As a technology leader, it’s important to align your personal values with those of your company and act with integrity.
This is an exclusive interview series conducted by the Editor Team of CIO News with Anand Kumar Sinha, CIO & Global Head IT at Birlasoft.
How did you plan your career path to be a successful Technology Leader?
Anand Sinha, Global Head of IT and CIO at Birlasoft, has had an incredible professional path. His technological adventure started in his native Patna, where he carried out landmark initiatives and progressed from building his own computer to computerizing bank branches, government offices, and various industries throughout the state and neighbouring states.
Anand has an MBA in IT, a BCA, a DCNT, and an honorary doctorate in information technology and cyber security from IIU. He holds certifications in ISO 22301 LI, e-TOM, ITIL V3, and 27001 LI. In addition, he studied digital transformation at the Indian School of Business and AIIMA, attended an AI and ML immersion lab at IIT Kanpur, and finished an IIM Bangalore course on the move from CIO to Chief Innovation Officer. He has studied cybercrime and investigations with the Computer Society of India, holds a cybersecurity strategist qualification from the Data Security Council of India, holds a finance for tech leaders accreditation from IIT Bombay, and has executive and director safety certificates from IOSH and International Workplace. In addition, he is a member of Lions Club International (RLLI Certified), CII-Digital, Nasscom, CIO Klub, and many social & IT community groups.
Sinha’s migration from Patna to Delhi for eleven-year employment at Bharti Airtel marked a pivotal moment in his career. Here, he managed several roles, led incredible initiatives, and developed his talents by managing them all. He also gained a thorough understanding of telecom operations, cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, and major telco projects, as well as contact centre and retail technology. A few projects include the implementation of Oracle ERP and HRMS, Secure Print Solution, live streaming and VOD platforms for webcasts on Azure Cloud, and the transfer of 26K users from Lotus to Exchange 2013. They also introduced Office 365, MS-Dynamics Retail, and the Unified Communication Project.
Owing to his strategic career planning, extensive experience, and significant contributions across multiple industries, Mr. Sinha has cultivated a diverse professional portfolio by working in various cities nationwide. He credits his wife & family as a pivotal support system, whose unwavering confidence in him has empowered him to make decisive and successful career choices.
Throughout his more than 27 years of expertise, Sinha has led new IT initiatives, created corporate infrastructure, and helped the company meet its goals. Across a wide range of industries, including telecom, media, ITES, IT hardware, and software companies of high repute, Anand has rich and quantitative experience leading business transformation, digital transformations, enterprise program management, IT operations, cybersecurity, infrastructure, stakeholder, and partner management. Crafting IT strategy and operations, information security, spearheading India’s digital transformation, and developing cutting-edge tech solutions with efficient use of IoT, cloud, AI, robotics, and RPA are among Anand’s expert domain areas. He oversaw digital transformations and very sizable internal IT operations for corporations and enterprises. He launched a substantial enterprise-secure print solution for a very large enterprise across the country. He oversaw the adoption of banking software solutions for national and cooperative banks and was a part of the banking computerization process (200+ branches). He helped computerize a number of government agencies and implemented information security measures for the biggest VSAT project in India.
He oversaw technology for BARC India in the media sector which was tasked by the Indian government to do research, measure, and publish insights. He oversaw the creation of hardware and software for meters (M2M and IoT), with a secure data platform serving as the back office. he established the first measuring NOC, social command center, moving Big Data Hadoop and Spark to the AWS Cloud, and innovation lab in the history of the media sector. He also innovated with New Meter (M2M and IoT) and adopted ISO 27001 and ISO 22301. Various cyber security solutions e.g. PIM, IDS, IPS, DLP AV, ATP, XDR MDE, MDM & Intune were also integrated.
After investigating cutting-edge technologies at BARC India, Sinha joined OCS Group India as CIO and Director of IT and led India’s IT strategy, operations, and cybersecurity, spearheading digital transformation projects, and developing cutting-edge tech solutions for clients.
Implementing SAP Rise and SAP Success Factor, and moving data centres to the multi-cloud architecture, App Modernization, Microsoft unified communication, GenAI Initiatives, enterprise cyber and cloud security architectures are some of the significant programs and projects that have been completed in his recent role at Birlasoft as part of the digital transformation program.
Anand’s contributions to various organizations and industries have earned him numerous accolades from both domestic and international sources. These include the CIO 100, CIO 500, The World 200 CIO, CIO Power list, CIO Crown, Global Cybersecurity Leadership, Elite CIO, IDC Insights Excellence, CIO 200, Eminent CIO of the Year, Under 50 Business and Corporate Special Award, Innovative CIO, BIG 50 Cyber Security, Top 100 CISO 2017/18, Cyber Sentinel, Innovation and New Initiatives in Data Center Excellence Award, Mahadevi Verma Award, InfoSec Maestros, and many more.
His story serves as a testament to the value of never stopping learning, creativity, and meeting obstacles head-on. Aspiring technological executives can draw inspiration from their professional paths.
Sinha’s steadfast belief in karma and adherence to personal values are foundational to his leadership philosophy. His advocacy for teamwork not only strengthens these core values but also mirrors the ethos of numerous prosperous enterprises, where collaboration and shared principles are key to success.
What challenges you faced in your career path and how did you overcome them?
In my career path, I have often faced a multitude of challenges. These include crafting a digital strategy that balances various priorities, aligning digital investments and transformation projects with organizational goals, and fostering a digitally skilled workforce. Also, the most critical one was to enhance cybersecurity measures, design superior customer experiences, integrate a cloud technology stack, and promote the adoption of SaaS investments. The way I was moving in my technology journey Keeping up with cutting-edge technologies like AI, machine learning, and big data, building a digital workplace, dealing with supply chain issues, and managing inflation and an economic downturn were also part of my job. We have mapped out a technology roadmap and built a compelling case for new digital programs. Focusing on reskilling and upskilling employees, improving cybersecurity measures, designing better customer experiences, integrating cloud technology, and driving digital adoption was beneficial. I stay updated with the latest technologies and trends and consider how they can be integrated into my organization’s operations.
What are the challenges faced by Technology Leaders today while implementing digital technologies?
Today’s technology leaders face a myriad of challenges when implementing digital technologies. These include not having a clear digital transformation strategy, dealing with complex software and technology, encouraging the adoption of new tools and processes, and keeping up with the ever-evolving needs of customers. They also have to deal with a lack of necessary IT skills, security concerns, budget constraints, and a siloed organizational structure. Other issues include adapting to industry and regulatory changes, planning the workforce strategically, implementing AI and ML solutions, understanding enterprise supplier risk, and meeting changing customer needs.
How can Technology Leaders overcome the challenges faced?
Overcoming these challenges requires strategic planning, effective change management, and a deep understanding of the digital landscape. Technology leaders need to keep up with the rapid changes in technology and regulatory compliance. They should also consider the environment and participate in company-sponsored activities. Strategic planning of the workforce is crucial to navigate through constant change. When it comes to implementing AI and ML solutions, it’s important to manage expectations, understand the opportunities, and align the strategic vision with the actual implementation. Understanding the risk from enterprise suppliers involves breaking down organizational silos. Leaders should also focus on creating a flexible working environment, automating tasks, providing strategic and ongoing training, supporting leadership, professional development, and competitive remuneration. Lastly, having a strong understanding of the technical landscape and being able to motivate and manage a diverse group of individuals is essential.
Any best practices/industry trends/advice you would like to suggest to fellow Technology Leaders for their successful professional journeys?
As a technology leader, it’s important to align your personal values with those of your company and act with integrity. Be transparent to build trust, and have a clear vision and goals. Stay updated on industry trends like generative AI, spatial computing, and technical wellness. Emphasize continuous learning, as the tech industry is always evolving. Good communication skills are essential for building strong relationships. Empower your team members to boost their confidence and foster a positive work environment. Remember, every leader’s journey is unique, so stay true to yourself and your leadership style.
Any other points which you would like to highlight?
Technology leaders can stay updated with technology trends like generative AI, sustainable technology, AI-augmented development, and industry cloud platforms. They should be aware of general AI challenges such as limited traceability, poor decision-making, investment priorities, data security, and a lack of skills. To address the AI skills shortage, strategies like reskilling current employees, partnerships with universities, in-house training programs, a dual-approach hiring strategy, and promoting diversity can be effective. Continuous effort and adaptation are required as the field of AI continues to evolve. Sharing insights and experiences can greatly benefit other IT leaders in their journey.
Also read: Achieving Rapid Outcomes with AI-Driven Cloud Analytics
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