Ability of the leader to think about how technology can be used has changed

As the corporate landscape in Asia develops rapidly, CEO goals and responsibilities might need to shift.

The main concerns of corporate leaders in Asia are how to resolve performance problems that predated the pandemic and how to position themselves for success in a time that may be unstable, marked by accelerated technological change and imperilled by the existential threat of climate change.

Ramarao Suresh, Managing Director, Insist Consulting, gives an in-depth view of the paradigm shifts in leadership since the pandemic and the outlook on leadership roles.

Given that there are sweeping technology changes undertaken in the past two years, there is a completely diverse way of looking at employment and leadership, could you give us your views on it?

Technology changes have initially affected the industries that use it to run their own operations and communicate with customers. Developers like Google and others have been affected later.

Second, even the most established organisations are feeling the effects of the disruption; there is no escaping the fact that how these businesses respond will be visible to the rest of the world going forward.

What are the leadership opportunities available for white-collared executives across multiple domains?

Every aspect is on the shoulders of the white collars, who are also accountable for creating goals for the shareholders and meeting their expectations. For those who can perceive the goal of the company and fulfilling the shareholders, opportunities are available.

Since we used to see things like carbon footprints and other environmental issues as purely theoretical, businesses are increasingly paying close attention to environmental tech.

Companies are increasingly experimenting with chemistry and technology. This will require talent and will present more prospects.

In the fields of engineering, data creation, etc., there is a distinct labour shortage.

There is a definite shortage of people in data creation, engineering etc. The traditional talent clusters like banking or software systems will need more talent so I think India is in a very good place in terms of opportunities right now.

Are executives moving to leadership roles based on merit or seniority what is your take on it?

Seniority is a rule that is observed throughout the world; we always assumed that because of its experience, it would have the upper hand.

The ability of the leader to think about how technology can be used as a weapon has changed the seniority in business, which I believe will give the younger talent an advantage. However, with technology now controlling the organisation, you must have e-commerce and supply chains.

A conventional leader cannot perform all automated systems. India will have speed factories, smart factories, integrated design and manufacturing shops, and even manufactured in India products that are marketed in Europe to compete with Chinese products. New talent will endure.

How are consulting firms growing their leadership bench? Are there any traits that the consulting firms are looking for?

The consulting businesses must always be the forerunners, torchbearers, and leaders. Today’s consulting firms are able to gather all the research-related ideas from around the world and provide them not just for strategic thinking but also for assisting in taking action.

Based on the results of the company they are consulting; they adjusted their revenue model.

Currently, they are looking at talent and dividing it into two categories: analytics and client engagement talent.

With the rollout of 5G and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), would workplace organizations change?

The adoption of 5G will alter the way resources are used. Everything in your home may be connected and made smart, including the appliances. The supervisor or engineer will take the position of the employee at the workstation and control hundreds of machines. All of this ought to be made possible by 5G’s increased capacity. Combined with 5G, the manufacturing sector in India will undoubtedly undergo a transformation.

We require talent to implement these industrial solutions, such as German or Japanese businesses. As an illustration, you can watch the 2026 World Cup in full immersion as if you were a player rather than just a fan. There has been news that 5G would launch in 1000 Indian cities.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ET Edge Insights, its management, or its members

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