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India's AI Ambitions Hinge on Retaining Top Talent, Says Salesforce's Vala Afshar
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Firstpost•24-09-2026, 12:00
India's AI Ambitions Hinge on Retaining Top Talent, Says Salesforce's Vala Afshar
- •Salesforce's Vala Afshar states that India's ability to retain top tech talent is crucial for its goal of becoming a major AI hub.
- •Global tech companies are fiercely competing for skilled engineers and professionals as AI investment surges.
- •Historically, Indian founders often kept teams in India while senior executives handled US sales; now, more founders establish themselves earlier in the US.
- •This shift makes talent retention even more vital for India to develop a strong domestic AI ecosystem.
- •Salesforce is expanding its AI focus in India, aiming to equip one million learners with AI skills by 2030, recognizing India as a key market for AI adoption.
Key Questions Answered
As global technology companies compete intensely for skilled tech professionals and engineers, India must retain experienced researchers, entrepreneurs, and engineers who can build and scale domestic AI businesses.
Rather than keeping most teams strictly in India while only sending executives to the US for sales, startup founders are increasingly establishing themselves in the US earlier to build teams closer to global investors and customers.
Salesforce announced plans to equip one million learners in India with AI skills by 2030 through partnerships with industry, government bodies, and universities.
