India’s technology industry is witnessing massive growth fueled by innovation, opportunities, and the curiosity to learn. Home to tech professionals at the forefront of AI, blockchain, and other cutting-edge technologies, driving innovation and growth in the country’s tech ecosystem hinges on continuous learning and development. Networking events play a pivotal role in nurturing talent and equipping them with practical abilities and skills through real-world insights. A fine example of this is “PayPal Tech Talk 2024” - the first-ever event for developers hosted at PayPal’s Bangalore premises. Around 300 participants comprising PayPal employees and interns as well as external attendees including innovators, entrepreneurs, and tech enthusiasts, converged at the event - sharing a collective passion for shaping the future of technology. It provided an open platform for dialogue, exchange of ideas and knowledge, and networking for the developer community.
V Chandramouliswaran (Mouli), VP of Data and Site Leader at PayPal India shares his thoughts on the initiative and the burgeoning opportunities for the country’s tech talent.
How does Tech Talk contribute to the professional growth of India’s developer base?
A skilled and adaptable developer community is key to sustaining India’s leadership in the global tech industry. Sharing knowledge and fostering collaborative growth are highly valuable factors to make this happen. Tech Talk was organized for this very reason. The sessions and workshops were thoughtfully curated to enhance the participating developers’ exposure and open their thoughts and possibilities to solving complex problems. From the opening address by Mudita Tiwari, Senior Director of Product on PayPal’s latest solution, Fastlane, to Guru Bhat’s thought-provoking keynote address on "Man, Machine, and Magic – The Unending Quest of Infinite Intelligence,” the event was all about inspiring the next generation of tech leaders. India’s strong tech landscape has birthed some of the greatest tech minds who are shaping the future of technology for the world from India. The event was designed to provide a collaborative platform for leaders of today and aspiring leaders of tomorrow to engage, exchange, and inspire to build transformative experiences, further bolstering India’s position on the global tech landscape.
How does PayPal ensure that its team of developers and engineers stay abreast of the latest trends and advanced technologies?
Today, technology is rapidly evolving, and the speed at which this evolution is disrupting lives and experiences makes it critical to constantly learn, relearn, and perhaps, even unlearn. Innovation and learning go together; and at PayPal, we are in the business of positively disrupting the payment experiences for people through innovation. To enable this, we make conscious efforts to ensure that our employees are constantly upskilled to adapt to newer technologies and practical skills needed for the job. Our regular engagement with some of the top minds in the industry through hackathons, guest lectures, mentorship programs, and other avenues foster knowledge-sharing and networking opportunities, as well as keep our team updated on the latest developments, ensuring they remain industry-ready. Hosting Tech Talk for the first-time in India was also a key step in this direction. This was a great opportunity to engage with industry experts, and tech talent from across the city; and some of our teams utilized this the right way to even gather direct feedback on a key initiative prototype, ensuring our solutions are in line with user expectations and needs. Furthermore, the insights shared by PayPal Champion Kartik Maniyar on the tangible impact of PayPal's technology served as a strong motivator, inspiring us to continually refine our skills and strive for excellence.
What are your thoughts on the Generative AI opportunity in India, and how can today’s developers harness its potential to drive growth and innovation in their roles?
Generative AI is a powerful lever with the potential to transform and create an impact across various sectors. The potential applications of Generative AI are vast, ranging from enhancing customer experiences to optimizing business operations and creating new revenue streams.
The key to harnessing the potential of GenAI lies in upskilling in AI and machine learning technologies, particularly in mastering AI frameworks, experimenting with different AI models, understanding ethical AI practices, and staying updated with the latest research and advancements. Furthermore, collaborating with data scientists and AI researchers will be essential in bringing AI-driven innovations to life. This can be achieved through mentorship programs, internal hackathons, continuous learning and development initiatives, knowledge-sharing enabled by engagement with top industry leaders etc. Technology is an interesting space. Talent engagement, if deployed the right way, can be a great tool to build a stronger cohort of tech enthusiasts.
What were your key takeaways from this year's event in terms of talent engagement? What can we expect from the next Tech Talk event?
Embracing a culture of continuous learning ensures that professionals remain relevant and competitive in the fast-evolving tech landscape. Another key takeaway is that sharing knowledge and fostering collaborative growth are highly valuable. So is building a network of peers and industry leaders in exchanging ideas and driving innovation.
Finally, we learnt that adopting agile practices can enhance product development; and delivering superior customer experiences through agile practices is imperative. With the advent of assisted AI, focusing on customer value and the end-to-end customer journey has become more critical than ever, and developers play a key role in this process. I am certain that the success of PayPal India Tech Talk 2024 has set a high bar for future events. A special thank you to our external speakers for joining us and contributing to the event with their valuable insights and expertise. As we continue to build on this momentum, we aim to co-create exceptional experiences with our developers for our customers in this era of API and AI economy.