Richard Lobo has recently been appointed Tech Mahindra’s new Chief People Officer. In an exclusive interview with UNLEASH, he reveals his big plans for gen AI, DEI, and talent management.
Richard Lobo, Tech Mahindra’s newly appointed CPO, gave UNLEASH an exclusive insight to his role in a recent interview.
Lobo shares parts of his strategic plan for the next 12-24 months.
Gen AI is an integral part of Tech Mahindra’s business strategy – we explore how and why.
Tech Mahindra, which is a $6.5 billion organization, has announced a new Chief People Officer, Richard Lobo.
As part of the new role, Lobo will undertake a multifaceted range of responsibilities with the aim of optimizing the organization’s human capital potential based on human-first principles.
He will also focus on the strategic alignment of the company’s HR functions, while focusing on the broader business objectives, which are to ensure that every people initiative and program is integrated into the Tech Mahindra’s overarching goals.
“I was deeply drawn to this role because of the Mahindra Group’s focus on harmonizing human capital strategies with broader business objectives,” Lobo says.
“This alignment is an area where my extensive experience and passion lie. Tech Mahindra’s unwavering dedication to pioneering innovation, championing sustainability, and nurturing a people-centric culture profoundly resonates with my professional values and ethos.”
As the company’s Chief People Office, Lobo has shared three main focal points – the first being to nurture his strong desire to champion diversity and inclusion, with the aim of fostering an inclusive culture.
I believe that a rich tapestry of varied backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences is fundamental to our success,” he expresses. “So, we aim to make Tech Mahindra a beacon for talent worldwide, enhancing our creative solutions and driving innovation.”
This is coupled with Lobo’s second goal, which is to cultivate a progressive culture that champions innovation. To achieve this, he aims to foster an environment that “encourages curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge”, to cement Tech Mahindra’s position at the vanguard of technological innovation.
Talent management is a critical aspect of this, which includes attracting top-tier talent, as well as increasing retention and upskilling individuals to encourage employees to grow in tandem with the organization.
“In the realm of talent management, we are setting our sights on introducing cutting-edge engagement and retention initiatives,” he explains.
“Over the next 12-24 months, we will focus on harnessing the potential of AI and data analytics, to refine our talent acquisition processes, predict future workforce needs, and personalize employee experiences, thus creating a magnetic work environment that attracts and retains exceptional talent.”
Progressing technology is Lobo’s third and final focus, as he plans to harness the power of data-driven strategies that leverage the company’s people practices.
Describing this approach as “key” to aligning Tech Mahindra’s human potential with its overarching business objectives effectively, Lobo will use insightful analytics to make informed decisions that bolster the workforce’s capabilities.
“Through these strategies, I am committed to steering our workforce into a future where they are the cornerstone of Tech Mahindra’s success,” he explains.
I believe strongly in the transformative potential of AI in reshaping the HR landscape, so my strategy involves an integrative approach, aiming to revolutionize every aspect of our talent and management processes.”
In doing do, Tech Mahindra will transition from a traditionally reactive model to one that is both predictive and proactive, with AI-driven analytics remaining at the core of this transformation.
It will also empower the company’s workforce to decipher complex trends and dynamics, enabling leaders to tailor personalized employee experiences that resonate with individual needs and aspirations.
Additionally, AI will streamline Tech Mahindra’s operations by automating routine tasks. This automation will free HR professionals from mundane responsibilities, allowing them to dedicate their expertise to strategic initiatives that drive our organizational goals forward.
“In harnessing the power of AI, we will enhance our employee experience and create a great work environment,” Lobo highlights.
“AI is not just a tool for us; it is a strategic ally in realizing our vision of a workforce that is equipped, engaged, and constantly evolving. This alignment of technology with a human-first approach is pivotal in shaping a future-ready organization.”
As a technology giant, Gen AI is an integral part of Tech Mahindra’s business strategy, with the business implementing its use throughout the company.
Realizing its tremendous potential, the business is exploring ways to infuse AI and Gen AI into every element of its projects and processes to amplify it for its and customers’ businesses.
In fact, a significant amount of Tech Mahindra’s work output is now infused and amplified with AI and Gen AI. We are quickly training and upskilling our practitioners on a large scale so that they can embrace technological changes and contribute to organizational success.
For example, the company is employing Gen AI to develop virtual assistants and chatbots to provide a more advanced level of customer support, answer queries, and assist with various tasks.
With the ability to understand natural language, these AI-powered assistants can learn from interactions, and provide personalized and contextualized responses, enhancing the overall customer experience.
What’s more, Tech Mahindra is also advancing within the AI sphere through its Project Indus – an initiative intending to empower all Indic languages that have originated out of the Indus Civilization.
The project has been launched and is in the beta phase within the company by its innovation unit – the Makers Lab – which is built on an Open-Source Large Language AI model.
Project Indus intends to serve the needs of 25% of the world’s population and address the limitations of existing large language models which predominantly rely on English datasets.
Yet Lobo’s ambitions are met with numerous challenges, that he’s carefully navigating. “In the dynamic landscape of our industry, we encounter significant hurdles, stemming from rapid technological advancements, the fierce competition for acquiring and retaining top talent, and the need to safeguard data privacy and cybersecurity,” he explains.
“As a Chief People Officer, I encourage our teams to approach these challenges with a strategic mind-set.
As I step into this role at Tech Mahindra, I hope to carry with me a rich tapestry of experiences, poised to leverage my insights and expertise to foster sustainable growth and cultivate a resilient, future-ready workforce.”
He added: “The journey so far has been exciting, and I am eager to chart new territories, driving Tech Mahindra towards unprecedented heights in the industry.”
Get the Editor’s picks of the week delivered straight to your inbox!
Senior Journalist
Lucy Buchholz is an experienced business reporter, she can be reached at lucy.buchholz@unleash.ai.
"*" indicates required fields
"*" indicates required fields