So, Nasscom has finished, the stage has been dismantled and the airport has been full of people leaving Mumbai. I'm now back in the office in a cold, dark and rainy UK and the heat of India seems a long way away.
My reflections of the conference: a very impressive line up of speakers covering a range of thought-leading topics around outsourcing, BPO, ITO, and offshoring. Lots of debate and lots of networking. Business cards exchanged and meetings in the diary for follow up conversations with several organisations.
More than this, Nasscom is a big and flashy event, and each year is bigger and flashier than the last. It's where anyone who's anyone in Indian IT wants to be. Like the Fringe that surrounds the Edinburgh Festival, Nasscom plays host to a huge number of meetings set up by industry and city analysts - working from 8 'till 8 - they often don't even get to any of the presentations. It's important to wear your best smile (most of the time) asTV cameras and press abound. The importance of Nasscom is seen by the roll call of speakers past and present ... Bill Gates, Stephen Green, Heinrich von Pierer, Tom Friedman ... It's almost becoming the Davos equivalent of the IT world. This year, the biggest new influx of attendees came from eastern Asia - China in particular. India's biggest potential competitor is there to learn and is learning fast. There is always good representation from the UK, (the inward investment agencies especially) but also Canada, Finland and beyond.
The agenda is very well balanced: lots of speakers from the industry who support and organise the event; invitees from the USA, the UK and beyond to bring the "Western" perspective; a good peppering of academics ensure the brain cells get filled (and the Books get publicised!). Then there are the researchers - the McKinsey's and the Gartners - who always delight in bringing some new ideas, new frameworks or business tools to bear.
For me, the highlight was listening to the President of India lucidly articulate a truly bold vision of where India can - indeed - will be; how he personally will enable it through investment in education, infrastructure, economy, policy and international links; and challenge the industry to deliver not on its stretch targets - but over three times its forecasts - to take India straight into a lead position in the world. But highlights also included the thought provoking 'Blue Ocean Theory' from W Chan Kim; Tom Friedman's 'Flat Earth'; and the chance to meet with colleagues and friends all working and playing in this fascinating industry.
Not a bad way to spend my birthday after all.
Comments