Entrepreneurs Paving The Way With Upskilling

The startup culture is one that shows no signs of slowing down! Countries have started to adopt startup-friendly policies as they are proving to be important contributors to the economic growth of a nation by creating employment opportunities, attracting investors, contributing to the GDP, etc. Art cannot be praised without giving credit to the artist – the bold, innovative, driven individuals with a dream that weathers all obstacles to fruition. Their futuristic outlook made them entrepreneurs, in charge of their destiny. The approach of thinking out of the box and providing products and services that are in-demand is what sets one up for success. The explosive growth of entrepreneurs is proof of a growing market but also the need to stay ahead of the curve. The learning never stops and there is a need to constantly keep oneself updated about the developments in one’s domain.

According to NASSCOM, India has seen an addition of 1300 startups in 2019. 18% of all startups in India are deep tech-based and have seen a 40% CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) over the past five years. Newer technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, IoT, Cybersecurity, and Cloud Computing are the future and the trend seems to be catching on. Dushyant Sethiya is one such budding entrepreneur who is making waves in his chosen domain. Citispotter is an AI-powered startup delivering insightful and actionable content analysis to optimize business decisions and eliminate misinformation, hateful, and fake content. It has been endorsed by the Department for International Trade (UK) under the Global Entrepreneur Programme and Cranfield University (UK). More recently, Citispotter has been the recipient of the prestigious IIT Kharagpur Global Business Plan award in the Product and Services category. It beat 1500+ other startups all over the world to bag the coveted title and a cash prize of INR 2 Lakh. While this is a commendable achievement, perhaps the success can be attributed to the foresight of the co-founder, Dushyant. 

Dushyant is currently pursuing his Integrated Program in Business Analytics (IPBA) course offered by IIM Indore and Jigsaw Academy. The program is a mix of traditional management principles with cutting edge technology in data science, business analytics, Big Data, and machine learning. He firmly believes that upskilling is the need of the hour and makes sure to polish his skills. We’re inching closer to an ‘Upskilling and Reskilling’ revolution that will sweep the world. According to a report, at least 54% of all employees will require upskilling by 2022. The fact that even entrepreneurs feel the need to upskill tells a lot about the current scenario. Entrepreneurs are proactive and keep themselves abreast of the latest in tech to stay on top of their game. Upskilling will become more of a necessity than a luxury in the coming years. 

With technology seeping into almost all sectors, the job descriptions may change, with some job roles even becoming obsolete. Upskilling helps you stay on top of your game by providing you with the skill set needed to deliver your best. The silver lining is that the same technologies will create new job openings. Emerging technologies, in particular, are expected to create the highest job openings in the coming years. So it’s all about placing your eggs in the right basket! Upskill or reskilling to fill these roles is crucial to keep up with the changing job market. 

Upskilling/reskilling doesn’t demand that you become a tech wiz overnight; it requires a specialized skill set that will help you climb the corporate ladder faster. With the current demand-supply gap, there is a shortage of skilled professionals. The talent crunch is staggering in the tech sector, especially, in emerging technologies like Cybersecurity, IoT, and Cloud Computing. There is an abundance of high-paying jobs with a shortage of skilled professionals, waiting to be filled. 

It’s the right time to start upskilling/reskilling and planning your career trajectory in accordance with the industry requirements. One can make leaps in the professional field with the aid of technology. As attested by our budding entrepreneurs, there is a need to upskill and they are leading by example. We should draw inspiration from such visionary individuals and realize the need for upskilling in the current scenario. Upskilling is the way forward, for startups, MNCs and everything in between!