Capitalizing on India’s Superpowers: Learning and Cloud Technology
The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice. —Brian Herbert, Author
My journey with technology began at age 10, with a Sinclair ZX81. That early experience – the excitement, the frustration, the discovery – instilled in me a love for learning and building. Little did I know then that curiosity would shape my career.
In 2024, the opportunity to learn has never been greater. However, a significant skills gap threatens to hinder progress. For example, a recent survey revealed that 72% of UK businesses have vacancies for digitally literate workers, yet only 11% of potential applicants possess the required technical skills. Human factors, not data availability, are considered a major barrier to becoming data-driven for 78% of respondents. Furthermore, 70% of companies struggle to innovate because of the skills gap.
India is uniquely positioned to address this cloud skills gap. Its large English-speaking population, high value placed on education, and a thriving technology sector that contributes 13% of its GDP create a strong foundation. Encouraging a learning culture can further accelerate India’s momentum.
Here are six key success factors I’ve observed while working with numerous AWS customers:
Start at the Top
A genuine learning culture requires leadership commitment. Leaders must go beyond lip service and actively participate in learning processes. This includes asking questions, attending retrospectives, and sharing their own learnings. If you’re a CEO, make time to learn new technologies to power your organization. These skills drive efficiency.
Recognize Learning as Work
Focus on becoming agile, experimental, and data-driven. Successful companies, particularly startups, identify and respond to customer needs. They experiment, test ideas, and use data to validate hypotheses. Organizations that don’t prioritize learning risk stagnation.
Create the Space
Learning requires dedicated time and practice. I believe that about 30% of your time should be spent on learning. This includes:
- Retrospectives
- Meetings that address blockers
- Manager one-on-ones
- Reverse mentoring
- Business case discussions
Hire for Curiosity
Prioritize curiosity and a desire to learn over specific skill sets, which will inevitably evolve. Seek employees who challenge existing processes and provide feedback. Organizations with a reputation for continuous learning attract top talent, like the author’s experience at AWS.
Treat Training as an Investment
View investments in people as long-term assets, not short-term expenses. Refusing to invest in people leads to high attrition and poor financial results. AWS has invested in training millions in India. The AWS Tech Alliance in India helps boost career readiness for learners and helps fill the demand for 14 million cloud roles in India by 2026.
Get Hands-On with Technology
Facilitate learning by providing access to technology and data. Promote experimentation with generative AI tools and offer developers access to coding assistants. AWS provides numerous helpful tools. Executive briefings and hackathons can also generate excitement, similar to the author’s early experience. This hands-on approach is critical.
Organizations that commit to continuous learning can future-proof their businesses. It’s the key to attracting and retaining talent while reinventing industries. Close the skills gap, and embrace the power of learning.
—Phil
[1] Digital skills drive gains for individuals, organisations and the UK economy
[2] 2024 Data and AI Leadership Executive Survey (Wavestone, 2024)
[3] 70% of organisations struggling to innovate due to inability to use data effectively (Digitalisation World, 2022)
[4] India Skills Report 2024 (Wheebox, 2024)
[5] India Country Commercial Guide: Information and Communication Technology (International Trade Administration, 2024)
[6] Does Your C-Suite Have Enough Digital Smarts? (MITSloan Management Review, 2021)
