Kalyan Kumar

Kalyan Kumar

Backed with more than two decades of profound experience, Kalyan Kumar (fondly known as KK) is the Global CTO & Head – Ecosystems at HCL Technologies and Chief Product Officer for HCL Software Products & Platforms LOB. 

As a leader, KK is driven by growth and innovation around technology. However, what sets him apart is his entrepreneurial mindset of constant learning and discovering new processes. His journey sets an example of blending leadership and entrepreneurship in its true sense. He has a proven record of successfully spearheading executive roles and achieving HCL’s desired goals and outcomes.

His Initial Journey

An exhilarating leader, Kalyan started his career as a System Engineer for Digital Equipment India and later joined HCLTech in September 2000 (then HCL Technologies). Over the next couple of decades, he ended up performing and serving various roles in Technology, Product Management, Product Development, Offering & Practice Management, Business Development, Strategic Partnerships, Managed Service Delivery, Cloud Service Delivery, Multi-Service Integration & Service Management, and General management roles.

In 2000, Kalyan started at the Infrastructure Management Services and led the entire Digital Foundation Practice for over five years driving peak growth.

KK has deep product management and product engineering leadership including forming of the DRYICE.AI Software Division which pioneered a new way to deliver outcome-based AIOPS & Service Orchestration Products & Platforms and led the world’s first BSM SaaS Platform – MTaaS in 2008.

Decoding his Role as CTO and CPO

As the CTO, KK leads technology strategy, building strategic partner ecosystems, startup and exploration incubation, open Innovation/open source, and next-gen technology blueprinting and also oversees the HCL Cloud offering – #HCLCloudSmart and Cloud Ecosystem Business Units (AWS/Google/Microsoft/IBM-Redhat/SAP) as well as Tech OEM Ecosystem Units (Dell Tech/Vmware/Cisco/Intel. KK Drives the Startup and Industry Forums/Open Source ecosystem engagement for HCL.

As Chief Product Officer of HCL Software (P&P), he leads product strategy, Product Specialists/Technical Advisors, Professional Services, Product Management, Engineering, and Operations for the business.

Apart from his role, KK is a member of the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) CIO Network, the CNBC Technology Executive Council, a Fellow of the British Computer Society, and also part of WEF Global Future Council 2020 & 2021 for Quantum Computing.

KK was also named in the Top 100 Technology Leaders of 2021 in the Technology Magazine. He serves on the Board of two startups and a midsize technology company in the Hybrid Data/Analytics domain. He has co-authored 8 books spanning the domains of Service Management, XaaS, CloudNative, and Process Re-engineering.

Outside of his core Professional Career, KK is deeply committed to creating social impact through sports. He is a Trustee of a London-based charity involved in engaging kids of State Schools in the game of cricket to keep them off the streets. He is also Vice Chairman of Tower Hamlets Cricket Club (THCC) and Patron of Cricket Performance Group – CricFitSport. KK is a life member of the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club (Lords) and has memberships in over 8 other County Cricket Clubs in England.

KK lives in Royal Tunbridge Wells, England, with his wife and son. In his free time, he loves watching and playing cricket, reading, and playing music.

A Triangle of Personal Qualities for a Circle of Success

  1. Over the years, Kalyan has come to realize that perseverance is key to achieving success in any field. He has encountered numerous obstacles and setbacks, but by remaining persistent and focused, she could achieve his goals. Perseverance yields a lot of returns in the long run, it teaches the art of patience and consistency.
  2. As a demonstrated leader, Kalyan also believes that humility is essential for any leader, no matter the amount of success. It’s important to remain humble and acknowledge that there is always more to learn. When a leader is deeply rooted in core values and stays grounded through breakouts and breakthroughs, it speaks volumes.
  3. Finally, curiosity is the one skill that Kalyan always believes one should have. It has allowed him to constantly seek out new knowledge and information, which has broadened his perspective. Additionally, by asking questions and seeking out answers, Kalyan has been able to develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, which are valuable skills in both personal and professional settings. Curiosity keeps a leader going and growing for the long game.

Hopping onto the Technological Learning Curve

Kalyan reckons staying up-to-date with the latest technology is critical for anyone working in the industry. Attending conferences and events focused on technology and software development, both as a speaker and as an attendee. These events provide a great opportunity to learn about new technologies and connect with other professionals in the field.

A big challenge, not just for tech-based companies but for the tech industry, is staying ahead of exponentially evolving technologies and keeping our software products and services up-to-date and competitive. This requires agility, self-development, as well as a willingness to embrace new technologies and adapt to changing market conditions.

A Face-off with the Obstacles 

There have been several tough obstacles and challenges, but Kalyan believes that each of these experiences has helped him to grow and develop as a professional and as a person.

As a sports enthusiast, Kalyan draws take quite a bit of inspiration from cricket. The sheer grit and determination showcased by various players tell him that there’s more that can be done in the face of any obstacle. The 1983 Indian cricket team, for example, considered an underdog – went on to win the World Cup. This has kept pushing him to achieve what others might call impossible.

As a leader in the software product and services industry, Kalyan is responsible for managing a large team, overseeing complex projects, and staying up-to-date with rapidly evolving technologies, all while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. This requires a lot of careful planning, organization, and prioritization, as well as the ability to delegate effectively and rely on others for support.

Times of Triumph

HCLTech has been positioned as a Leader in Gartner’s 2022 Magic Quadrant for Public Cloud IT Transformation Services for the second consecutive year. The company has also been named Customers’ Choice in 2022 Gartner Peer Insights ‘Voice of the Customer’ for Digital Commerce. Its recent and very successful partnership with Ferrari is also turning a lot of heads.

For Kalyan, success is more of a journey. With that in mind, his greatest success is instilling values of continuous innovation within the teams that he works with, and investing in the capabilities of HCL’s workforce. It’s encouraging to see these efforts start to pay off as employees grow individually.

The USP

HCLSoftware has some excellent products with amazing customers. It is the only software company on this planet that has such a huge portfolio with so diverse products which are a mix of classic and contemporary products. This is both a strength and something that the company needs to be thoughtful about. It is an opportunity to grow with the existing customers with new products and a threat to its customers leaving for other products.

Kalyan’s Mantra for Life

It’s a bit difficult to boil things down to a single mantra, but if did have any it would be to “never stop learning.”

Learning is a never-ending process and Kalyan believes to achieve success in any field, it’s essential to maintain a growth mindset and a willingness to continually learn and improve.

Whether it’s through formal education, reading, attending conferences and events, or simply being open to feedback and new ideas, Kalyan is a firm believer that everyone can benefit from a commitment to lifelong learning.

Integration of Innovative Technologies

Business leaders have become more confident in the reliability of Hyperautomation after initial hesitation to invest in it. In the past, chief information officers, chief strategy officers, and CEOs were experimenting, trying, and testing multiple platforms without committing to large-sized deployments. Hyperautomation initiatives are implemented in shorter timeframes and with much greater ease.

Preparing for a Power-Packed Future

Kalyan is fully committed to continuing to drive innovation, growth, and success for its organization and customers. In the upcoming times, he sees HCLSoftware continuing to develop cutting-edge technologies and software solutions that help its customers to stay competitive and achieve their business goals. This fully leans into its Mode 1-2-3 strategy.

Beyond that, Kalyan is always looking for new opportunities to learn, grow, and challenge himself. He believes that there is always room for improvement and innovation, and he is excited to see where the future takes him.

Kalyan’s Words of Wisdom for Budding Entrepreneurs

“Every person has their ideas and principles which guide them, especially leaders. If I could give any sort of advice, it would be to focus on building strong relationships. One of the most important aspects of leadership is building strong relationships with your team members, colleagues, and stakeholders. Take the time to get to know people on a personal level, listen to their ideas and concerns, and show that you care about their success and well-being. When people feel valued and respected, they are more likely to be motivated, engaged, and committed to achieving shared goals.”