As India prepares to celebrate National Technology Day tomorrow, let us hear the opinions of industry experts.
On National Technology Day, special attention should be paid to the fact that education, mentorship, and entrepreneurship are actually superheroes for young people that help to grow their creativity and make innovation happen.
The combination of education, mentorship as well as entrepreneurship builds a culture of innovation. They inspire curiosity, encourage exploration, and pave the way for the next generation of tech leaders. So, to recognise these superheroes and their crucial role in shaping our future, we celebrated National Technology Day and heard opinions from industry experts in the field. Take a look.
Kunal Purohit, Chief Digital Services Officer, Tech Mahindra said, “As we celebrate this day, it’s crucial to acknowledge the role of education, mentorship, and entrepreneurship in nurturing a generation capable of innovation and leadership. Education is the bedrock of this initiative—providing the framework for young minds to understand and harness technology’s vast potential. Through a curriculum that integrates technological pedagogy, we ensure that our employees across all levels are well-equipped to navigate and shape the future of technology. Mentorship complements this educational foundation by offering guidance and insights essential for professional and personal development.
Sanket Atal, MD, Salesforce India Operations, said, “At the heart of nurturing the next wave of technological pioneers lies a trinity of critical elements: education, mentorship, and entrepreneurship. Salesforce is at the forefront of this paradigm, fully cognizant of the transformative impact these pillars have on sculpting the technological landscape of tomorrow. Moreover, mentorship plays a crucial role in guiding and inspiring the next generation of innovators. It is one of the many ways we support our employees throughout their Salesforce journey — whether they’re in the early stages of their careers or have been in the workforce for years. Lastly, entrepreneurship is the lifeblood of innovation, a principle Salesforce champions with vigor through the Salesforce Startup Program.”
Joanna Orkusz – Talent Development Leader, EY GDS, said, “Education is the foundation upon which the pillars of entrepreneurship are built, and mentorship plays a critical role in uniting the two. On the one hand, education lays the groundwork by equipping young minds with the tools and knowledge they need to be innovative. On the other, mentorship serves as the guiding light that helps them navigate through the dynamic world in which we live.”
Anup Purohit, Chief Information Officer, Wipro Limited, said, “India’s youth today is brimming with potential; these young minds are beginning to actively engage with complex scientific concepts and drive progress in areas like AI and cloud. As a leader with a sizeable team comprising young and nimble minds, we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to cultivate this potential through mentorship and guidance.”
Srikumar Ramanathan, Chief Solutions Officer, Mphasis, said, “Through targeted interventions, especially in education, one can significantly impact both individuals and society as a whole. This empowers the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders to learn and tackle real-world challenges posed by technologies such as GenAI and quantum computing, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to turn ideas into realities.”
Karan Rai, Chief Product and Technology Officer, Ennoventure, Inc, stated, “As we celebrate National Technology Day under this year’s theme ‘School to Startups: Igniting Young Minds to Innovate,’ we reflect on the substantial progress made in utilizing technology to tackle global challenges, particularly in enhancing the security of global supply chains. On this National Technology Day, let us commend the resilience and creativity that propel these efforts and inspire the next generation of innovators — from educational institutions to emerging startups.’’
Saravanan T – Director, Client Relationship Management, Dell Technologies, said, “To fuel a culture of innovation, we must empower individuals to engage in critical analysis and learn from both successes and failures. Innovative thinking and solution-oriented approaches lay the groundwork for vital skills and steer progress in the right direction. They refine thought processes, promote the cycle of unlearning and relearning, and broaden awareness.”
Abhishek Gupta, Managing Director – India, SailPoint commented, “India, with its burgeoning tech ecosystem and emphasis on harnessing the power of AI, is on the cusp of becoming a global tech powerhouse. From startups to established firms, the integration of AI technologies is unlocking unprecedented efficiency, innovation, and scalability. India’s vibrant tech ecosystem, coupled with a young and dynamic workforce, positions it as a frontrunner in the digital era.”
Rajesh Ramanathan – Senior Director, Data Engineering at Verizon India, said,” A strong educational foundation enables budding aspirants to easily transition from academic theory to practical application. With the right mix of curiosity and entrepreneurial mindset, practitioners can drive outcomes through programming, analytics and experimentation to make sense of data in the business’ context.”
Indra Prabha Sharma, Senior Director Quality Engineering, Publicis Sapient, said, “By equipping students and young engineers with skills in generative AI, we empower them to solve complex challenges with creativity and efficiency, preparing them to be the future leaders in technology. Education, mentorship, and entrepreneurship are crucial pillars in this endeavour, emphasizing our responsibility to support these aspiring engineers.”
Rajesh Mani, SVP and Head, Asia Pacific Tech Hubs, Mastercard, said, “I believe innovation isn’t about building big-bang disruptors but a mindset to think differently and improve what matters. A nation’s youth builds the foundation of its future. Hence, it is critical to not only invest in educating and mentoring young minds, but also focus on diversity and inclusion, so that we embrace unique perspectives and foster a culture that fuels experimentation and innovation.”
Muraleedhar Pai, Director & Chief Technology Officer, Maveric Systems, commented, “Never has there been a more opportune moment for tech innovation. Collaboration is booming, with knowledge and algorithms freely accessible through open-source platforms. Vast datasets are readily available online, and powerful computing resources can be accessed on-demand via the cloud. GenAI tools serve to exponentially accelerate development. Indeed, this marks the golden age for inventors. Seize the opportunity.”
Rahul Nainwal, Director, UPES School of Business, said, “India is brimming with entrepreneurial spirit backed by a massive talent pool of tech-savvy youngsters and innovators. To further accelerate India’s Startup growth, education institutions are playing a vital role in cultivating entrepreneurial mindsets by creating a conducive ecosystem to catalyse and energise research and innovation. A robust startup ecosystem empowers young minds and ensures access to the right mentorship, fostering an environment where innovation and ideas thrive.”
Aditya Gupta. CEO at Credilio, said, “On National Technology Day, we’re reminded of the transformative potential of technology and its capacity to significantly impact the young minds. We understand the vital role of nurturing innovation and believe that investing in education, offering mentorship, and promoting entrepreneurship, can empower young minds to embrace technological advancements and drive change. “
Ravi Chhabria, Managing Director, NetApp India, said“Education and mentorship play an incomparable role in nurturing innovation across the tech sector.. Our effort towards mentorship extends through NetApp Excellerator, where we engage with deep-tech startups, offering them our expertise is intelligent data infrastructure solutions and access to our resources to drive advancements in the field.”
Vishnu Ramachandran, Co-Founder & Chief Technology and Product Officer (CTO and CPO), Rubix Data Sciences, said, “Innovation is akin to a plant. A plant needs a proper environment to grow and prosper e.g a temperate climate is preferred to a desert. Similarly, Innovation requires allowing young minds to make mistakes and to learn from them. Manure and fertilizers help plants grow faster, similarly educational inputs and understanding of how to run a startup and domain knowledge allows youngsters to succeed better at a startup.”
Shreeram Iyer, Group Chairman and CEO, Prisma AI, said, “The celebration of National technology day symbolizes India’s quest for scientific enquiry, technological creativity, and the spirit of innovation. The fusion of education, mentorship, and aspiration ignites a spark within the youth, paving the way for their imagination to flourish.”
Vaidyanathan Krishnan, Group Vice President- Engineering, Providence India, said, “Innovation and technology have created a virtuous cycle of change in every aspect of our lives. Gen AI is rocket fuel for that change, making it impossible for us to imagine what life will be like even five years from now. It’s essential for young minds to build adaptive thinking muscle and a strong growth mindset to navigate this.”
Siddharth Satpute, Head of Industry Solutions, MINDSPRINT, said, “Education, mentorship, and entrepreneurship are the three pillars that can empower the next generation to achieve their fullest potential. As catalysts of environmental change, companies must harness the power of young minds through industry-academia partnerships to offer quality STEM education and mentorship programs. Fostering an entrepreneurial spirit from an early age allows young minds to approach problems with a fresh, innovation-driven perspective.”
Vaibhav Kaul, Director of IOT and Mobile Practice, Marlabs said, “Education plays a foundational role in fostering a culture of innovation by equipping individuals with knowledge, skills, and mindset. It not only equips the youth with academic knowledge but also instills essential values such as empathy, resilience and adaptability and prepares them to thrive in an ever-changing global landscape. Moreover, mentors serve as role models, inspiring young minds to pursue their passions and believe in their potential.”
Sriram Kanuri, Founder of Arteria Technologies said, “National Tech Day is a celebration of innovation and the indomitable spirit of inquiry that propels our nation forward. We see the fusion of education, mentorship, and entrepreneurship as the key to innovation. Learning gives us knowledge, guidance turns knowledge into action, and entrepreneurial spirit brings ideas to life. Together, these pillars ignite the young minds of our nation, encouraging them to dream bigger and reach further. This powerful combination drives our mission to make business processes smarter and more efficient.”
Dileep Mangsuli, Executive Director and Development Centre Head, Siemens Healthineers, said, “Learning is the bedrock for innovation. Besides our huge portfolio of L&D programs we also have a platform called DC Varsity that offers advanced learning opportunities with colleges and hospitals. Through collaborative learning, and mentorship programs we not only inspire innovation but also contribute towards the future of healthcare.”
Sankalp Saxena, SVP and MD of Operations, Nutanix, said, “Recognizing that nurturing young talent begins at the grassroots level, we offer internships alongside accomplished professionals. Through hands-on experience, our interns are empowered to develop an entrepreneurial spirit. They are also encouraged to experiment fearlessly, learn from setbacks, and transform their ideas into tangible realities. This powerful amalgamation of education, mentorship, and entrepreneurial thinking fosters a culture of innovation.”
Bensely Zachariah, Global Head of HR, Fulcrum Digital, said, ” The ‘National Technology Day’ which is celebrated to honor the significant contributions of its past greats towards the technological progress of our country should also be used as occasion to foster a culture of innovation for inducing exponential progression for the future.”
This Article was published in TechGIG