A TECH MAVERICK EXPLORING THE ART OF POSSIBILITIES IN THE DIGITAL WORLD…
A few decades back, it was merely impossible for people to believe that talking to someone could be a few clicks away. Indeed, it was hard to imagine that photos could be clicked and saved for life in a few seconds. This is what the digital revolution has changed. The advent of technology changed our lives in unimaginable ways. Facilities that were never possible for our ancestors became our basic necessities in a short time. Many fantastic leaders have been the key facilitators of this digital revolution.
One such dynamo is Anjali Dutta, whose profile we found to be a perfect fit for our edition honoring women with great influence in their respective fields. At present, she is serving as a VP – Tech Mahindra | Head of Digital and BrandOps Studio (Digital Transformation and Digital Marketing) Her story is inspiring to thousands of people out there. Her journey had
a humble beginning as she steered through the ups and downs of life.
Eventually, she was able to carve her niche in the tech world and make an indelible presence with her offerings. In a freewheeling conversation with our team, we explored many aspects of her journey and her service offerings.
The precedent occurrence
With over 21 years of experience straddling the line between the left brain (logic, numbers, and tech wizardry) and the right brain (creativity, storytelling, and design finesse), Anjali Dutta didn’t just follow trends but became the one creating the trends. Let’s rewind to 2006-07. While the IT industry was still trying to make sense of digital transformation, she was already five steps ahead, pioneering the first-ever Creative Studio (Center of Excellence) in the IT sector.
Imagine an IT firm, but with the soul of a creative agency—a place where strategists, UX/UI designers, animators, copywriters, and tech experts worked together under one roof to craft experiences that weren’t just functional but delightful. The result? A one-stop shop for clients, delivering seamless omnichannel brand identities that skyrocketed Net Promoter Scores (NPS). This made the silos crumble, creativity peak, and businesses witness growth. Suddenly, IT firms weren’t just system integrators; they were experience organizations.
From Idea to Industry Standard
Her innovative agency-type model wasn’t just a momentary stroke of genius—it became the gold standard. By consolidating dispersed creative talent into a single powerhouse unit, she eliminated inefficiencies, slashed duplication, and built a system that IT giants couldn’t ignore. The model facilitated smoother mergers and acquisitions, seamlessly integrating boutique creative firms into tech behemoths. Fast forward to 2024, and organizations are still racing to replicate what she started nearly two decades ago.
The Art of Leadership: From Animations to AI
Her career journey isn’t your typical “climb-the-corporateladder” story. She started as an animator, designer, video editor, coder, and gamer—basically, the Swiss Army knife of digital talent. This unique background gave her an insider’s perspective on the work her teams do, allowing her to lead with empathy, curiosity, and a hands-on approach. She listens, she learns, and most importantly, she challenges her team to innovate fearlessly. And innovate they did.
Under her leadership, a U.S.-based client—initially skeptical about offshore outsourcing—was transformed into a long-term partner within six months. The secret? A relentless commitment to quality, an all-hands-ondeck approach, and a work ethic that saw her and her team burning the midnight oil for months.
Her ability to anticipate challenges and design creative solutions has won her industry accolades, including:
• CX Studio Leader of the Year 2023
• Best Speaker Award at Digital Confex
• India Digital Fest 2024 Recognition
• Core Value Awards (Sapient)
• ACE Awards (Tech Mahindra, 5 years running)
Tech with a Human Touch
Unlike many tech leaders who get lost in the jargon jungle, she keeps things refreshingly simple. Her “What, Why, and How” approach helps clients cut through the noise and pinpoint their real challenges. Whether it’s designing a gamified learning platform for a banking client or setting up distributed global teams for always-on digital commerce, her strategies are as practical as they are visionary.
One of her proudest achievements? Creating global Centers of Excellence that didn’t just churn out cutting-edge solutions but also nurtured a culture of continuous learning, inclusion, and collaboration. Employees weren’t just resources; they were people with ideas, ambitions, and the freedom to push boundaries.
The Legacy Continues…
With expertise spanning AI, AR/VR, the metaverse, digital marketing, gaming, e-commerce, and more, Anjali remains at the forefront of digital transformation. But beyond the awards, the recognition, and the industry-changing models, her true legacy lies in the mindset shift she brought to IT.
Thanks to her, tech isn’t just about code—it’s about crafting experiences, humanizing interactions, and making people smile. So the next time you experience seamless digital engagement, a beautifully designed app, or a brand story that speaks directly to you, remember—there’s a visionary out there who helped make that possible, blending technology and creativity into something truly magical.
Cultivating interdisciplinary collaborations
Anjali Dutta has designed a horizontal structure where a diverse range of skills intersect, fostering collaboration to develop client-centric solutions. This interdisciplinary approach has broadened perspectives and significantly enhanced response times. Notable projects exemplify this strategy: In logistics, subject matter experts provided insights that enabled the creation of intuitive UX for portals and websites, ensuring every business detail was meticulously addressed. In healthcare and life sciences, collaboration with doctors, practitioners, and caregivers infused empathy into digital solutions.
In banking and insurance, industry experts contributed valuable insights, unlocking opportunities in marketing and training. A similar approach was applied to telecommunications, sports, and retail, yielding tailored solutions. Engaging with such a wide array of industries has deepened the team’s understanding of human behavior, seamlessly integrating emotional intelligence with technical expertise.
The future ahead
Anjali proceeded to share what comes next. She states, “As customer behavior continues to evolve and attention spans grow even shorter, it’s crucial that we cross-pollinate skills and encourage wholebrain thinking in practice. We are entering a world of immersive experiences where AR, VR, and AI are the latest buzzwords, expanding the realm of possibilities beyond what we can imagine.
In this environment, it becomes increasingly important to maintain a unified view of customers and ensure consistent brand communication across all touchpoints—whether it’s a small screen, big screen, nano screen, kiosks, billboards, or in-store experiences—everything needs to be seamlessly connected.”
Also in reference to the upcoming tech trends, Anjali shared that digital adoption and transformation remain ongoing journeys for many brands, with the industry rapidly shifting toward immersive experiences where time, space, and customer connections become fluid. Recognizing this, she envisions establishing global Centers of Excellence (COEs) in Creative and Tech as a game-changing move, seamlessly integrating digital, physical, and virtual worlds.
As an industry practitioner, she is committed to cultivating futureready talent, fostering innovation, embracing AI, VR, and AR, and encouraging fearless experimentation. Her approach prioritizes originality over replication, continuous learning, and designing solutions that prioritize humanity while making technology an ally rather than a constraint.
Parting words by the tech luminary
“Be yourself. Never say die. Adopt a fighter’s attitude. Play fearlessly. The world is like a blank canvas—come and paint your picture, write your story your way, and dare to change the game to get what you deserve.”
