Future-Ready Teams : The skill gap is real
Ashwin Khorana
Bogey Golfer | Advisor - Banking, Digital & FinTech | Reflecting on what worked, staying sharp for what’s next | Believe in enjoying life’s simple pleasures instead of being caught in constant transformation and crisis
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A few weeks ago, Nayara Energy suddenly found its access to Microsoft’s cloud and email services blocked. The trigger wasn’t unpaid bills or an IT slip-up but it was sanctions on Russian entities, and Nayara has a Russian investor while India continues to buy oil from Russia.
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Imagine the CEO’s call to the CIO that morning:
“If Microsoft can switch us off overnight, are we prepared to keep the lights on?”
That question isn’t just about cloud contracts but it’s about whether your teams have the skills to adapt, secure, and continue operations under stress. The real test of CIO leadership isn’t in smooth sailing but it’s when the storm arrives unannounced.
The Skills Gap is Real
According to Gartner, 80% of enterprises that outperform their competition will have outcome-driven agile learning by 2027. Yet 85% of IT leaders say their current workforce isn’t ready for the future.
That’s like preparing for the World Cup but forgetting to train your bowlers. So, what skills do teams need to not just survive, but lead?
1. Cloud Security - The Non-Negotiable
It’s no longer about whether you’re in the cloud, but whether you can secure it. Cloud IAM, DevSecOps, risk frameworks, and native security tools are survival essentials. Cybersecurity isn’t a checkbox anymore—it’s the headline in every boardroom.
2. Data Engineering - Unlocking the Goldmine
Most organizations are still drowning in raw data while thirsting for insights. Data engineers today need to master modeling, orchestration, observability, and generative AI skills. Without that, your data pipelines look like Bengaluru traffic at 6 pm—clogged and frustrating.
3. Infrastructure Automation - Scaling Without Breaking
Infrastructure as Code (IaC), GitOps, and AI-augmented automation are no longer “innovations”—they’re table stakes. The payoff? Higher uptime, elastic scaling, and fewer “midnight crisis calls.” Automation isn’t about job cuts—it’s about preserving sanity.
4. Agile Development - Beyond Buzzwords
Agile is no longer just about sticky notes and daily stand-ups. The future is about Agile for AI, scaling agile practices, and iterative, customer-focused releases. If your projects still feel like Diwali launches—grand, delayed, and stressful—you’ve missed the point.
5. CRM Architecture - Designing Journeys, Not Just Systems
CRM today is the frontline of customer trust. Teams need platform expertise, integration skills, and AI/ML-powered customer journeys. If your CRM still behaves like a glorified contact book, your competition has already stolen your customers’ hearts.
6. Identity & Access Management - The Digital Gatekeepers
As both humans and machines demand access, IAM is the new security cornerstone. Teams must master modern protocols, cloud IAM, and seamless integrations. Think of it as your immigration checkpoint: smooth for the right people, impenetrable for the wrong ones.
My Take
The CIO’s role has shifted from being a technology custodian to a talent cultivator. Tools and platforms will keep changing, but your team’s ability to learn and adapt—that’s the real differentiator.
The question isn’t “Do we have the latest tech?” It’s “Do we have the skills to turn that tech into outcomes?”
Because even the best cricket bat won’t win you the match—unless your team knows how to play the shots.
Over to you: If you had to pick one urgent skill to upskill your team on. Cloud, Data, Agile, or Security which would it be?
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Enterprise Architecture | Digital Transformation | Cloud Infrastructure | IT Governance
1moA dew-laden spiderweb catches the smallest breeze and flags the spider to act. Tear one strand, and the entire web’s integrity is compromised. Your write-up, Ashwin, underscores a simple truth: cloud access isn’t guaranteed. It’s an urgent wake-up call that our cloud journey is a high-wire act - one misstep, and everything grinds to a halt. Cloud Security remains the upskill I’d invest in first - it underpins every other investment: mastering IAM, DevSecOps, and native security frameworks so teams can architect self-healing environments and automate threat response. This capability turns the cloud from a single point of failure into a resilient platform - ensuring continuity even if a provider’s gate closes overnight. On a personal note, I’ve been contemplating pursuing a Cloud Security Certification myself. I think it will sit nicely alongside my Azure, AWS, and TOGAF credentials.