Upskilling is Broken: Myth, Model, or Management Failure ft. Mahesh Raja | Hot Takes and Hard Truths

In this debut episode of Hot Takes & Hard Truths, a new subseries under the Zinnov Podcast: Business Resilience series, Nikhil Kulkarni, Partner, Zinnov, sits down with Mahesh Raja, Chief Growth Officer at Ness Digital Engineering, to unpack a pressing question: If every company is investing in upskilling, why does it feel like no one’s actually learning?   As enterprises pour resources into Gen AI training, cloud certifications, and L&D programs, employees are stretched thin, juggling long hours with self-paced learning they may never use.   This episode goes beyond theory and gets into what’s actually broken, and what it takes to upskill at scale in tech services.   Tune in to find out: Why most learning programs fail to deliver real outcomes Skill to stock vs. skill to order, and why the distinction matters The problem with self-paced learning in delivery-heavy environments Measuring ROI on training: what to track, and what to stop pretending works Why GenAI certifications without real application waste everyone’s time How to personalize learning without overwhelming your teams Whether you're a CHRO, L&D leader, tech executive, or simply someone tired of sitting through another course that doesn’t land, this episode cuts through the noise. Tune in now.

How do you measure software productivity in an AI-first world, and are we focusing on the right metrics? In this episode of the Zinnov Podcast – Business Resilience Series, Pari Natarajan, CEO of Zinnov, speaks with Dr. Ranjit Tinaikar, CEO and Board Member of Ness Digital Engineering, to examine why traditional approaches to measuring productivity fall short in today’s AI-led engineering landscape. The discussion explores the shift from absolute to relative metrics, the structural and behavioral barriers to change, and how AI is enabling organizations to reduce risk and modernize at scale, particularly across mid-market and PE-backed firms. Tune in now for a timely perspective on rethinking productivity, measurement, and value creation in the age of AI.

What does it take to turn a company into a leadership factory — and a country into a product powerhouse? In this premiere episode of Legends & Legacies, Zinnov’s President Sidhant Rastogi sits down with Ajai Chowdhry, Padma Bhushan awardee and HCL co-founder, to decode the DNA of enduring value creation in people, technology, and nations. From pioneering India’s electronics revolution to driving its semiconductor vision, Ajai shares timeless insights on leadership, aspiration, and nation-building. He unpacks HCL’s early strategy of hiring for hunger, not just skills, revealing how entrepreneurial culture and structured sales training created a generation of industry leaders. In a candid diagnosis of India’s services sector, Ajai calls out the urgent need for reinvention, with consultative sales, product-led growth, and IP creation at the core. “India responds best in crisis,” he notes, framing AI disruption not as a threat, but a turning point. Ajai’s advice is clear: Build with intent, lead with confidence, and aim for technology sovereignty - from semiconductors to software. Whether you’re scaling a start-up or steering a legacy firm, this episode offers a front-row seat to India’s tech evolution - and a masterclass in what it takes to shape the future. Tune in Now.

What does it really take to own the room, especially when it wasn’t designed for you? We’re back with Season 2 of Woman in the Mirror, a Zinnov podcast series hosted by Nitika Goel, CMO at Zinnov. And we’re opening with a powerhouse: Rama Bijapurkar. Rama is one of India’s most respected thinkers on business strategy, market behavior, and leadership. Author. Board member. Educator. Trailblazer. For decades, she’s shaped how companies, governments, and society make decisions — and in this episode, she lets us into the inner world behind that public power. In this much-awaited conversation, Rama shares what it means to chart your course through boardrooms, biases, and life’s unexpected turns — especially for women in leadership. She doesn’t believe in destination thinking. She believes in navigation — in responding to what the moment demands, in evolving through instinct and serendipity. Or as she calls it, being from the navigational school of life. She speaks candidly about building personal support systems, choosing courage over comfort, and staying true to yourself when it would be easier to blend in. It’s sharp. It’s stirring. And it’s filled with the kind of truth that lingers long after the episode ends. If you’ve ever questioned whether you belong in the room, at the table, or in the story, let this episode be your reminder: You already do. Plug in. Reflect. And maybe, rewrite your own script.

What happens when sustainability stops being a cost center and starts becoming a competitive edge? In this episode of the Zinnov Podcast – Business Resilience Series, host Pari Natarajan, CEO, Zinnov, sits down with Catherine Kniker, Chief Marketing and Sustainability Officer, PTC, and Dave Duncan, Head of Sustainability, PTC. From their personal journeys into the world of sustainability to the surprising ways AI and circular design are reshaping manufacturing, this conversation goes beyond buzzwords. It’s about why the smartest companies are rethinking products, profits, and purpose — all at once. If you're a leader looking to future-proof your business or simply curious about how sustainability is becoming the new driver of growth and resilience, this episode is for you. Tune in now. Want to go deeper? Product Sustainability for Dummies by PTC is a practical guide to reducing product footprints while boosting profitability. Download Now: https://bit.ly/4dE6X4m

What happens when AI, data, and experience design collide? In this episode of the Zinnov Podcast – Business Resilience Series, Pari Natarajan sits down with Rajaram Radhakrishnan, CEO & Board member of Ciklum, to explore how Experience Engineering is reshaping enterprise growth in the age of Generative AI. With over three decades in tech leadership, Raj shares deeply personal stories of transformation — from the early days of India’s telecom revolution to building global delivery models that fuse customer insight, engineering rigor, and AI smarts. Tune in to hear: • The real ROI of AI (and why many are missing the point) • What “Experience-first” truly means, with real life case studies • How to embed AI into physical products • And what makes Ciklum’s integrated delivery model a client favorite This episode stands out not just for its strategic clarity, but for its practical optimism, and Raj’s belief that young engineers are the new agents of transformation.

Imagine a world where creativity isn't just a passion - it's a driving force that disrupts industries, shatters expectations, and sparks bold change. In this powerful episode of Woman in the Mirror, Nitika Goel, CMO of Zinnov, steps beyond tech to dive into the world of women in the arts - a space where innovation and creativity break through barriers. Join Nitika and an incredible panel of trailblazing women, Jahnavi Phalkey, Shanthamani Muddaiah, and Yamini Telkar as they discuss how they navigate the delicate balance between artistic integrity and commercial success. These women aren’t just making art—they’re making history. Discover how they’re rewriting the rules, amplifying their voices, and redefining what it means to be a leader in the creative world. At Zinnov, we believe that creativity fuels innovation, and this conversation will show you exactly why.    

"If you cannot explain something in a simple way, you probably don’t understand it." These words from Kamal Natarajan, SVP of Allstate Technology Solutions, encapsulate the challenge—and opportunity—facing the insurance industry today. Technology has become inseparable from business, but the key to transformation lies not in chasing the latest tech, but in simplifying complex systems to improve customer experiences. In this episode of the Zinnov Podcast: Business Resilience Series, Karthik Padmanabhan, Managing Partner at Zinnov, sits down with Kamal Natarajan to discuss how he is helping transform Allstate into a tech-driven, customer-first organization. With over two decades of experience, Kamal has built high-performing teams, led large-scale digital transformation initiatives, and pioneered AI-driven innovations that are reshaping how insurance operates. He shares his insights on leveraging Gen AI, automation, and digital ecosystems to not just modernize, but humanize the insurance experience. "We don’t lead with Gen AI—we lead with empathy," Kamal explains. He discusses how Allstate is experimenting with AI to create conversational, intelligent voice experiences that guide customers through critical moments, ensuring interactions feel natural and supportive rather than robotic. Beyond technology, Kamal also delves into the cultural shift required for true digital transformation—from empowering engineers to rethink legacy processes to fostering a mindset that values purposeful innovation over complexity. He emphasizes that the future of leadership will not be about technology ownership, but about technology fluency. "The role of technology organizations is going to fade away. Every leader needs to have a strong technology quotient—knowing how to think with a tech-enabled mindset rather than relying on a CIO to do it for them." From reimagining customer engagement to reshaping how insurance is delivered, Kamal’s approach offers a blueprint for companies looking to stay ahead in an era of AI-driven disruption.

In the world of finance, numbers tell stories, but who are the women behind those numbers? The leaders who turn spreadsheets into strategy, setbacks into stepping stones, and challenges into lasting change. Welcome to this episode of Woman in the Mirror: BFSI Edition where our host, Nitika Goel, CMO, Zinnov, is in conversation with three trailblazers — Veda Persad, Country Executive, Northern Trust India, Mamatha Madireddy, Managing Director & Head of HSBC Global Service Centres (GSCs), India, and Sirisha Voruganti, CEO & Managing Director, Lloyds Technology Centre. This isn’t a collection of success stories. It’s an honest exploration of grit, resilience, and sisterhood in one of the most demanding industries. It’s about finding comfort in shared experiences, learning from failures, and understanding that struggle is part of the journey—because it’s through those struggles that we grow and rise. For every leader or aspiring leader who has ever doubted themselves, and for everyone who believes leadership isn’t about fitting in but standing out—this is your moment. Dive into the stories that matter. Because leadership isn’t a destination—it’s the moments you rise above. Welcome to Woman in the Mirror. Tune in now!

Ever wondered what it really takes to lead in healthcare? Not just the strategies and successes, but the quiet moments of doubt, the unexpected triumphs, and the beautiful chaos of balancing it all? In this conversation on Healthcare Leadership, three industry titans take us behind the scenes. Join Zinnov’s CMO, Nitika Goel, as she sits down with three remarkable women: Lene Hylling Axelsson, Novo Nordisk; Kalavathi GV, Siemens Healthineers; Mohua Sengupta, Novartis—leaders who aren’t just driving change in healthcare but transforming the industry. Their stories offer a masterclass in modern leadership. Together, they share battle-tested strategies for navigating boardroom dynamics and building high-stakes operations across continents. What makes their insights so compelling is their honesty about the trade-offs leadership demands. Through reflections on balancing work and life, managing personal sacrifices, and setting boundaries, they provide a practical guide for leaders striving to make an impact while staying authentic in today’s complex global landscape.