Falguni Desai : Empowering Women, Digitalizing SMEs
Our team spoke to Ms Falguni Desai (Chief Technology Officer, Digient Technologies and Khel-Sports, Part Time) recently. Here are the excerpts from the interview:-
- On Career Journey and Aspirations
“Ms. Desai, could you share what inspired you to pursue the path of Certified Independent Director, and how do you believe your experience as a Digital Transformation Consultant has prepared you for this role?”
Falguni Desai: Emergence of new technologies has fundamentally altered the business landscape, impacting traditional organisational strategies. ML, AI and digital transformation have fuelled innovation across industries, including disruptive business models and technologies. Technologies now enable businesses to collate, process, and analyse vast amount of data to derive actionable insights, help in personalising customer experience, higher levels of customer engagement and loyalty. Businesses are also leveraging automation and AI-powered technologies to streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.
While new technologies have brought about significant opportunities for business, they have also introduced several risks that organisations need to manage effectively. The challenge it brings, is something I enjoy meeting head on and the professional sense of achievement I get when presenting the solution inspires me to keep doing this.
As an experienced IT professional and independent director, I can play a crucial role in helping organisations address these risks. My expertise in Cybersecurity can help organisations develop robust security measures, conduct regular risk assessments, and implement security controls to safeguard sensitive data and mitigate Cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The access to vast amount of sensitive data has also raised data privacy and compliance concerns, given new regulations like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations). My experience of successfully managing data privacy laws and regulations can assist organisations in developing data governance frameworks and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.
My experience in IT procurement and vendor management can help the organisation diversify their vendor portfolio and establish contingency plans to mitigate risks associated with vendor dependencies. I can offer insights into emerging technologies, industry trends, and best practices in digital transformation, and contribute to the board’s oversight on technology-related risks.
As an independent director, I aspire to encourage the development and implementation of policies and programs that promote gender equality and diversity, with options like mentorship programs, diversity, training, and flexible work arrangements. I feel strongly about identifying and developing talented employees, by providing them with opportunities for advancement, and giving them a voice in decision making process.
2.On Impact of Digital Transformation:
“In your experience as a consultant, how have you seen digital transformation impact startups and SMEs ? Can you share a particularly successful transformation story that you were a part of?”
Falguni Desai: My goal is to help start-ups and medium sized enterprises take a leap into an effortless digital transformation. I have been working with Digient Technologies Pvt. Ltd, for the last 2.5 years, working as a CTO and a champion for Digital Transformation. Digient Technologies has a proven record of over two decades, customizing and developing IT products for the online gaming sector by providing unique software solutions to help them achieve exponential growth. Digient has diversified and expanded in verticals that include healthcare, e-commerce and travel.
For expansion in the UK market, organisations must get a UK Gambling License (UKGC) and be complaint to GDPR guidelines. It is a multifaced endeavour that requires meticulous planning, coordination and dedication. While in my previous avatar, I had worked on the other side of implementing the controls, I still had to get into extensive research, attending workshops, and engaging with experts to ensure a comprehensive understanding. Gap analysis was done to identify existing security and data protection implementation. A dedicated team comprising IT Professionals, compliance experts, legal advisors was created to work, and the team collaborated closely throughout the implementation process to address challenges.
A comprehensive risk assessment was conducted to identify potential security threats and vulnerabilities. It involved evaluating risks to data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Developing robust information security policies and procedures with ISO 27001 and GDPR, which covered areas such as data protection, access control, incident response, and employee training. As a part of the implementation technical controls such as encryption, access control, intrusion detection systems, and regular security audits bolstered the organisation’s cybersecurity posture. These measures were designed to safeguard sensitive data and ensure compliance with GDPR requirements.
Implementing ISO 27001 and GDPR requirements, requires meticulous planning, collaboration, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Understanding the requirements, engaging the right stakeholders, and implementing robust controls, organisations can enhance their cybersecurity posture, protect sensitive-data, and demonstrate compliance with regulatory standards.
3. On Challenges and Solutions in Digital Transformation:
“What are some of the most common challenges startups and SMEs face in their digital transformation journeys, and how do you approach these challenges as a consultant?”
Falguni Desai: Digital transformation involves leveraging emerging technologies such as AI, cloud computing, data analytics, IoT, and blockchain to enhance efficiency, personalise customer experience, and process optimisation. Digital transformation is not merely about adopting new technologies but also reimagining business models, strategies, and processes. It includes organizational changes, cultural shift, and the adoption of new methodologies to adapt to market dynamics and to explore additional business opportunities.
Implementing digital transformation for an SMEs or Startups can be challenging, the major one being limited resources. They often have limited financial resources, manpower, and technical expertise. Besides employees can be apprehensive about adopting new technologies, workflows, or processes, fearing job displacement. Most of the SMEs have their application and server which are outdated or end of life, and hence migrating data can be complex and time-consuming process. All these initiatives require a clear strategic vision and alignment with business objectives, and a leader to drive it in the organisation.
To improve and personalize customer experience, manging and leveraging data is the key. However, SMEs may lack the data management capabilities, tools, and processes to extract actionable insights from the data.
While digital transformation projects pose challenges, in the current environment, organisations who do not adopt these, could face many issues. To overcome the challenges, first step would be to create a digital strategy which should include not only the short, mid and long term plans, but also business benefits, or indeed how do these align to the business strategy. Embracing agile methodologies can help adapt quickly to changing market conditions, mitigate risks, and accelerate time-to-market for digital products and services.
As any organisation which embraces digital technologies, they become increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats and data breaches. Implementing robust security protocols, conducting regular audits and assessments, and providing employee training to employees on data protection, can help overcome the challenges.
4. On Future Trends in Digital Technology:
“Looking ahead, what emerging digital technologies do you believe will have the most significant impact on startups and SMEs? How should businesses prepare to integrate these technologies?
Falguni Desai : While technology has been an enabler for business over the years, the pandemic heightened the urgency of embracing digital transformation and new ways of conducting business. The pandemic not only accelerated the adoption of existing technologies but also spurred the development and implementation of new technologies and business models.
The rapid pace of technology evaluation such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, Internet of Things, augmented reality, and 5G are transforming how businesses operate, interact with customers, and deliver products and services. Millennials and Gen Z, who have grown up in a digitally connected world, value convenience, personalisation, sustainability and seamless digital experiences.
Several emerging digital technologies have the potential to significantly impact StartUps and SMEs, AL and ML can automate processes, enhance decision-making, personalize customer experience, and optimize various aspects of business operations. This could mean a wide range of implementation scenarios such as voice assistant, personalised customer experience and e-commerce chatbot. 5G rollout ramp up will effectively eliminate latency, which will be a significant step forward in developing Internet of Things (IoT), as these networks are more capable of supporting the influx of interconnected devices.
Superapp will emerge as the next generation of business software. Superapp is built as a platform to deliver a miniapps ecosystem that users can choose from to activate for consistent and personalized app experiences. The key is data sharing and includes simple user authentication, such as single sign-in and tracking user preferences or app usage.
Social media influencers and personalised marketing are becoming viable avenues for connecting with customers and showcasing products. Social media marketing can help connect customers and develop a niche within the industry. Social media advertising and marketing will continue to grow.
Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that can produce various type of content, including text, imagery, audio and synthetic data. AI has been driven by the simplicity of new user interfaces for creating high-quality text, graphics and videos. Cybersecurity will be important here due to the new powerful threats related to the development of artificial intelligence, such as false information, new types of fraud and deep fakes. Technologies supporting part-time teams will continue to evolve, including better instant messaging, more accessible cloud technologies and collaborative web tools for various enterprise functions.
5. On Role and Value of Independent Directors in the Digital Age
“As someone aspiring to become an Independent Director, what unique value do you believe you can bring to a board in this digital age?”
Falguni Desai: As an aspiring independent director with an extensive experience in IT operations, strategic planning, risk management, and stakeholder management, I offer a unique value blend of skills and perspectives that are particularly relevant in today’s digital landscape. As a female leader in the tech industry, I am committed to championing diversity and inclusion efforts, both within the organisations and on the board. This could include advocating for diverse representation in leadership positions and fostering a culture of belonging.
The rapid pace of technological change can be overwhelming for boards, causing anxiety about keeping up with the latest developments and staying competitive in the market. Integration of AI and automation can lead to concerns about job displacement and the undercutting of wages, as intelligent, AI-related technologies like process automation and digital content services continue to evolve and eliminate manual tasks. Integration of AI can also raise ethical concerns around intellectual property infringement, data algorithms and algorithms bias.
I can help manage “AI anxiety” by leveraging my experience in IT to manage the introduction of new technology, ensuring that board understands the implications of digital and technology, an help the organisations navigate the opportunities and risks associated with digital transformation. By asking the right questions, ensuring that the digital transformation is fundamentally changing how the business creates value, tracking whether the digital transformation is changing how the business creates value, tracking digital transformation is working. I can help the board drive digital transformation and ensure long-term success and sustainability of the organisation.
Furthermore, my commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and diversity can add significant value to the board. By understanding the strategic nature of CSR initiatives and promoting diversity and inclusion, I can help organizations build trust, mitigate risks, and drive sustainable growth in an increasingly complex business environment.
As a female director, I also bring a unique perspective and can contribute to enhancing gender diversity on the board. This can foster a more inclusive and diverse decision-making process, leading to better outcomes for the organization.
In summary, my unique combination of technology expertise, strategic planning, risk management, governance, CSR, and diversity can make me a valuable asset to any board in this digital age. My ability to leverage experience, skills, and values can contribute to the success of corporate governance, ethical decision-making, and the long-term sustainability of the organization.
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Brief Profile
Falguni Desai is Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Digient Technologies and Khel-Sports (Part-time)
She boasts a distinguished 23-year career across various sectors, carving a prominent niche in technology and executive leadership. As the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Digient Technologies, she spearheads innovation, leading her team in developing new products and fortifying existing ones for enhanced scalability and resilience. Her hands-on approach ensures rigorous scrutiny of code and design, yielding robust, error-free solutions indicative of her unwavering commitment to excellence.
