At the keynote of India’s biggest diversity and inclusive conference, The Rising 2024, Vidya Rao, chief technology and transformation officer, said billions of roles are prone to radical transformation because of AI. 

“In this decade, over 1.1 billion roles are set to undergo a radical transformation due to the pervasive influence of technology,” said Rao. She said this seismic shift in the job market isn’t confined to a single demographic but encompasses a wide spectrum of individuals from diverse cultures, genders, and abilities.

Further, she explained that such a transformative landscape presents a plethora of opportunities, necessitating that our workforce will become increasingly varied and multifaceted to meet these evolving challenges. Rao believes that embracing this diversity is not just a checkbox for organisations but a strategic imperative to drive meaningful change and progress.

Genpact has invested over $600 million in generative AI initiatives and is working on hundreds of GenAI PoCs across use cases. “AI is going to invade everything that we do,” said Rao, adding that technology is in the flow of life and that one cannot imagine a world without it. 

Rao said that there is a clear understanding that embracing AI will drive meaningful change. “And have you arrived? I don’t think so. There is a very, very long way to go,” she added, saying that just having this agenda as one of the foundations to run your company will bring huge change. 

With over 30 years of experience, Rao currently leads Genpact’s internal digital transformation processes. Her role also includes driving the global ERP programme and collaborating within Genpact’s partner ecosystem to support transformation at scale. Prior to Genpact, she worked with Accenture, performing diverse roles and leading technology delivery for multinational clients. 

As a coach for budding women leaders, Rao takes great pride in mentoring the next generation of professionals. She has a degree in science, majoring in Statistics, from Mumbai University, India.

Equality vs Equity 

Rao shared the importance of recognising and addressing unconscious biases that can prevent equal opportunities. She said true equity goes beyond treating everyone equally and ensuring everyone has the support and resources they need to succeed. 

“Diversity sparks innovation, inclusion fosters belonging, equality ensures opportunities, and equity reduces barriers,” said Rao, succinctly capturing the essence of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) in the tech world. She outlined how each element contributes to a more dynamic and equitable working environment. 

Sharing real-life anecdotes, Rao stressed the importance of creating a work environment where employees feel safe expressing themselves and taking risks. This will lead to constructive behaviours and business growth. 

“Fostering an environment that can encourage courageous behaviours is very important because by providing an environment with psychological safety, you will see that people feel included and truly come up with constructive behaviours that will flourish their own businesses.”  

Building Strong Relationships and Investing in Support Systems 

“You can have the best support system, but it will not work if you do not invest time in building that relationship—be it your parents, in-laws, family, or even your support staff, maids, drivers, etc.,” said Rao. She said that one should invest in relationships; not just as a transaction, but as an integral part of social responsibility and human upliftment. 

She believes that all successful people have a fantastic support system behind them. “It is not easy to be successful if you do not have a system, and that comes only by investing time and building relationships,” said Rao. 

Further, Rao advocated for diversity at all levels, urging disruption of the status quo to create a more inclusive world for future generations. “We need diverse talent, leadership, and workforce. We have to challenge, disrupt the status quo, and create a world that is more inclusive for the coming generations,” she added. 

In concluding remarks, Rao highlighted the importance of women supporting each other professionally, fostering collaboration instead of competition. “Women helping women is very important in this agenda. It’s not just about competition but about raising each other up,” she concluded.