Firstpost · 24 Sep, 06:30 · Business briefing

India’s AI rise hinges on retaining top talent: Salesforce’s Vala Afshar

Salesforce’s Vala Afshar highlights that India’s growing role in artificial intelligence depends critically on retaining its top technical talent.

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Salesforce’s Vala Afshar highlights that India’s growing role in artificial intelligence depends critically on retaining its top technical talent. The commentary suggests that while the country is emerging as a significant hub for AI development, the sustainability of this growth relies on keeping skilled professionals within the industry. This perspective underscores the competitive nature of the global tech labour market, where India’s potential is directly linked to its ability to maintain and develop its existing workforce rather than solely focusing on recruitment or expansion.

Employer demand for Artificial Intelligence skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

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This shift signals that technical excellence alone is no longer sufficient for long-term career security in India’s tech sector. As companies compete fiercely to retain high-performing engineers and data scientists, your value increases when you combine deep technical expertise with strategic business alignment. You should focus on understanding how AI drives organisational goals, not just how to build models. Professionals in data and engineering roles must prioritise upskilling in leadership and strategic application to become indispensable. Start documenting your impact on business outcomes and seek mentorship opportunities that bridge technical work with executive decision-making. This proactive approach ensures you remain a priority for retention rather than a replaceable resource in a volatile market.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, AI Strategy and Leadership — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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