Pareekh Jain

Beyond Retirement: How an IAS Officer from Calcutta Is Redefining Leadership Through Entrepreneurship and AI It’s not often you witness a career transition so profound, yet so seamless. After a distinguished and impactful career as a civil servant, IAS officer Debashis Sen has once again set a new benchmark, this time in the world of entrepreneurship and digital innovation. His story is a powerful reminder that purpose doesn't retire; it simply finds new forms of expression. For decades, Mr Sen was a driving force behind West Bengal's development. His time as the Chairman of the New Town Kolkata Development Authority was transformative, where he was the architect of New Town's journey from a vision into a "Platinum-rated Green Smart City." His leadership saw the creation of crucial infrastructure and the integration of technology, laying the groundwork for a modern urban centre. He also served as Chief Electoral Officer, where his innovative approach, including the "Ananda Babu" puppet character to simplify voter registration, showcased his unique ability to connect with the public and drive meaningful change. The Entrepreneurial Leap: A Bold New Chapter Upon retirement, Mr Sen didn't slow down. Instead, he channelled his immense experience into a bold new venture: New Bengal Consulting Pvt Ltd. This is more than just a company; it's a platform for policy advocacy, leveraging AI & technology to champion sustainable development and solve complex societal challenges. It's a natural extension of his life's work, proving that the skills of public service—strategic thinking, problem-solving, & a commitment to the greater good—are invaluable in any sector. His pioneering spirit is perhaps best exemplified by his foray into AI art. He is an artist & an innovator, creating AI-generated works on canvas & even establishing what is believed to be the country's first AI Art Gallery. This venture is not merely a hobby; it’s a brilliant example of bridging the gap between traditional sensibilities & cutting-edge technology, inspiring others to see the potential in combining art and artificial intelligence. Mentoring the Next Generation of Innovators Beyond his own entrepreneurial success, Mr Sen's most significant contribution is his unwavering commitment to mentoring young people. He has become a guiding light for countless youngsters, sharing a lifetime of wisdom and a forward-looking vision. He is teaching them that innovation and leadership are not confined to a single career path. His journey is a living masterclass, encouraging the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs to embrace change, take calculated risks, and, most importantly, to use their skills to create a positive impact on the world. Mr Sen's life's work is an incredible narrative of reinvention and a powerful call to action. His second innings is truly as remarkable and influential as his first. Do let me know your thoughts in comments. Even a few words is fine.

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Just as “அ” is the first step in knowledge, OLI is the first step toward a new future for India. OLI (On-chip Learning Intelligence) The word OLI comes from the Tamil language, meaning light. For mankind, light has always played an important role. It gives hope, it gives strength, it guides us. Light is everything. In the same way, our processor OLI is a symbol of hope for the Indian neuromorphic community. In the future, OLI will play a prominent role in space, autonomous vehicles, drones, UAVs, and most importantly, on the battlefield. Yesterday, OLI was nothing. Today, OLI is something. But tomorrow, OLI will be everything. The strength of OLI is something the Indian industry will soon experience through our pilot version. Why did I choose to share this today? In Tamil culture, this day carries a special meaning. It is the day when parents traditionally take their children to the temple to begin their journey of learning. Holding the child’s hand, they write the very first Tamil letter “அ” on a plate of rice. That single letter marks the beginning of education, the start of knowledge. For me, OLI is that “அ.” Just like the first letter opens the door to learning, OLI is the first step in opening a new chapter for India’s neuromorphic future.

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Leading in the Digital World – Reflections from a Transformative session at IIMA I had the privilege of attending the session "Leading in the Digital World: How to Foster Creativity, Collaboration, and Inclusivity” by Prof. Amit Mukherjee at IIM Ahmedabad, organized under the aegis of the Ashank Desai Centre for Leadership and Organization Development. The central question posed was both powerful and unsettling: 👉 How will digital disruption fundamentally change the way leadership happens in organizations? This became the anchor for the session, and it reshaped how I see leadership in the digital era. 🔑 Key Reflections & Learnings 1. The Five Principles of Digital Leadership Deskilling & Upskilling: Automation erases some skills while demanding new ones. Cerebral Wave: The edge belongs to those who think, not just execute. Unpredictable Source Value: Breakthroughs can come from anywhere in the system. Radical Transparency: Openness is no longer optional—it’s foundational. 2. Christensen’s Lens – Balancing sustaining technologies (refining what exists) with disruptive technologies (reinventing the game). 3. From Productivity to Creativity – Leadership must shift from maximizing efficiency to enabling imagination and problem-solving. 4. T-shaped over I-shaped – Building professionals with deep expertise + broad collaborative capabilities. 5. Co-Creation of Value – Leaders as partners, not just directors. 6. Diversity as Growth Engine – Diversity fuels intellectual breakthroughs, not just representation. 7. Eliminating the ‘Language of Leadership Problem’ – Humanizing leadership communication so it unites and inspires. For me, the workshop was not just about frameworks—it was about embracing a new philosophy of leadership. In a digital-first world, leaders must become orchestrators of creativity, inclusivity, and collective intelligence. As a coach working with family businesses and corporates, these insights deeply align with what I see in practice: Growth is achieved through collaboration and co-creation, not control. Teams thrive when T-shaped talent and diverse perspectives are nurtured. The true shift is moving leaders from a productivity-first mindset to a creativity-first mindset. This is the very transformation I enable in organizations—helping leaders unlock not just business value but human potential. Grateful to Prof. Amit Mukherjee, IIM Ahmedabad, and the Ashank Desai Centre for curating such a meaningful experience. If you’re a business leader, HR head, or part of an organization navigating digital disruption, I’d love to exchange ideas on how these leadership shifts can be applied to your context. Let’s connect and co-create the future of leadership together. #coaching #disruption #icf #cocreation #leadership

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The Pioneer has published Acharya Prashant's article on Greenwashing: Pretending to Care While Burning the Planet. A much-needed article for today's times. ➖✨➖✨➖ "Somewhere along the way, 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 ‘𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻’ became a way to signal that you’re thoughtful and responsible. So it’s no surprise that 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗮 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 to look like they care about the planet, whether they truly do or not. They perform 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 and present them as proof of their concern. But when 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄, the 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, not a solution." ➖✨➖✨➖ Read the full article to see how 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗱 in the name of climate care.   https://lnkd.in/gca8RVpv

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Thank you Board Stewardship Shailesh Haribhakti [GCB.D] Vikesh Wallia Vinita Shahani Pooja Mehta and the entire board stewardship team - for all your support, and for publishing my article in the sep issue of the magazine......... 📌 Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming industries and organizational landscapes, offering vast opportunities for enhanced decision-making, operational efficiency, and strategic insight. 📌 However, the defining factor of success in this new era will not be the technology itself, but the ethical leadership guiding its application. 📌 Boards and executives must prioritize a mindset rooted in trust and responsibility, as AI’s impact extends far beyond customer experience to encompass critical areas like corporate governance, risk management, and internal upskilling. 📌 The lack of AI literacy at the leadership level can result in blind acceptance of AI-generated recommendations, systemic biases, and heightened reputational and legal risks. 📌 To harness AI’s full potential while safeguarding organizational values, it is crucial for boards to proactively educate themselves, recruit members with deep technology expertise, and establish comprehensive frameworks ensuring fairness, transparency, and data privacy. 📌 The challenge ahead is defined by the human choices that shape AI’s deployment—balancing advanced machine insights with informed human judgment. 📌 Ultimately, AI’s ethical limits, impact on jobs, and societal implications are reflections not of the machine itself, but of the wisdom and integrity of those in power. We keep hearing that AI will cut jobs. In reality, it will be the maturity of leaders who will decide what and how many jobs would need to be retained. 📌 “AI is not the villain. Leadership is. The question is not whether AI will act ethically, but whether we as leaders will wield it with wisdom or greed.” #boardstewardship #artificialintelligence #prioritizemindset #corporategovernance #upskilling #ailiteracy #comprehensiveframeworks #guardrails #humanjudgment

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