On Day 6, meet Debjani Ghosh—the first woman to helm NASSCOM, India’s top technology industry forum. She didn’t just nudge IT services to the next level; she launched the “Techade,” making digital transformation personal, responsible, and wildly ambitious.
The Big Bad Roadblock: “How Do You Get a Reluctant Tech Industry to Reimagine Itself—and Trust a Woman to Lead the Charge?”
When Debjani accepted the role of NASSCOM president, the Indian IT sector was at a crossroads: rapid disruption, global pressure, legacy practices, and a widening talent gap. Skeptics wondered if anyone—let alone a woman—could foster agility, spark innovation, and drive over two million professionals into a new digital era.
Her challenge? Get a behemoth industry to embrace risk, foster diversity, and see technology not just as business, but as a force for social change. No magic wand; just bold vision, persistent advocacy, and a relentless drive to make “Techade” happen.
The Glow-Up Plan: Think Digital, Act Human
Talent-First Transformation:
Debjani inspired a dramatic reskilling push—championing digital fluency for everyone, not just coders and engineers. She rallied industry and government to invest in future-ready skills and build India’s reputation as the world’s innovation and talent hub.
Culture of Trust and Innovation:
She redefined leadership standards, putting “trust” as India’s core IT export. Her mantra? Responsible AI, ethical tech, and agility at scale. It wasn’t enough to build; one had to build right, and build for everyone.
Opening Doors for Women and Diversity:
Debjani smashed stereotypes and opened leadership pipelines for women and underrepresented groups, proving excellence has no gender—and diversity fuels industry resilience.
Industry & Team Whisperer Moves
Debjani’s collaborative energy brought together IT giants, government, and startups—championing cross-sector partnerships and aligning everyone behind a common digital destiny.
The Leadership Masterclass: What Can Managers Steal from Debjani?
- Make Talent Your Top Priority
Reskilling, mentoring, and supporting diverse teams keeps your organization nimble and competitive. - Lead with Purpose, Not Just Profit
Focus on trustworthy, ethical business models—tech that elevates lives, not just earnings. - Champion Diversity Every Day
Celebrate fresh perspectives and amplify the voices of those often silenced. - Speak Up and Collaborate Boldly
Build coalitions, invite conversation, and stand strong for industry-wide tech transformation.
How to Wear This Lesson in Your Management Style
- Challenge your team to see problems through the lens of inclusivity and impact, not just efficiency.
- Make reskilling and lifelong learning a boardroom priority—change won’t wait.
- Lead “trust talks,” making ethical standards and customer well-being part of every product launch.
- Celebrate wins in talent development as loudly as business milestones.
Debjani Ghosh shows that real tech leadership means blending innovation, empathy, and unflinching courage—and when you do, you build a generation of change-makers, not just code-makers.
The Aspiring Manager’s Journal 
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