CXOToday has engaged in an exclusive interview with Sarita Digumarti, Chief Learning Officer, UNext

 

What are the main challenges professionals face when trying to adapt to new digital technologies?

I personally feel professionals know where they want to reach and where they intend to take their careers to. But what they are unsure of is how to go and where to start. This gap between the current skillsets and the art of developing new competencies is the primary challenge that needs to be crossed psychologically first. And then we move on to addressing subsequent challenges like digital literacy, foundational knowledge in the field they want to venture into, the other work-related tasks they are juggling while upskilling, their organization’s culture and mindset towards talent transformation and more. Access to materials, curriculum, and the time dedicated to learning are the least of all challenges if you ask me.

 

How do training programs effectively address these challenges and help professionals bridge their skills gap?

Training programs are like your invitation to an adventure in a Hero’s Journey, right? The letter from Hogwarts or the call from R2D2. They are systematically conceptualized and conceived roadmaps for organizations to lead their employees to Platform 9^3/4. Regardless of a professional’s academic and work background, training programs – specifically the ones tailored by UNext – are inclusive. They accommodate the pace and space of individual learners so teams can transform as both cohorts and individuals. Our training programs feature diverse tailored modules, experiential learning aspects, and abundant opportunities for learners to interact with SMEs and veterans.

 

Are there any specific industries or roles where upskilling through training programs is especially crucial due to the fast pace of technological advancement?

I would definitely say Generative AI. While the pace of advancement is critical, the fact that Gen AI is truly democratic mandates a systematic approach to upskilling in this domain. Generative AI also comes with its set of cautions such as legal mandates, ethical and explainable AI aspect, compliances, and more, making the intervention of an expert pool of faculty for guidance and mentoring inevitable.

 

How do upskilling efforts impact a professional’s confidence and overall job satisfaction in a rapidly changing tech landscape?

Every professional aspires for impact and this impact could be either real-world, real-time, or both. Apart from monetary compensations and recognitions, employees yearn for contentment, where the task they just completed leaves a practical impact in their team or organization. Such fulfillment can be realized only when skills and competencies are critical and are aligned to an organization’s year-specific goals and visions. With upskilling, the aspirations of workforces are more streamlined to expected business outcomes, fostering more involvement from professionals and allowing them to be perpetually motivated by their own actions and accomplishments.

 

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, how does UNext ensure that its training programs remain forward-looking and adaptable to new technological trends?

Agility lies at the heart of staying relevant. An agile approach ensures a professional not just moves along with the surface currents but also moves ahead with opposing currents. UNext implements a similar modus operandi in terms of conceptualizing and conceiving bespoke programs for our clients. We emphasize experiential learning to theoretical and that’s why most of our practical learning modules are designed for relevance with real-world case studies, real-time assessments, codeathons, hackathons, gamification and leaderboard and more.

We also have a home-grown learning engagement app called Epic.U that allows partnering companies can have their distinct thread to collaborate and discuss concepts that are beyond their training program but within their business aspirations. The atmosphere is live for discussions, polls, demos, constructive criticisms, and more, making learning a perineal affair for learners. When learning becomes perpetual, you know you don’t have to put in efforts to stay relevant.

 

With the emergence of AI and automation, how can professionals strike a balance between upskilling in digital technologies and developing uniquely human skills that are harder to automate?

I’ve said this earlier and I feel it’s worth the reinforcement. We are at the exact same time as the invention of fire. When fire was first kindled with two flint stones, there was a crowd that watched with fascination and the other that saw it as a threat. We are in a no different mind space now. So, I recommend professionals to refine their humane competencies like creativity, empathy, listening and interpersonal skills, as upskilling technically can be done seamlessly. You have UNext for it. Innate human tendencies will what make professionals stand out from the crowd of workforces who know how to work on AI and other emerging technologies.

 

What is UNext’s approach to upskilling professionals in the context of emerging digital technologies?

Practical exposure to tools, techniques, industry best practices, and SME interactions. The more a professional walks in the shoes of their projection, the better they get to comprehend work and its operations-specific intricacies. With enterprise workforce transformation, we are bestowed with the responsibility to balance the ambitions of mammoth businesses and individual career fulfillment of employees. I believe experiential learning is the bridge between the two. Apart from this, what works brilliantly is the way we execute competency mapping to existing skill gaps, ultimately reflecting in the way we develop our curriculum and have evaluation metrics in place. Works incredibly for professionals and the leadership folks.