Rajesh Rai_ Architecting a Human-Centric Future for Tech Talent.pdf

Rajesh Rai, Senior Vice President and Head of HR, GlobalLogic APAC and an alumnus of the prestigious XLRI, Jamshedpur, exemplifies this vision. With a diverse career spanning IT digital transformation.

1. Rajesh Rai: Architecting a Human-Centric
Future for Tech Talent

The digital engineering industry today stands at an inflection point defined by an
unrelenting war for talent, the rapid disruption of AI, and the urgent need to
build resilient cultures in an era of hybrid work. In this landscape, where
technology alone is no longer a differentiator, visionary leadership becomes the
true catalyst for change.
Rajesh Rai, Senior Vice President and Head of HR, GlobalLogic APAC and an
alumnus of the prestigious XLRI, Jamshedpur, exemplifies this vision. With a
diverse career spanning IT digital transformation, ITES, human capital
consulting, fashion retail, internet e-commerce, and manufacturing, Rajesh
pioneers a human-centric leadership approach, leveraging AI and data to

2. empower people, foster learning and belonging, and drive purposeful innovation
for a future-ready workforce.
Having partnered with global CXOs to design and implement tailored talent
strategies that drive profitability and growth, Rajesh specializes in GenAI-led
talent management, culture transformation, and the evolving future of HR. A
certified Gallup CliftonStrengths coach, he is deeply passionate about coaching
individuals and teams to unlock their full potential.
The Architect of Culture: Forging a Leadership Path Through
Diverse Experience
Rajesh Rai’s path to leadership at GlobalLogic was shaped by strategic, calculated
steps that built a versatile skill set for the future of work. Starting in management
consulting with Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young, he refined his ability to
navigate ambiguity, solve complex problems using data, and manage large-scale
challenges across various industries, laying the foundation for his innovative and
culturally empathetic leadership.
These skills were tested in defining leadership roles. As a young HR Head at
United Colors of Benetton across India and Southeast Asia, he drove cultural and
organizational transformation. At Accenture, he mastered scale, managing HR
for hundreds of thousands, and at Expedia in Singapore, he led a team of 34+
nationalities, gaining deep global exposure. This trilogy of transformative
leadership, scale, and international collaboration shapes his approach today.
As a GlobalLogic leader, Rai applies his expertise to build a modern,
human-centric organization, exemplified by AI-powered Career Navigator,
development-focused performance processes, and the GLX learning platform.
His impact extends to social initiatives like educating 10,000+ children and
planting 100,000+ trees annually, shaping a culture that is Smart, Bold, and
Human.

3. Learning the Strategic Power of ‘No’
Every professional journey has challenges, and Rajesh Rai’s was
overcommitment. At one point, he took on a role that combined nearly three
positions. Despite his dedication, the workload proved unmanageable, teaching
him the importance of boundaries, realistic assessment, and focused excellence.
Overcoming this challenge taught Rajesh Rai the importance of professional
boundaries, realistic self-assessment, and prioritization, shaping his belief that
true effectiveness comes from focused excellence rather than overextension.
A Multifaceted Strategy Built on Purpose and People
In the competitive digital engineering space, Rajesh Rai credits GlobalLogic’s
edge to a personalized people strategy, especially for Gen Z talent. Rooted in
hiring Smart, Bold, and Human individuals, it fosters innovation through
continuous learning, career growth, and a strong sense of purpose where
employees see their impact on clients, communities, and the environment.
For Rajesh, the unique differentiator is that GlobalLogic’s approach is not a
checklist of isolated initiatives; instead, it is a rich, interconnected potpourri
where a deep culture of care and inclusion is seamlessly enmeshed with purpose,
innovation, and growth, creating a singular and powerful employee experience
that is unique to GlobalLogic.
Navigating the New Talent Landscape: Five Strategic Shifts
From his experience, Rajesh Rai has observed a fundamental transformation in
the talent landscape over the past five years, largely accelerated by the pandemic.
He outlines the key shifts and how GlobalLogic is proactively staying ahead of
them:

4. ●​The Rise of the Human-Machine Partnership: Rajesh highlights AI and
technology as key to personalized employee experiences, with
GlobalLogic integrating a “Human + Machine” approach into HR to
craft tailored engagement strategies. ●​The Redefinition of Engagement and Culture: With remote and hybrid
work reshaping engagement, GlobalLogic uses creative initiatives to
keep distributed talent connected to its core culture.
●​The Data-Driven Talent Function: Rajesh highlights the monumental
shift from intuition-based to data-based decision-making in HR.
GlobalLogic uses advanced analytics to drive precise, effective, and
strategic talent decisions. ●​The Imperative of Applied Learning: Rajesh emphasizes continuous,
application-based learning, with GlobalLogic fostering hands-on
upskilling to prepare employees for real-world challenges.
●​Navigating a BANI World: Rajesh notes the shift from VUCA to the more
challenging BANI environment, and GlobalLogic stays ahead through
clear communication, strong support, and agile alignment with its
vision.

5. The Belongingness Advantage
While many companies speak about a people-centric culture, Rajesh Rai
highlights “Belongingness” as GlobalLogic’s proprietary framework driving
engagement, retention, and innovation. He argues that personalized care is not
unique, but GlobalLogic’s authentic and deeply embedded execution sets it apart,
delivering measurable results.

Under Rajesh Rai’s leadership, belonging is central to every employee
interaction, creating an inclusive ecosystem where employees and their families
feel valued beyond work. This deep connection fosters natural high performance,
reflected in engagement scores 10–12 points above industry benchmarks and
significantly higher retention, proving authentic care as a powerful competitive
advantage.

6. Internal Investment, External Impact: Validating a Leadership
Philosophy
Rajesh firmly believes that a company’s internal people strategy is the ultimate
blueprint for its external client success. For him, the most powerful validation of
GlobalLogic’s “Tech-First + People-First” approach is how investments in
employee development directly translate into superior innovation for clients.
A prime example of Rajesh Rai’s leadership philosophy is GlobalLogic’s annual
Talent Summit, where high-potential middle managers are identified and
groomed for critical roles, strengthening a pipeline of homegrown leaders rooted
in the company’s culture of care and innovation. This internal focus on nurturing
talent also fuels external client success, with Generative AI standing out as a key
achievement.
Operating as an “AI-First” company for over three years, GlobalLogic has
developed platforms like VelocityAI & Agentic AI capabilities & solutions that
enable clients to embed scalable, secure, and human-centric AI, exemplifying
how the synergy between talent development and client impact defines Rai’s
leadership.
From Listening to Leading: How Feedback Shapes GlobalLogic
For GlobalLogic, the practice of actively soliciting and acting upon feedback is not
a periodic initiative but a fundamental cultural tenet, a philosophy passionately
embodied by Rajesh Rai that directly fuels its evolution. This deep commitment
to listening is the proven catalyst behind many of its most impactful innovations.
At GlobalLogic, a culture of co-creation drives both internal and external
innovation. Flagship programs like the digital learning platform (GLX),
AI-powered Career Navigator, and progressive performance management were
shaped by employee insights via initiatives like the GlobalLogic Citizens’ Club and

7. ambassador network, leading to inclusive policies, enhanced benefits, and
sustainability efforts saving billions of litres of water. Externally, platforms like
VelocityAI are crafted from client feedback to address real-world challenges,
reflecting leadership’s belief that every voice matters in shaping meaningful
innovations, policies, and experiences.
Championing Trust, Compliance, and Employee Well-being at Scale
When asked how GlobalLogic ensures data privacy, compliance, and employee
well-being at scale, the company emphasizes that, as part of the Hitachi Group,
trust and ethics are not just values but operational cornerstones.

●​On data privacy and compliance, GlobalLogic, backed by Hitachi’s
governance framework, ensures data privacy and compliance through

8. privacy-by-design practices, regular audits, secure engineering, and
mandatory employee training.
●​On employee well-being, the company prioritizes holistic support
through its Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential
guidance, and its partnership with Thrive Global, helping managers
build mental, physical, and emotional resilience with science-backed
microsteps.
●​These initiatives are part of a broader Employee Wellness Strategy that
fosters an inclusive and thriving workplace, further reinforced by
gender-neutral benefit policies that support employees’ holistic
well-being.
In essence, GlobalLogic demonstrates how cutting-edge innovation is balanced
with uncompromising integrity, ensuring that data privacy, compliance, and
employee well-being are consistently championed at scale.
Strategic Expansion: Building the Future Through Acquisitions,
Alliances, and Innovation
GlobalLogic strengthens its leadership in digital product engineering through
acquisitions, tech partnerships, and investment in future-ready talent globally
Some recent acquisitions driving growth are –
●​Mobiveil (Dec 2023): Enhanced embedded software, ASIC, and
system-level engineering with Centers of Excellence in the US and India.
●​Katzion (Dec 2023): Expanded automotive mobility offerings and
opened new markets in Australia, APAC, the Middle East, and Saudi
Arabia.
●​Sidero (July 2023): Strengthened cloud-native software development
and Communications expertise in Ireland.
●​Hexacta (Jan 2023): Added strong Latin American talent in software
development, UX, and data engineering.
●​Fortech (Nov 2022): Expanded into Romania with one of its largest
independent digital engineering firms.

9. Strategic Technology Moves
●​Achieved AWS Premier Tier Partner (May 2025) with 600+ certified
engineers across Cloud, Automotive, FinServ, and DevOps.
●​Launched VelocityAI, a scalable AI platform for automated testing,
streamlined DevOps, and cost reduction.
●​Investing in GenAI, quantum computing, and the metaverse to drive
innovation-led growth.
●​Partnering with India-based GCCs to scale mission-critical digital
engineering.
●​Expanding through a hub-and-spoke model into Tier II/III cities like
Mahbubnagar, focusing on GenAI, data, and GIS solutions.
Future-Ready Workforce
●​Built 13 digital academies across Data, DevOps, Blockchain, Leadership,
and more.
●​Strengthened by GLX (GlobalLogic Learning Experience) and Career
Navigator for personalized learning and career growth.
●​A deep culture of continuous learning, next-gen innovation, and purpose
powers the growth of both the company and its employees.
Together, these moves reinforce GlobalLogic’s vision to scale innovation, expand
global reach, and prepare a workforce for the future.
Awards and recognitions
GlobalLogic’s people-first, tech-driven strategy is validated by awards in talent,
engineering, culture, and sustainability.
Here are some of the awards and recognitions:

10. ●​In 2025, GlobalLogic globally was recognized with the ATD BEST Award
and named a Leader in all four quadrants of the ISG Provider Lens™
Digital Engineering Services.
●​In 2024, the company was honored as a Top Company for Exceptional
Employee Experiences by ETHRWorld, received the Hitachi Innovation
Award for Career Navigator
●​In 2024, GlobalLogic won the prestigious Resilience Award at the Volvo
Cars Supplier Expo.
●​Also in 2024, GlobalLogic was positioned as a Leader in Software
Engineering and a Major Contender in Quality Engineering (QE) by the
Everest Group, achieved the AWS Migration Competency Ranking, and
earned the EcoVadis Sustainability Silver Ranking. ●​In 2023, the organization was recognized among the Top 25 Great
Places to Work in ITeS/IT, the Top 40 for Cultural Wellness, and the
Top 100 Great Places to Work Across India.
●​That same year, it also won the BCG-Times Group Industry Crusader
Award for DEI and was awarded the AWS Migration Competency from
Microsoft.
●​In 2022, GlobalLogic was named a Leader in ISG Provider Lens –
Digital Engineering Services, ranked as a Leader in Zinnov Zones ER&D,
and secured the #15 position in Everest Group’s Engineering Services
Top 50.
Previous Media Features and Thought Leadership
Over the years, GlobalLogic leaders have been consistently featured across
reputed HR and business platforms, sharing insights on technology, innovation,
and people practices.
Here are some of the notable mentions:
GlobalLogic Leaders
Arun Pisapati

11. Autocar Professional – Sep 15, 2024 – India and APAC Will Drive Our Future
Growth
Sanjeev Azad
PC Quest – May, 2025 – When Old Meets Bold
Srini Shankar and Piyush Jha joint coverage
Business Standard – Aug 21, 2024 – GlobalLogic to up India staff headcount to
20K from 15K by 2026-end
Rajesh Rai
●​People Matters (6th Jan 2025) – TechHR Pulse Mumbai: Transforming
L&D through digital innovation
●​ETHRWorld (18th Dec 2024) – GenAI for productivity learning grows
by 859%: Report
●​ETHRWorld (18th Dec 2024) – HR leaders navigate internal adoption
of GenAI amid privacy concerns
●​People Matters (3rd Dec 2024) – Bridging the inclusion gap for persons
with disabilities
●​People Matters (10th Oct 2024) – Is mental health finally a priority in
Indian workplaces?
●​TechGig (9th Oct 2024) – World Mental Health Day: Hybrid work, a
flexible future or a mental trap for professionals?
●​ETHRWorld (24th Sep 2024) – ET Studio Panel Discussion with
Coursera on workplace learning
●​People Matters (15th Aug 2024) – The freedom to thrive at work
●​The Economic Times (3rd Aug 2024) – India Inc rolls out benefits for
employees’ parents, in-laws
●​People Matters (5th June 2024) – World Environment Day: How
companies are embracing sustainable practices

12. ●​ET Studios – HR Connect – Tech-driven HR insights with Shantanu
Dhar and Rajesh Rai
An Open Letter to Emerging HR Leaders in Tech and Talent
Dear Emerging HR Leaders,
HR today is not just a support function; it is a strategic driver of business impact.
Your credibility will come from shaping talent in ways that directly influence
performance and growth.
At the heart of every organization are its people. Understand their skills, where
they create the most value, and where they need support. By doing so, you don’t
just manage talent, you unlock potential.
Invest in the core. Build stronger skills for tomorrow and help your people grow
into better professionals. At the same time, remember that HR holds sensitive
information, manages it with absolute integrity, and is “whiter than white.”
Finally, don’t let processes limit you. HR offers immense space for creativity and
innovation; use it to design experiences that leave a lasting legacy.
The future of work is unfolding now, and as HR leaders, you are its architects.
Lead with empathy, strategy, and courage, and you will shape not just businesses,
but lives.
With belief in your journey,​
Rajesh Rai
Senior Vice President and Head of HR, GlobalLogic APAC
Key Takeaways:

13. 1. People-Centric Leadership in a Tech-First World.
2. Building Culture Through Belongingness.
3. Strategic Talent Development as a Business Driver.
4. Learning the Power of Focused Excellence.
5. Navigating a Changing Talent Landscape with Innovation.
6. Purpose Beyond Business Metrics.