Subroto Bagchi- Building a great career in IT



Yesterday, I got a chance to hear Mr Subroto Bagchi, COO of Mind Tree consulting addressing a set of young IT professionals on the topic "Building a great career in IT". The speech was extremely informative and interesting.I wanted to jot down all the points of his speech but couldn't.(I was so involved in the speech!)

Anyway, I scribbled something on random sheets of paper and later tried to put it all together. Below mentioned are those points.BTW,Mr Bagchi has started writing for the Times of India(TOI) for the past few weeks.You can read his TOI articles here.

Here is a summary of what he talked about.

-How ppl choose their job ( Influence of relatives,need for doing a SWOT analysis,Focus should be on learning)


What an Indian IT individual can do in

PHASE 1:The Initial few years i.e 1-3 yrs of his career

- First few years of job are critical (One has got to learn.)
Learning by doing
Learning by observation
Learning by reading
Learning by networking
Learning to learn

-It is time to break the stereo types.
Mr. Bagchi talked about a Bell Lab model.I googled and got this speech of his which explains the Bell Lab model.

The focus of an individual should be on.:
1) Initiative
2) Self Management
3) Networking
4) Leadership
5) Followership
6) Show and tell
7) Organization Savvy
8) Self Management
9) Team Work

Mindset usually found in this phase (something on which we need to work upon):
-Putting money above all else
-Obsession with "batchmates" syndrome.
-stereotyping "technically challenging work"
-Poor focus on written and communication skills
-Poor understanding of ruse
-Inadequate attention to health.
-Slow understanding to work life
-Poor understanding of work ethics.


PHASE II- Next 3-5 years

The IT individual should concentrate on building
a) Customer Knowledge
b) Process Knowledge
c) Business Knowledge
d) Knowledge Management

Key organization expectation: Footprint.
The organization would like to see how much potential you have.

PHASE III:Next 5-10 years

- Time to reasses the initial SWOT analysis
- Time for peer feedback on "Who I am"
- Time to creatively destroy the comfort zone - Explore new geography,domain,role,
New Learning must be the driver
-Time to create a serious passion outside of work,socialize career ambition
-Time to seek a mentor.

PHASE IV :Beyond 10 years
- One should be good at
a) Managing resources
b) Managing Technology
c) Managing Complexity
d) Rain Making ( generating more biz)

He then went on to talk about customers feedback on Indian IT professionals.
Here are a few.

The young IT individual:
- Do not understand business
- Do not communicate well (written and oral)
- Are not stable (higher studies,work, technology etc)
- Expensive and likely to "outpay" themselves.