About the Initiative
The Data Circle is a flagship thought leadership platform brought to you by Forbes India, in collaboration with Snowflake, recognising visionary tech leaders who are reshaping their industries through data-first strategies, cloud innovation, and AI-powered decision-making.
Following the success of Season 1, which featured CTOs and tech visionaries from leading Indian enterprises, Season 2 expands the narrative - placing India’s GCCs (Global Capability Centres) at the centre of global digital transformation.
Innovation for the World, Made in India
From pioneering Generative AI applications to building cloud-native platforms and transforming operations with automation, India's GCCs are evolving into global innovation nerve centres.
Over a series of engaging dialogues with industry leaders and articles in Forbes India, The Data Circle will highlight:
- The rise of India as a GCC powerhouse
- The strategic role of data and Gen AI in building products for the world
- How India’s tech talent is redefining innovation pipelines for global enterprises
The Prelude Series: City Chapters
A three-city roadshow featuring Pune, Chennai, and Hyderabad - each spotlighting a unique pillar of data-driven transformation in GCCs.
PUNE
Pune, a major tech and R&D hub, is fast becoming a Gen AI innovation laboratory for multinational enterprises.
Theme: GCCs for Global Growth – Building India’s Gen AI-Powered Tech Stack for the World
Key Discussion Points
- The role of GCCs as catalysts for Gen AI innovation
- Engineering resilient and scalable Gen AI solutions
- The imperative of talent transformation in the Gen AI era
CHENNAI
Chennai’s deep engineering talent and its focus on digital infrastructure make it a vital node in the GCC innovation chain.
Theme: Unleashing Innovation in GCCs with Tech
Key Discussion Points
- The imperative of talent transformation in the Gen AI era
- Aligning India’s tech talent with global R&D
- AI/ML-enabled transformation of operations and customer experience
- Collaborations with startups, academia, and global tech ecosystems
HYDERABAD
Hyderabad is emerging as India’s data capital with a high concentration of data science and AI talent.
Theme: Data: The New Currency of Innovation in GCCs
Key Discussion Points
- Driving business value with data-driven innovation
- Using AI, analytics, and automation to optimise internal data
- Creating new revenue streams through smarter data strategies
- Building a data-first culture and solving the talent reskilling challenge
Featured Leaders: A Glimpse Back at Data Circle - Season 1
Season 1 of The Data Circle featured tech visionaries such as:
Their insights on AI, fraud detection, scalable tech stacks, and zero-trust data frameworks helped shape India’s modern digital landscape.
Why It Matters for CXOs
Global Shift
India is home to 1,580+ GCCs employing over 1.66 million professionals (NASSCOM, 2024).
Innovation Surge
Over 45% of these centres now lead global innovation mandates
Data Imperative
Data and Gen AI are no longer support tools - they’re strategic levers
Talent Advantage
India adds nearly 1.5 million STEM graduates annually - an unmatched pipeline for tech innovation.
In Association With
