Vinay Kumar Swamy is the Country Head of Pearson India, a leading learning company. With over two decades of experience, Swamy plays a pivotal role in enabling Pearson India's digital transformation and profitability, utilizing his extensive expertise in finance, corporate strategy, and mergers & acquisitions. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

One thing that keeps you motivated

I believe that every moment of the day holds the potential for growth and development, and I am driven by the continuous pursuit of knowledge. Embracing a mindset of continuous learning serves as the fuel that propels my motivation to push boundaries and strive for excellence in all aspects of my role.

One thing that is the biggest driving factor of your success

Adaptability and experience have been the key driving factors in my journey. As a Chartered Accountant, I have earned valuable experience that allows me to adapt swiftly to changing environments, emerging technologies, and various business domains. This adaptability, combined with a deep understanding of different industries, has been instrumental in my success as a business leader.

One thing that inspires you every day

As I reflect upon my professional journey, I am reminded of the moments that have shaped my passion for continuous learning. Often, when I take a moment to relax and enjoy a cup of aromatic filter coffee, it triggers fond recollections of my school and college days. These cherished memories encapsulate the core of lifelong learning, the invigorating atmosphere of educational spaces, and the enthusiasm of learners of all ages. Working with Pearson India has provided me with an opportunity to witness the eagerness of learners in diverse learning environments. The inquisitive minds seeking knowledge and their desire for exploring new horizons fuels my inspiration. It serves as a constant reminder of the profound influence lifelong learning can have on their personal and professional journeys, motivating me to awaken each day with renewed enthusiasm and unwavering dedication

One thing that you (as a business leader) must tell everyone

I firmly believe in a customer-first approach. Understanding the evolving needs, preferences, and challenges faced by our customers is crucial for delivering relevant and impactful solutions. At Pearson India, we place great emphasis on regularly engaging with our customers and staying attuned to their feedback. This proactive approach allows us to tailor our offerings, enhance their experience, and foster long-lasting relationships. By prioritizing a customer-centric approach, we lay the foundation for sustainable growth and ensure our organization remains at the forefront of its excellence.

One thing that you (as a business leader) must not tell anyone

As a business leader, it is of utmost importance to never speak negatively about your teams. We are all humans which means that we all make mistakes from time to time, but it is our responsibility to foster an environment of support, growth, and trust. We should strive to empower our teams, encouraging open dialogue, and offering guidance to overcome obstacles. By nurturing a culture that values collaboration and learning from mistakes, we build resilient and high-performing teams that drive collective success.

One thing that future leaders must know

Future leaders must recognize that the rapid advancements in technology, such as AI and Machine Learning, are reshaping the business landscape at an unprecedented pace. In India, where technological adoption is accelerating, it is essential for future leaders to embrace agility and remain open to leveraging these transformative tools. Adapting to technological advancements will be key to staying relevant, streamlining operations, and delivering innovative solutions. By proactively incorporating technology into their strategies, future leaders can unlock new possibilities and drive sustainable growth in the ever-evolving business world.

About Pearson

At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to add life to a lifetime of learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. That’s why our c.20,000 Pearson employees are committed to creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are the world’s leading learning company, serving customers in nearly 200 countries with digital content, assessments, qualifications, and data. For us, learning isn’t just what we do. It’s who we are.

Visit us at: www.pearsonplc.com

For more information, please contact: Bhavya Suri, PR & Corporate Affairs, Pearson India & MENA- bhavya.suri@pearson.com

Read More / The Economic Times (HR World)

Of all the “soft skills,” communication is the most vital for career growth and one of the most difficult to master. Many highly talented individuals sometimes fail to achieve the desired job, or if they already have the dream job, struggle to climb the corporate ladder as they cannot effectively convey their thoughts and ideas. Today, being skilful alone is no longer sufficient and does not guarantee professional success. You can’t climb the corporate ladder simply because you can write codes well or are good at engineering. Irrespective of the industry a professional belongs to, the top achievers, or those seen as the leaders in their role, are always the ones who are considered more than capable just in their primary roles. They are all good communicators. Good communication skills can set you apart from others; it can augment the effectiveness of your work; empower you to make crucial decisions, help build professional relationships and get ahead in your career. In today’s complex and dynamic business environment, with thousands of communication tools, remote multicultural teams spanning different time zones, effective communication has never been more important or more challenging.

Lifelong learning

A new study estimates that poor communication in the workplace leads to loss of $1.2 trillion annually among US businesses, which is about $12,506 per employee. The ability to communicate well is the most critical skill one can have. The good news is that it can be learned and even mastered. Coaching and mentoring are integral tools for communication skills development, as they can help identify areas that need improvement, develop an action plan, and offer guidance and support on the way to achieving the goals. Mentoring also offers a great opportunity for individuals to learn from others and improve key skills and broaden their professional knowledge.

Observing how effective communicators interact with team members, clients, and others can help develop new communication techniques and styles. This can be very helpful for not only apprentices but also leaders and CEOs who are new to their roles or dealing with new challenges that require a different style of communication. Continuous learning and training opportunities in the workplace have the potential to expand an individual’s perspective, enhance communication skills and knowledge retention, generate new ideas, boost morale, and raise overall performance.

Best of both worlds

88% of Indian workers agree the world is shifting to a model where people participate in learning and education over their lifetime. Building a robust skill set comprising both hard skills and soft skills can take an individual’s career to the next level. While hard skills are primarily job-specific and are learned through work experience, soft skills refer to an individual’s ability to interact and work with others. Individuals looking to improve their hard skills may take up educational courses specializing in a particular skill, get personalized tutoring, or enrol in a specialized course.  Soft skills on the other hand are more difficult to learn but are equally important. It is no secret that communication and critical thinking go hand in hand. As per recent industry reports, across all generations in India, human skills such as decision-making and problem-solving dominate the top skills felt needed for career advancement and skills currently being developed. In India, technical skills like AI/ML, data processing, and coding are also priorities across age groups, specifically when considering skills of the future.  If an individual is unable to think critically about obstacles, issues, and information available, communication won’t be as meaningful and impactful. Therefore, it is important to work on developing skills related to problem-solving and decision-making to communicate effectively. These skills are highly valued by employers and essential for individuals aspiring to climb up the corporate ladder.

Communicating better

The ability to communicate is considered to be a leader’s most critical skill. An effective communicator leverages a range of listening styles and pays close attention to what others have to say. To be a good communicator, it is important to be clear and concise, practice active listening and be aware of non-verbal cues like one’s body language, tone of voice, etc. Another great way to improve communication skills is public speaking. The ability to articulate thoughts clearly in front of a large group can magnify your strengths and weaknesses and lead to improved communication styles. Today, there are several platforms available online that offer professional courses to help you improve your communication skills and get certified.

Similarly, as most of the communication, today is written, it is important to focus on improving written communication skills as well. Written communication lacks non-verbal cues, so it is crucial to consider the reader’s perspective, understand the purpose and have a clear context when writing. Developing effective written communication skills is a continuous process since it is a skill that is developed over time, so practice is the key.

The bottom line

Effective communication is the building block for a successful career. It is how leaders set expectations, convey their ideas, and motivate others to succeed. However, effective communication goes beyond information sharing. It is about understanding the audience and delivering ideas and thoughts in a way that resonates with them. Today, one of the most important aspect of effective communication is humility. By being willing to accept feedback and open to new approaches one can continue to grow to be a leader. Remember, effective communication is not only about speaking and conveying your ideas. It’s about actively listening, learning, and adapting to your audience as well. Whether you are an apprentice, a CEO, or simply someone who wants to improve their communication skills, there’s always room to improve and grow.

About Pearson

At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to add life to a lifetime of learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. That’s why our c.20,000 Pearson employees are committed to creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are the world’s leading learning company, serving customers in nearly 200 countries with digital content, assessments, qualifications, and data. For us, learning isn’t just what we do. It’s who we are.

Visit us at: www.pearsonplc.com

For more information, please contact: Bhavya Suri, PR & Corporate Affairs, Pearson India & MENA- bhavya.suri@pearson.com

Read More / The Times of India

With this appointment, the company has strengthened its leadership team in India.

Pearson has announced the appointment of Siddharth Parnerkar as the new international sales director to lead the workforce skills vocational qualifications business across Europe (outside UK), India Hub, MENAT, Greater China and APAC regions. With this appointment, the company has strengthened its leadership team in India to grow the workforce skills business.

Parnerkar comes with an experience of over two decades in business development, sales, marketing, strategy, P&L management, product and brand management, and digital transformation. Prior to joining Pearson, Parnerkaar had a long stint of 16 years at Vodafone, where he held key leadership roles to drive the growth of their b2b and strategic alliances business, managing JVCo and M&A opportunities, and launch of new businesses in the mobile commerce space. His most recent assignment was with Vodafone Oman with a 5G, digital first start-up operation.

Talking about the appointment, Jane Baker, vice president, workforce skills at Pearson said, “Organisations across the world are witnessing significant shift in attitude of the workforce towards upskilling. As per the latest Pearson Skills Outlook Report, 88% of Indian workers believe they need to keep relearning and training throughout their careers to remain relevant to their employers. Indian organisations have kept their priorities abreast with this trend and are working towards strengthening the learning and capabilities of their workforce. Siddharth’s experience and expertise will be instrumental in driving Pearson’s endeavour to address the upskilling requirements of the workforce and help organisations understand, maintain and enhance their most important asset, their people.”

Before Vodafone, he has worked with Reliance Communications for five years where he was responsible for managing their fixed wireless business and leading sales and business initiatives in the prepaid business. Apart from these, he has worked with Bharti Airtel Limited, Eastman Kodak Company and Videocon International Limited.

“The present and future of work in India is changing rapidly, fuelled by the digital transformation of organisations, across different sectors. Understanding, nurturing and upskilling the workforce is of utmost importance for businesses with a future-ready outlook. With Pearson India, I will be focusing on building strategic synergies to create a lifelong learning environment for upskilling and reskilling, which can enhance education, employability, and global mobility of the Indian workforce,” Siddharth Parnerkar, international sales director, workforce skills, Pearson India, added.

Moreover, Parnerkar has the expertise of driving growth for large business portfolios in India as well as global markets. His educational credentials include a postgraduate diploma in business management (PGDBM) from XLRI – Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur and a bachelor of science (BSc) degree in statistics from St. Xavier’s college, Mumbai.

About Pearson

At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to add life to a lifetime of learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. That’s why our c.20,000 Pearson employees are committed to creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are the world’s leading learning company, serving customers in nearly 200 countries with digital content, assessments, qualifications, and data. For us, learning isn’t just what we do. It’s who we are.

Visit us at: www.pearsonplc.com

For more information, please contact: Bhavya Suri, PR & Corporate Affairs, Pearson India & MENA- bhavya.suri@pearson.com

Read More / The Financial Express