid developmentandDevSecOps.
5.QuantumComputing
Settoredefinecryptography,simulations,and computationalproblem-solving.
Thesetechnologieswillcreatesmarter,resilient,andhyperautomatedenterprises.
Whatmajorchallengeshaveyoufacedwhile implementingtechnologicaltransformations,andhow didyouovercomethem?
Someofthebiggestchallengesinclude:
1.Resistancetochange
Handledthroughstrongcommunication,stakeholder alignment,andphasedrollout.
2.Legacysystemscomplexity
Overcomebycarefulplanning,architectureassessment,and hybridtransitionmodels.
3.Budget&resourceconstraints
Solvedviaoptimization,automation,andprioritizing business-criticalprojects.
4.Cybersecuritygaps
AddressedbyimplementingZeroTrust,governance frameworks,andpolicyenforcement.
5.Talentreadiness
Investedinupskillingprograms,certifications,andhandsoncapabilitybuilding.
Thekeyhasalwaysbeenclearstrategy,risk management,andstronggovernance.
Howdoyoufosterinnovationandcollaborationwithin yourteam,especiallyinarapidlychanging technologicallandscape?
Ipromoteacultureofinnovationthrough:
• Opencommunicationandidea-drivendiscussions
• Allowingteamstoexperimentwithoutfearoffailure
• Cross-functionalcollaborationbetweenIT,Security, Cloud,andBusinessunits
• Weeklyinnovationsessionsandproblem-solving workshops
• Recognizingandrewardingnewideas
• Givingownershipandautonomytoteammembers
Myphilosophy: Innovation happens when people feel empowered, trusted, and valued.
Innovation happens when people feel empowered, trusted, and valued. “
Whatadvicewouldyougiveaspiringtechnologyleaders whowanttomakeasignificantimpactinthefield?
Myadviceis:
• Staycurious-technologyevolvesfast.
• Masterthefundamentalsofcloud,cybersecurity, andAI-thesearenon-negotiableskills.
• Developstrongcommunicationandleadershipskills -theymatterasmuchastechnicaldepth.
• Thinkbusiness-first,technology-second-solve problems,don’tjustdeploytools.
• Buildrelationshipsandnetworks-leadershipis collaborative.
• Focusonintegrity,influence,andinnovation-these definelong-termsuccess.
Lookingahead,whatisyourvisionforthefutureof technology,andhowwouldyoulikeyourworktobe remembered?
Myvisionistobuildsecure,intelligent,cloud-first,AIpoweredenterprisesthatareresilient,sustainable,and future-ready.
Iwantmyworktoberememberedfor:
• Transformingtechnologyintoabusinessenabler
• Buildingstrong,motivatedteams
• Enhancingcybersecurityandoperationalresilience
• Drivinginnovationanddigitalgrowth
• Leavingbehindsystemsthatscaleandevolvelong aftermytenure
Ultimately,Iaspiretobeknownasaleaderwho empoweredpeople,modernizedtechnology,andcreated lastingorganizationalimpact
How Emerging Tech Visionaries India Are Shaping the Future of Business
Indiaisstandingontheedgeofatechnological renaissance.Acrossthenation,anewgenerationof innovatorsisreimaginingwhat’spossibleby combiningadvancedcomputing,digitalinfrastructure,and localcreativity.TheseEmergingTechVisionariesIndiaare notonlytransformingthewaythecompaniesoperate,they arealsotransformingtheenterpriseitself,establishinga modelthatincorporatestechnology,socialinfluenceand sustainabledevelopment.
This article discusses the role of the technology leaders in India in creating a movement toward innovation as opposed to outsourcing to fuel new start-ups, digital infrastructure, and inclusive growth to create a smarter, more connected future.
FromOutsourcingtoInnovationPowerhouse
Foryears,Indiawasknownastheworld’soutsourcing center,anessentialpartnerforglobalITservices.Thatstory hasnowevolved.Thetechnologyindustryofthenationhas emergedasadynamiccenterofinnovation, entrepreneurship,anddigitalrevolution.
Themodern-dayvisionariesdonotmerelyservetosustain systemsonbehalfofotherpeople;theyarethecreatorsof newproducts,platforms,andideasthatdrivemarkets aroundtheglobe.Thistransformationisnowledby automationanddata-driventools.
TheCloudandComputingRevolution
Attheheartofthechangeliesthepowerofcloud computingandadvancedanalytics,twokeyforcesshaping India’sdigitalfuture.Cloudservicesenablestart-upsto scalewithoutbiginvestmentsandenablethemtointroduce productsquicker,enhanceperformanceandaccess customersglobally.Theinnovationofrobotics, interconnecteddevices,andreal-timedataprocessingis assistingIndianbusinessesintranscendingtraditional boundaries.
Factoriesaremoreefficient,citiesaremanagingservicesin abetterway,andfarmsareutilizingtechnologyinorderto enhanceproductivity.FromthefieldsofPunjabtothesmart gridsofBengaluru,digitaltoolsareclosinggapsand deliveringrealresults.TheEmergingTechVisionariesIndia understandthatdigitalintelligencedrivesprogress.
InnovationwithIndianDNA
WhatmakesIndia’snewgenerationoftechnologistsstand outistheirfocusoncontextualinnovation.Withthe resourcefulandinnovativejugaadmentalityofthecountry, theycreatetechnologythataddressespracticalratherthan theoreticalconcerns.Theirinventionsareusuallylocalized, buthavescaledgloballytofulfilldifferentneeds,including low-costmedicaldevicesorgreenenergysystems.
Thisattitudeplayswellintheincreasinglycollaborative cultureinIndia.Thereiscollaborationbetweenstartups,big corporations,aswellasuniversitieslikeneverbefore. Alliancesbetweenold-worldandnew-worlddigital innovatorsareleadingtonewconceptsinagriculture, logistics,education,andothers.Theoutcomeisan inclusive,flexible,andperson-centredinnovation movement.
ThedigitalpublicinfrastructureofIndiahasalteredthe gameaswell.PlatformssuchasAadhaar,UPI,andONDC showhowopen,scalablesystemscanservebothnational andinternationalusers.Thesemodelsarenotonlyboosting theeconomyofIndiabutalsogivingothernationsan exampleofhowtheEmergingTechVisionariesIndiaare settinganewglobalbenchmarkondigitalgrowthand inclusion.
Startups,Scale,andSocialImpact
India’sstartupscenecapturesthespiritofanationin motion.InnovationhasbecomeanidentityofIndia,where
thereareover100,000startupsandmorethan110unicorns. GlobalCapabilityCenters(GCCs)aretheonesbehindthe productdevelopmentoflargeglobalbrands,andcloud serviceprovidersareever-expandingtheirinvestmentsin thecountry
Outsideofthelargecompanies,therearethousandsof smallbusinessesandlocalentrepreneurswhoareutilizing digitaltoolstoexpandtheirservices,generateemployment, andenhancelivelihood.Intelligentsystemsnowactas creativepartners,helpingprofessionalsdesign,build,and deliversolutionsfasterandmoreefficiently
ChallengesandtheRoadAhead
Despitethisexcellentadvancement,therearestill challenges.Modernizationofoldsystems,datasecurityand datatransparencycontinuetobeachallengetomost organizations.Indiamustretainitstrust,ethics,andlongtermresponsibilitybaseinordertoensureitsdigital transformationissuccessful.
Educationanddigitalliteracyarejustasimportant.People acrossallwalksoflife,fromstudentstoexecutives,need theskillstounderstandandshapethetechnologytheyuse. TheEmergingTechVisionariesIndiaknowthattechnology alonecannotdrivethefuture.Themostimportantthingis thewayinwhichitisresponsiblyandcreativelyused. SinceIndiaisinthetransitionphaseofthedigitalera,the emphasisshouldbeonestablishingsystemsthatare equitable,transparent,andinclusive.
Conclusion
India’stechnologicalriseismorethananeconomicstory;it representsasocialandculturaltransformation.The innovatorsofthenationareestablishingnewstandardsof efficiency,inclusiveness,andsustainabilitythatareglobal. Theirworkintegratesahighleveloftechnologywith extensiveknowledgeofhumanneeds,andtheydevelop solutionsthatarehelpfultothebusinessandsociety.
WiththebarriersbeingbrokenbyEmergingTech VisionariesIndia,itiscreatingafuturewhereinnovation drivesthegrowth,everybodyhastheopportunity,and technologyisacompanionofcommondevelopment.India isnolongerjustpartoftheglobaldigitalrevolution;itis helpingleaditwithconfidence,purpose,andvision.
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