We spoke to Healthcare IT expert, professor and author, Harish Rijhwani on the biggest trends in today’s corporate world and here’s what he had to say
By Vedica Vora
The Corporate arena is like a kaleidoscope; a slight movement and the entire scenario changes. I have seen many highs and lows in the past twenty years of my experience. But there are times that make you think, “What If?” So let me start with the trend possibly lingering in your mind.
The Slowdown Year
If last year was the year of switching Jobs, this year seems the opposite. Recession is a much-feared word; to be fair, we seem to be passing through another one of these cycles. Nearly every five to seven years, we have seen a slowdown in the past two decades. As a result, all big companies have gone on a hiring freeze. In similar times in the past, we have also seen corporates delaying the onboarding of freshers, and there is a possibility we could see the same in the near future.
Generative AI
If I talk about Generative AI, the first word which comes to your mind is ChatGPT/Bard. But ChatGPT is not the first of it’s kind. Before this, we had Alexa, Siri, and many other chatbots. On the other hand, ChatGPT has used 45 terabytes of data. The Internet, as of 2021, had 44 zettabytes (trillion gigabytes) of digital data. So, technically speaking, ChatGPT still has to learn from a lot of data, but that doesn’t make it any less.
Back to Office vs. Hybrid vs. Remote
An interesting trend is related to Back to Office, but many IT organizations combine Remote working and Back to Office. It has not been an easy task to get people 100% back to the office. From a personal perspective, a Hybrid model is a good option as you have the benefits of both remote and office. The main reason why this is beneficial is primarily for young professionals so that they can get groomed for the future.
Physical & Mental Health
In the past two years, people have realized the importance of being healthy; hopefully, this trend
will continue. Specifically, when we look at the IT world, we live a sedentary life which impacts us in the long term. Hence any kind of exercise is essential, even if it is for 30 minutes. In addition to being physically fit, exercise will also help you remain calm and mentally healthy.
Startups on the Rise
On one side, we are talking about a slowdown, but we have seen growth in India’s startup
ecosystem in the past few years. The government-recognized startups have gone from 471 in 2016 to 20K in 2022 (as per Statista). Additionally, with Shark Tank India, Entrepreneurs/Startups have received inspiration and gained visibility.
Harish Rijhwani is the Author of the book 9 to 5 Cubicle Tales. He has twenty years of corporate
experience and ten years as a visiting faculty teaching in various management institutions. Views are personal.
1.How to overcome obstacles while remarking yourself as an important resource to your company?
Do not give up when facing challenges. In my book 9 to 5 Cubicle Tales, I showcase how one needs to stay calm in any situation (especially adversity); once you do that, you can find innovative ways to solve problems.
2.Your advice to young professionals in a fast-paced corporate world
- Don’t hesitate to ask for feedback from your seniors.
- Set a goal for yourself but remember, execution is critical in achieving any goal.
- Don’t stop learning
3) Importance of being able to deal with uncertainty and rejection, especially in a corporate set up.
Everyone is entitled to their point of view, and the same is applicable to the corporate world. So you will often be in a situation where someone does not agree with your views. But if you are confident about your idea/solution/thought process, you must be persistent and not give up. Above all, you need to be prepared with data supporting your point of view.
