CTO SKILLS: COLLABORATION, COMMUNICATION & ADAPTING TO CHANGING TECH LANDSCAPES

Kanchan Ray - CTO, Nagarro, talks about the importance of understanding the organization's goals to make technology decisions that support and enable the overall long-term business strategy.

- Aanchal Ghatak

As a CTO how do you balance trade and all things come into play? 

At Nagarro, we have multiple CTOs spread across the globe specializing in domains encompassing both technology and business. All our CTOs evaluate risks, costs, innovation opportunities, scalability, and compliance considerations to make informed decisions that drive our organization forward while optimizing resources and mitigating risks. I feel that collaboration, communication, and the ability to adapt to changing technology landscapes are key skills for a CTO that can be used to navigate the complexities and trade-offs in this role. Balancing these trade-offs requires strategic thinking, a deep understanding of technology, and the ability to align technology decisions with business objectives.

Being in the digital transformation space in the IT services industry, one of the key aspects I regularly prioritize is aligning with business strategy for us and for our customers. To achieve this, I need to understand the industry landscape, competitive dynamics, and the organization's goals to make technology decisions that support and enable the overall long-term business strategy.

The other major balancing act for me is between technology innovation and trends. Staying abreast of technology trends and innovations is crucial for a CTO, which helps to balance the adoption of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, or the Internet of Things (IoT), with the organization's needs and available resources. Assessing the potential impact, risks, and benefits of new technologies is essential in making informed decisions for any CTO.

How do you see technology talent going forward after Covid?