Posts

Showing posts from May, 2025

HR superpowers. What CEOs Really Expect from HR

What CEOs Really Expect from HR: Practical Scenarios and Use Cases At a recent HR Leadership Forum of a leading hospital chain, I shared a set of expectations that CEOs like me have from HR—not just as administrators, but as strategic enablers of growth. Here’s a practical breakdown of each point, with scenarios and use cases to bring them to life. 1. Create Talent Magnets, Not Just Job Ads What it means: Go beyond listing job requirements. Build a compelling employer brand that attracts top talent organically. Scenario 1: A high-growth tech startup uses storytelling videos featuring real employees explaining their career growth and company culture. This authentic content draws applications from top engineers who were not actively job-seeking. Scenario 2: An HR team partners with marketing to run a campaign around the company’s social impact projects. Applicants who align with those values apply, reducing early attrition. Use Case: A manufacturing firm struggling to attract ...

How to Win in the Age of AI Agents and Automation

The AI Hype: Acceleration Without Alignment The AI era is unfolding at lightning speed, but speed alone isn’t strategy. Klarna’s CEO cut 700 customer service jobs, citing AI efficiencies. Salesforce’s Marc Benioff acknowledged AI has frozen hiring. Tech professionals who once led innovation now fear irrelevance. Yet the deeper truth is clear: Success in the AI age won’t come from replacing humans—it will come from empowering them. History Doesn’t Lie: Automation Creates More Than It Destroys 1. Manufacturing In the 1980s, fears over automation led to mass anxiety. Today, it’s clear: automation redirected human labor to higher-value tasks. Human-AI Synergy in Manufacturing: Tesla: Robots handle assembly; humans manage design optimization and safety. Siemens: AI predicts equipment failures, while engineers craft preventive strategies. Fanuc Robotics: Uses AI to optimize robot learning, while humans oversee quality and workflow redesign. 2. Sales & Customer Suc...

AI Can’t Replace Human Connection: A leading company -Klarna’s U-Turn

The Future of Humans and AI Working Together Swedish financial tech company Klarna once believed that artificial intelligence (AI) could replace many human jobs. They even laid off 700 employees, expecting AI to take over roles in customer service and creative work. But they recently changed their mind. What Happened at Klarna? Klarna thought AI could do jobs like translating, analyzing data, and creating art just as well as—or even better than—humans. Their CEO said, “AI can already do all of the jobs that we, as humans, do.” But by 2024, they realized this wasn’t true. Customer service got worse. People were unhappy. Trust in the brand dropped. Why? Because AI couldn’t replace human understanding, emotions, or good judgment. AI and Humans Have Different Strengths Klarna’s experience shows that the best results come when humans and AI work together , not in competition. What AI Does Well: Works fast with large amounts of data Automates repetitive tasks (like data entry) ...

What Not to Say in Job Interviews — And What to Say Instead.

  "What Not to Say in Job Interviews — And What to Say Instead." Practical examples of common mistakes candidates make during interviews and provides better alternatives. --- 1. “I don’t have questions.” Why not: Shows lack of curiosity. Say instead: “What would success look like in the first 6 months of this role?” 2. “I’m looking for any job right now.” Why not: Sounds desperate. Say instead: “I’m looking to use XYZ strengths, and I’m excited about how this role aligns.” 3. “I hated my last job.” Why not: Negative attitude. Say instead: “I learned a lot in my previous job, but I’m excited for a new challenge now.” 4. “I don’t know much about your company.” Why not: Shows poor preparation. Say instead: “I’ve researched the company and I’m particularly impressed with X…” 5. “How much does this job pay?” Why not: Sounds like you're only in it for the money. Say instead: “I’m excited about this, and I’d love to understand the comp range to ensure it fits my expectations.” 6...

UK may not longer be a favourable education destination

 **: "UK Graduate Visas Are a £3,000 Scam, Claims LSE Researcher"**   A researcher from the **London School of Economics (LSE)** has sparked a heated debate with a **viral LinkedIn post**, calling the **UK Graduate Visa a "£3,000 scam"** and warning international students against studying in the UK.   #### **Key Points:**   1. **UK’s Proposed Visa Changes:**      - The UK government’s new **immigration white paper** suggests reducing the **Graduate Route visa** from **2 years to 18 months**.      - A **6% levy** on universities for enrolling international students is being considered, with funds reinvested into education.      - Stricter **student visa rules**, including higher compliance standards for institutions.   2. **Researcher’s Harsh Reality:**      - The LSE researcher shared her **struggle to secure a sponsored job** despite investing heavily in UK educa...

The Cornerstones of Product Leadership: Strategic Thinking, Cross-Functional Understanding, Innovation, and Adaptability

  In the fast-paced world of product management, success is not solely defined by building features or shipping releases. Instead, it hinges on a set of interrelated competencies that elevate a product manager from a tactical executor to a strategic leader. Among these, five stand out:  Strategic Thinking ,  Cross-Functional Understanding ,  Strategic Innovation , and the capacity to  Lead, Learn, and Adapt . Let's explore each of these qualities with concrete examples of how they can shape outcomes. 1.  Strategic Thinking Strategic thinking is the ability to see the big picture, anticipate market trends, and align product direction with business goals. Example 1: A PM working at a healthcare startup identifies that telehealth usage surged post-pandemic. Instead of focusing on marginal feature enhancements, they propose a long-term roadmap that pivots the product toward becoming a full-service virtual care platform. This move opens new revenue channels and ...

Professional Skills for 2035–2040

  IT Skills for 2035–2040 1. Quantum Computing and Quantum Programming Why? Quantum computing will redefine processing power, solving problems beyond classical computing—impacting cryptography, drug discovery, and supply chains. Skills to Focus On: Programming with Qiskit , Cirq , or newer quantum-specific languages. Deep understanding of quantum mechanics , linear algebra , and quantum gates . Certifications: IBM Quantum, Microsoft Quantum Development Kit, university courses. Relevance: Critical in finance , pharma , national security , and big tech research . 2. Advanced AI and Neuromorphic Computing Why? AI will evolve to mirror human cognition, requiring specialists in neuromorphic systems and spiking neural networks. Skills to Focus On: Modeling with spiking neural networks (SNNs) and brain-inspired chips . Understanding neuromorphic hardware like Intel Loihi or IBM TrueNorth. Training in AI governance , bias handling, and brain-computer interfaces ...

IBM is laying off 9000 workers in USA - How do we adapt to the changing industry

  IBM is laying off 9000 workers in USA. Although large number of those positions will come to India.  But we should note a large number of people being laid off are from IBM Cloud Classic division. Understanding the weakness of this service with the competitors can help us understand the strength and weakness of the products we work on and we can choose the divisions/departments where we should not be in our companies so as to be safe from layoffs and have good career growth. Weaknesses of IBM Cloud Classic Compared to AWS and Azure: Newer Platform Focus:  IBM's strategic direction is heavily geared towards its newer  IBM Cloud VPC  infrastructure. This means that innovation and new feature development are likely to be more focused on VPC, potentially leaving Classic with less attention in the long term. Complexity and Integration:  Some users have reported challenges with the integration of IBM Cloud services with existing systems or third-party applicati...

Top 25 habits of successful people

  Below is a list of the top 25 habits of successful people who built companies or became leading professionals without coming from wealthy families. These habits are chosen based on their impact and commonality among self-made individuals. Each habit is explained in simple English to show why it matters and how it helps. Relentless Work Ethic Explanation : They work harder and longer than most, putting in extra hours to learn, build, or improve. This habit helps them outpace competitors and make progress even with limited resources. Continuous Learning Explanation : They read books, take courses, or learn new skills constantly. This keeps them updated and ready to handle challenges or grab new opportunities. Goal Setting Explanation : They write down clear goals, like “start a business in one year,” and break them into small steps. This gives them direction and focus. Time Management Explanation : They plan their day, prioritize important tasks, and avoid wasting time. This helps...