Over 300 leaders from global companies, government, academia, and innovation centers gathered in Hyderabad for the 2nd Global Capability Center (GCC) Leadership Conclave, hosted by The Leadership Federation. The event highlighted the growing importance of India’s GCCs, which are moving beyond their traditional roles to become drivers of innovation, strategic value, and economic momentum.
The gathering focused on how GCCs are evolving into central hubs for enterprise transformation. Discussions covered key challenges, including developing future-ready talent, embracing artificial intelligence, adapting to changing organizational culture, and meeting rising expectations around business impact.
In a keynote session, Dr Paul Roehrig, Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer at Ascendion, laid out a compelling roadmap for India’s next decade. He noted, “India can strengthen its position as a global leader in innovation through a modern network of capability centers driven by advanced technology. Companies need to rethink how they balance talent with smart systems to improve productivity and scale new ideas.”
Ashwin Rao, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President at Ascendion, added, “India’s engineering depth, when combined with AI, can redefine the way work is done. The next generation of capability centers will not simply support operations—they’ll lead innovation. We’re building solutions designed for outcomes, and India is at the heart of that vision.”
Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary of Telangana’s Youth, Tourism, and Culture Department, highlighted Hyderabad’s emergence as a preferred destination for global capability centers. “Over the last decade, Hyderabad has grown from a services city into a powerhouse for innovation. Still, we must address gaps in talent readiness and infrastructure. Through targeted consortiums in finance and life sciences—and expansion into other sectors—we’re building a collaborative model that reduces attrition and increases value delivery.”
A key session, “Leading in the Agentic Era: GCCs as the Engines for Change”, featured insights from Sapna Grover (Microsoft), Srikanth Kamaraju (Adobe), and Dr Dinesh Chandrashekhar (Centific). The conversation focused on the rising influence of AI agents in operations and leadership. Speakers emphasized that organizations are moving from skill-based hiring to identifying talent with adaptability and learning potential.
“Today’s roles are being redefined,” said Ms Grover. “Especially in product leadership, we’re seeing outcomes driven by the integration of human judgment with machine intelligence.” Dr Chandrashekhar added, “We must show that AI is here to support career growth, not replace it.”
Mr Kamaraju underlined the need for trust and openness in this transformation: “To make AI and human teams work together, clear communication and transparency are essential.” Another engaging panel, “Human at the Helm: Culture, Curiosity & Capability”, featured perspectives from Navin Bishnoi (Marvell), Amar Shah (Diageo), Divesh Singla (Signant Health), and Pancham Taneja (Delta Capita). The group discussed the evolving demands on leadership in hybrid workplaces where people and AI systems collaborate.
“The leaders of tomorrow must be comfortable guiding teams that include both humans and intelligent systems,” said Mr Taneja. “Those who stay curious and are open to growth will thrive.” In the session “Writing the New ROI Playbook for AI-Powered GCCs”, industry leaders including Anuprita Bhattacharya (Merck IT), Malahar Pinelli (7-Eleven), Manu Dhir (Stonex), and Shameel Sharma (PepsiCo) discussed how expectations from GCCs are shifting.
“Boards are no longer satisfied with cost savings,” Ms Bhattacharya noted. “They want innovation, agility, and business outcomes.” She also emphasized India’s rising profile as a value-based destination: “Companies are choosing India not just for scale, but for expertise and innovation.”
Another impactful panel, “Lessons from the Frontline: Winning Moves and Wrong Turns”, featured reflections from Vinod Vasudevan (Carrier), Piyush Bhatt (MetLife), Anil Mudugalla (Baxter), and Dinesh Murugesan (DSM). They shared stories from their transformation efforts, covering organizational shifts, leadership changes, and lessons learned through real-world challenges.
A one-on-one conversation with Namita Adavi, Partner and Head of India GCC Consulting Practice at Zinnov, explored how capability centers can adapt their strategies in light of AI’s growing influence. The conclave wrapped up with roundtable discussions on policy, new research presentations, and the presentation of The Leadership Federation Awards—honoring individuals who have significantly shaped the GCC ecosystem in India.
The event proved to be more than a networking platform—it sparked practical ideas and new partnerships. As India continues to attract top-tier global investment in capability centers, it’s clear that GCCs are no longer supporting players in the country’s growth story—they’re at the forefront.
