Impacting Skill Development and Tech Transformation

As the need for cloud expertise reaches new heights and the resonating tunes of generative AI (GenAI) linger, the role of businesses in fostering digital skills is more critical than ever. As organizations and individuals grapple with the challenges of talent transformation, we turn our focus to Amazon Web Services (AWS), a player in shaping the future of cloud computing.

In this exclusive interview, Minu Sirsalewala, Executive Editor – Special Projects, interacts with Maureen Lonergan, the Global Vice President of AWS Training and Certification, to delve into how AWS is actively supporting organizations and individuals in their journey towards acquiring essential cloud and AI skills.

What do you see as the top priorities for Indian business leaders to invest in skills development, considering the growing demand for cloud skills and the influence of GenAI?

Business leaders must deeply consider skilling their workforce, aligning hiring and development with organizational goals. The companies that we see typically have an executive level responsible for training, setting specific goals. We work collaboratively with customers, creating frameworks to meet those objectives. The rapid evolution of generative AI raises questions for executives about its impact on business and talent. It’s crucial to skill organizations and individuals effectively. AWS has responded with seven digital, on-demand cloud skills training courses to help people understand, implement, and begin using generative AI. These courses are tailored for various levels—business executives, business line leaders, and technical individuals. We collaborate with customers to integrate these skills, enabling them to harness these technologies for enhanced productivity and innovation.

Business leaders must deeply consider skilling their workforce, aligning hiring and development with organizational goals. The companies that we see typically have an executive level responsible for training, setting specific goals.

Could you provide insights into the customer base for AWS’s GenAI courses in India, specifically the industries displaying substantial interest and adoption?

In India, there’s a fundamental shift post-pandemic towards cloud adoption. Industries like BFSI, IT services, internet businesses, and manufacturing lead generative AI adoption. Horizontal use cases, such as text summarization and chatbots, cut across industries. A 2023 Asia Pacific Digital Skills Study by Gallup and AWS shows that workers with advanced digital skills – such as cloud architecture, software development, and AI/ML boosts India’s annual GDP by an estimated US$507.9 billion (₹10.9 trillion) due to their higher incomes and productivity.

How is AWS collaborating with leading organizations in India to address the digital skills gap, especially through programs like AWS re/Start?

AWS’s re/Start program is pivotal, offering free, cohort-based workforce development training. In collaboration with 11 organizations, AWS provides cloud skills to unemployed and underemployed individuals, connecting them with potential employers. Indian employers such as Capgemini, Tata, and VibiCloud hire re/Start graduates for entry-level cloud and technology roles. The program, ‘life-changing’ for many, supports diverse groups, including minorities and refugees. AWS re/Start Associate, launched in February 2023, extends this transformative opportunity to unemployed and underemployed IT professionals in India.

Could you provide examples illustrating the transformative impact of AWS’s SkillBuilder and AWS Skills Guild initiatives on organizations involved in India’s digital transformation?

AWS Skills Guild exemplifies continuous learning, transforming organizations like Wipro and HCLTech.

Wipro through its ‘Step Up’ Skills Guild program is fostering a culture of innovation, empowering skilled employees to drive broad-scale digital transformation. This initiative equips technology experts with AWS Cloud competencies, as stated by Jason Eichenholz, SVP and Global Head of Ecosystems and Partnerships at Wipro.

Collaborating with AWS to accelerate Gen AI adoption, HCLTech is focusing on improving developer productivity. This involves integrating AWS’s advanced GenAI portfolio, including Amazon CodeWhisperer, with over 50,000 engineers for secure application development.

TCS strategically trains existing talent for cloud transition and upskills new hires through AWS Academy curriculum content, contributing to talent transformation. Over 19,000 team members are certified in various AWS topics, contributing significantly to talent transformation.

Actively participating in the AWS re/Start program, Capgemini is driving digital inclusion in India, by hiring early-career talent from disadvantaged communities, the program is closing the digital divide.

Another example is L&T Technology Services (LTTS) leveraging AWS for Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs) using generative AI. The company’s Global Engineering Academy, in collaboration with AWS, aims to train 1,000 engineers globally on vital cloud skills and applications by March 2024. The initiative includes using AWS technologies such as Amazon CodeWhisperer, Amazon Bedrock, and AWS IoT FleetWise to accelerate SDV development.

These examples highlight how AWS’s SkillBuilder and Skills Guild initiatives are instrumental in upskilling and driving digital transformation across various industries in India.

What is AWS’s approach to staying ahead in emerging technologies and adapting to recent trends in cloud computing and training?

AWS prioritizes diverse learning approaches, including game-based and experiential learning. It also offers 600 free on-demand courses and resources, with content offered in up to 20 languages to support India’s growth by providing accessible education. In 2020, it also committed to train 29 million people for free by 2025 on cloud computing skills.

In your role as a woman tech ambassador, how does AWS actively promote diversity and inclusion in the tech industry, and can you highlight specific initiatives fostering inclusivity?

Diversity is crucial for innovation, and AWS incorporates it into every aspect. Initiatives like AWS Educate and AWS re/Start aim to get girls interested in tech. AWS is also collaborating with Aspire For Her—a local inclusion, diversity, and equity (ID&E) startup—to offer free, online learning that aims to inspire women to consider a career in cloud computing and support them with pathways to build skills and find job opportunities in tech. The focus extends beyond gender to accessibility, ensuring training for individuals with various abilities. Inclusion is not just about hiring but creating an environment where everyone can thrive.

AWS collaborates with regulators, NASSCOM, and CVT to align courses with the new education policy. These courses, aligned to the industry curriculum, offer students credits, enabling them to carry the learnings throughout their academic journey.

In closing, could you share insights into AWS’s collaboration with government bodies and regulators to align courses with the new education policy, emphasizing the potential impact on students and colleges in India?

AWS collaborates with regulators, NASSCOM, and CVT to align courses with the new education policy. These courses, aligned to the industry curriculum, offer students credits, enabling them to carry the learnings throughout their academic journey. This collaboration signifies a long-term impact on how colleges and students interact with AWS courses, setting the stage for a skilled workforce aligned with industry needs.

Maureen Lonergan

Global Vice President, AWS Training and Certification

minus@cybermedia.co.in