In the IT sector, leaders are critical in guiding teams through challenging tasks to meet the changing client demands. Sriram Kumar, Director at Model N, started his career at Citigroup in finance before quickly moving into various IT areas and amassing a vast amount of experience. His appointment as a Subject Matter Expert at a top enterprise ERP business in Chennai marked a huge turning point in his career. Sriram’s entry into the IT industry was facilitated by this chance, as he went on to work in various capacities in Delivery Management, Project management, Quality assurance, Business Analysis, Functional Practice Leadership, Pre-sales, and Customer success.

Over 20 years of expertise, Sriram has worked for prestigious organizations such as Citigroup, Ramco Systems, Hexaware Technologies and currently the Enterprise Software company Model N. He has demonstrated excellence in Managed Services, Support, and Delivery Management for the last ten years at Model N, where he has held the positions in Global Customer Success team as a Delivery and Engagement Manager. His expertise spans Post-Go-Live support for cloud and on premises customers in pharma, Med-devices, High Tech, and Life Sciences, managing P&L of $10M. Sriram has successfully led large project teams, ensuring profitable margins for SaaS customers. He is proficient in SDLC life cycle, agile methodology, ITIL process compliance, and various tools such as Netsuite Open Air, Power BI, Tableau, and Microsoft SharePoint.

In an in-depth conversation with CEO Insights magazine, Sriram shares with us his professional journey, leadership strategies, and much more. Let’s read about it.

Tell us about your time at ICFAI Business School and how it played a part in your growth.

The extensive curriculum, at ICFAI Business School, gave me a strong conceptual foundation by covering Finance, IT, Economics, Human Resources, Marketing, and statistics. We had outstanding faculty and the school focused on bringing in business executives to provide guest lectures. This group of leaders was inspirational as they presented insightful observations and practical experiences from their industries. It gave me a well-rounded education and equipped me for the challenges in the future.

How do you find your past experiences beneficial in driving your team toward a strategic direction?

My career underwent a significant transformation during my six-year stay in the US, especially in terms of how I approached strategic direction in my company. This time overseas gave me a great deal of insight into the priorities and viewpoints of customers as well as how IT helps them accomplish their business objectives. I changed my perspective from being service-focused to emphasizing both excellent service and a unique, human touch.

Armed with the experiences focused on the needs of the customer, I created a strategic framework that revolves around the three Cs: the company, the customers, and the competitors. Setting these three Cs as the top

priorities, backed by the four Ps (people, process, products, and partners) is how I see driving the strategic path.

What are the best practices you pass on to your team based on your experience?

I have learned a few important lessons throughout the years that I think are critical for any team, business, or industry to succeed. Leading by example and teaching the next generation of leaders best practices is one of my guiding principles.

It is also crucial to maintain open, honest, and transparent lines of communication. I make sure everyone on my team knows they can come to me with any questions or suggestions. I also think that creativity and invention have great power. Encouraging these components in the team allows us to be flexible and different from our competitors.

I predict that it services will grow exponentially in the future, especially in the areas of cloud computing, digital integration, & cybersecurity

How are you fostering a culture of innovation for your team?

I work closely with high-tech, pharmaceutical, and healthcare organizations where innovation is essential. Therefore, our approach to development, testing, and market release is centered around innovation. For example, we carry out interim product patches and periodic releases to swiftly correct flaws and issues to ensure excellent quality.

We delve into our customers' business processes to understand how they use our products and services. This allows us to anticipate their future needs and build those requirements into our products ahead of time. We make sure we are always prepared to satisfy client demands, even before they are expressed, by being ahead of the curve.

How do you see the IT landscape evolving in the future?

Having worked in the field for almost 20 years, I have witnessed a lot of change. The next five years are full of opportunities in the Indian setting. Software development, digital integration, and managed services should all see rapid expansion. There are lots of opportunities for innovation and progress in these industries. We are living in an exciting moment, as the Indian IT services sector is predicted to develop significantly due to the emergence of cutting-edge technologies such as Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning.

Sriram Kumar, Director, Model N

Sriram Kumar, with an MBA in Finance from ICFAI Business School and a CA Finalist from ICAI, has over 20 years of diverse IT industry experience. He currently serves as Director at Model N, leading largescale implementations and ensuring high customer satisfaction. Previously, he held roles at Hexaware Technologies, Ramco Systems, and Citigroup.

•Hobbies: Reading, Participating in CSR activities, Watching Cricket, Tennis, & Badminton
•Favorite Cuisine: South Indian
•Favorite Book: Wings of Fire by Dr. Abdul Kalam, Indian Summers by John Wright
•Favorite Travel Destination: Coorg, Upstate New York
•Awards & Recognitions: Customer Advocate of the Year 2014, Change Champion 2015 and DARE Award-the highest award for adhering to Model N core values - 2017