1. Could you tell us about your professional background and journey?

I am currently the CEO of Capgemini in India. Prior to being the CEO, I held the position of COO at Capgemini for three years where I managed operations, delivery, capability development and Innovation across India.

My professional journey started over 28 years ago and spans consulting, technology and large outsourcing services. My experience in international and multi-cultural environments ranges across North and South America, Netherlands, Australia and Asian countries. I have worked with several Fortune 500 companies in their business transformation goals. During my years at Capgemini, I have performed several leadership roles driving the growth and profitability of various business units in the organization.

2. What has been your experience working in India? Both on a personal and professional front.

India is an extraordinary place to work.

• In my early part of career, I had done several consulting engagements with clients in India across industries. This is where I have learnt a lot about different industries and also built my consulting skills. Clients in India are very detail oriented and also very demanding in their expectations from their technology and consulting partners. This makes one very sharp and helps you skills in complex project management and also client management.
• Also, several companies in India have a very wide spread regional foot-print and one needs to be adept at how one operates and interacts in each of the regions. There are nuances of culture, language and belief in different regions and you have to be very aware of these difference and commonalties when one is delivering a complex program. Lot of these aspects in early part of my career helped me adapt to different international cultures quite easily.
• Talent in India is of very high caliber – both the ones team members and also the clients’ teams you work with. Hence you have to be very strong on your content. Also, your talent in India is very dynamic and demanding and one needs to know how to keep them engaged and motivated. And this model needs to change basis the demographics of the team one deals with. I love to interact with talented people across roles. We therefore started the AAA initiative (aka Ask Ashwin Anything). 
• With growing Youth in the workforce, we need to ensure focus on competency development for India given the huge potential and for being part of the growing economy. Personally, I am committed to developing talent. Capgemini is partnering with YuWaah, part of UNICEF, and Capgemini to provide India’s youth the skillset to help empower them for creating career pathways and make them active changemakers.
• Today, we see emergence of a strong competitive spirit & environment in India. Strong focus and commitment emerging on Sustainability and ESG.  Indian leaders bring along a long-standing tradition of business culture — great commitment to social goals fuelled by enlightened self-interest – high focus on human capital and embracing social purpose, ‘performance with purpose’

Personal:

• I believe my personal life has largely shaped my professional life. I was born and brought up in Mumbai – the Mumbai lifestyle of “being connected, as well as traits of patience, perseverance” have all played a role.
• I enjoy the Mumbai life, simple food and lifestyle, like sports specially badminton

3. According to you, what is the main opportunity and challenge in the Indo-French business corridor?

Indo-French trade reached $10.75 billion in 2020 and bilateral trade between the two countries reached $8.85 billion in 2021. French companies based in India have made evidence of strong business resilience after the pandemic. India and France share a dynamic relationship. Both countries signed a strategic partnership agreement in 1998. India and France have been expanding their relationship amid changing regional and global dynamics. Defense cooperation is a crucial aspect of India-France strategic partnership. India considers France as ‘one of (its) most trusted defense partners. France has strong expertise in areas of manufacturing, Aerospace and Defense, transportation, Energy, especially Nuclear. High-end fashion, cosmetics and also food and beverages are also industries that have very strong interest with the global citizens of India. All these industries have an excellent opportunity to build and expand their business in India. It is good to see that recently, there have been large investments in infrastructure, energy, consumer goods, agribusiness, IT and auto sectors.

Also, there are around 200 subsidiaries of Indian businesses in France. Among Indian investments in France, majority are in IT services, pharmaceuticals/biotechnologies and hospitality sectors. France has made the Indo-Pacific one of the priorities and it is the biggest and most active European player in the region with its overseas territories, military personnel and around 1.5 million French citizens living there.

I would also like to highlight few specific challenges like ease of doing business in India needs to be strengthened – while there has been steady improvement of India’s ranking in Ease of doing business, there are still areas of improvement such ease of obtaining permits and approvals, improving administrative capacity, reforming labour laws. Land acquisition needs to be simplified. Also, several regulations are state specific and lack of uniformity across states could be challenging to set-up PAN India business

4. What are Capgemini's ambitions for 2022-23?

Capgemini’s focus for 2022 lies primarily in three areas: sustainability, talent and innovation. These 3 areas are among our foundations for growth for years to come.

We will focus on our strategic priorities while investing in the future, notably:

• in continuing to attract and develop the best talent in the industry
• by accelerating our investment in innovation
• and making our own operations sustainable and net Carbon zero. And also expanding the development of Sustainability offerings to support our clients on their Net Zero journeys.
• In addition, continue to contribute to society through our focus on Digital Inclusion by enabling and building talent by deploying Digital academies to benefit people from socially and economically under-privileged background