Rama Krishna Sangem
Indians are one of the largest leaders of innovation in Silicon Valley and America’s tech industry cannot survive without them, the CEO of the Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce has said. I don’t have the new figures, but what matters is that we (Indians) are such impactful contributors,” Harbir K Bhatia told PTI in an interview.
ndians are one of the largest leaders of innovation in Silicon Valley and America’s tech industry cannot survive without them, the CEO of the Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce has said. I don’t have the new figures, but what matters is that we (Indians) are such impactful contributors,” Harbir K Bhatia told PTI in an interview.
Located in Santa Clara, the hub of Silicon Valley, the Chamber of Commerce is made up of a group of visionary business leaders from multiple cities that help grow and shape the future of Silicon Valley. “Here you get to bring your whole self to work and have the opportunity to be creative, to be all that you want to be without the worry of your colour, of your skin, the religion you practice, the cast, the culture, anything, she said.
Bhatia said Indians are heading all the major corporations like Google, YouTube, Google Foundation and Microsoft
“They’re either at the CXO (Chief Experience Officer) level or they’re the CEOs. That doesn’t happen by chance,” she said.
Bhatia said Indians bring some of the best values like hard work and productivity to the work.
“I can tell you this, if you get a 98 per cent in school, your mom and papa will always tell you, but why didn’t you get a hundred per cent? That’s our culture. That’s who we are. It’s never enough, and that craving and that aspiration is what separates us (from others),’ Bhatia said.
I’m not saying other ethnicities don’t believe this way, but as being one of the largest populations on the planet, this is something that is part and parcel of who we are…,” she said. Praising the Indian jugaad’, a frugal and flexible approach to problem-solving, she said: “If there’s a problem, put a desi on it, you’ll find a solution.
When asked about the relationship that Silicon Valley has with India, she said India has played a key role in its success.
Well, there are many relationships. Let’s talk about the basics. The basics are the majority of outsourcing is still done in India. The tech industry is able to thrive in the United States because they can do the three-to-one model, which is the one employee in America costs three employees in India, Bhatia said.
I mean, let’s be real about that. Who’s running all the operations? Who’s keeping all the lights on? It is our forces, our community that is in part and parcel and bread and butter of every tech company in some way. They cannot survive without us,” she said.
America brings some of the brightest minds from India, she said. “There’s a reason why they keep trying to cap the visas because they know we’re so well that they just have to put a limit. Otherwise, we could take up all the jobs, she said. She said Indians can thrive in any profession be it tech, farming or healthcare.
Anita Manwani, Silicon Valley TiE president
Silicon Valley is super excited about India, whose leadership has shown a commitment towards entrepreneurship, Anita Manwani, TiE president has said. The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Silicon Valley is a nonprofit organisation in the US devoted to entrepreneurs in various industries.
I am super excited and I think Silicon Valley is super excited because we have at the helm of India’s leadership a clear commitment to one entrepreneurship to open business with initiatives like the GIFT city, with initiatives that are making investments and repatriation of funds back to the United States, I would say a little easier than what it was before, Manwani told PTI in an interview
So, these are all initiatives that are truly going to enhance the increasing activity in the corridor with India. This is India’s decade, and it’s India’s decade to lose because India is poised for winning innings here. We are all rooting for the leadership, Manwani said in response to a question.
A seasoned corporate executive and entrepreneur, Manwani is one of 80 women recognised in the US for their technology leadership, and top 100 Women of influence in Silicon Valley.
She is also the founder and CEO of Carobar Business Solutions, reLIMS. Manwani said she was very impressed listening to the leaders speak at the India Conclave in New Delhi recently.
It is really heartwarming to also see that the leaders are not just concerned about education and funding and entrepreneurship and technology, but they’re also making their mark globally, both in terms of helping wherever help is needed, she said.
During international crises, whether it is floods or other kinds of activities, India is stepping up and truly behaving like a world leader, she said.
As a US citizen of Indian-origin, it brings a smile. I know that many of the Indian diaspora share that, Manwani said.
We think that TiE and TiE Silicon Valley can play a very big role and are continuing to do that. We see that role only enhancing in this corridor with India, Manwani said.
She said that the upcoming TiEcon, the world’s largest tech conference for entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and investors, will focus on the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and its opportunities in tech sectors.
The flagship event of TiE Silicon Valley, being billed as the groundbreaking event showcasing AI’s profound and pervasive influence in the world, will also focus this year on “exponential” India, in recognition of the big role that the country is playing in AI’s talent pool.
The event brought the top leaders from the industry to the Santa Clara Convention Centre in Silicon Valley, California, from May 1 to 3.
