Delighted to bring you this episode of MVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast, featuring a deep-dive conversation with Amir Durrani, Global Head of Applications and Business Process Services at NTT DATA. Recorded amidst a major event in Mumbai honouring organizational excellence, this conversation goes far beyond standard corporate rhetoric. It offers a deep dive into how one of the world’s IT giants is reshaping itself from the inside out to lead the AI revolution while doubling down on the value of human potential. And how a global technology powerhouse is redefining the future of work, leadership, and innovation to transform businesses, significantly, measuring all mandate successes on outcomes alone.
Press Play below to listen to Amir Durrani of NTT Data on MVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast
With NTT DATA having already invested over $3 billion in India and planning another $2 to $3 billion in the coming years, Amir frames the country not as a back-office support hub, but as the primary engine for global innovation.
For a sense of the weight of the insights in this episode, one must first understand the scale of the entity Durrani represents. NTT DATA is not just an IT service provider; it is a Titan of Industry with an iconic heritage: A $30B+ Global Giant and part of the iconic NTT Group, NTT Data operates with massive global scale and deep rooted legacy. It is at the heart of India Tech growth, thanks to being deeply invested in the region and employing 40,000+ experts in India alone, transforming the country from a support hub into a primary engine for global change. NTT Data has also been pioneering transformation as a global leader transforming businesses with impactful outcomes, delivering real-world results rather than just service hours.
For business leaders and change-makers navigating the complexities of the digital age, this episode serves as a strategic playbook. Amir Durrani dissects the buzzwords of the industry—‘Full Stack’, ‘Transformation’, and ‘AI’ — and grounds them in tangible realities.
One of the most compelling segments of the discussion is Amir’s definition of being a ‘Full Stack’ partner. He moves beyond the casual use of the term by illustrating NTT’s sheer vertical depth: from maintaining fiber-optic cables on the floor of the Pacific Ocean using their own ships to delivering high-level business consulting in boardrooms. This integrated model allows them to share risk with clients and commit to actual business outcomes rather than just service delivery.
The conversation also tackles the seismic shift from traditional automation to Agentic AI. Amir explains that while NTT Data runs more than 6,000 bots for clients, the future lies in ‘Agentic AI’ — systems capable of making intelligent decisions rather than doing just repetitive tasks. However, he emphasizes that the differentiator in this new era is not just the technology, but the ‘orchestration’ of hundreds of agents and the rigorous training required to minimize hallucinations.
Crucially, Amir reveals that for NTT Data to transform its clients, it had to transform itself first. He highlights the dual role of their CEO, Abhijit Dubey, who also serves as the Global AI Officer, signalling that AI is central to the company’s own operational reconfiguration.
Some other points the conversation covers:
India as the innovation core: India has transitioned from a cost-arbitrage hub to a global innovation engine. This shift is anchored by robust infrastructure, including two dedicated Bengaluru innovation centers that drive NTT DATA’s regional and global advancements.
The evolution of AI: The industry is undergoing a seismic shift from Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to sophisticated Agentic AI. Supported by partners like OpenAI and Mistral AI, this ecosystem approach creates intelligent agents capable of autonomous decision-making.
Native AI transformation: This philosophy involves reimagining business processes from scratch. Rather than automating legacy systems, “Native AI” requires leaders to ask: “How would this process look if it were designed for the first time today?”
The human element: Growth requires balancing external hiring with internal upskilling. Crucially, employees with deep, intrinsic client knowledge are the best candidates to train AI agents, as their institutional expertise and earned trust are irreplaceable.
Leadership in the AI Era: In a world of rapid tech shifts, “failing fast” and decisive speed are vital for survival. Yet, despite increasing automation, human relationships remain the absolute bedrock of long-term business success.
Crucially, Amir emphasises a leadership philosophy rooted in human relationships, claiming that the success of automation depends entirely on the intrinsic knowledge and trust of the workforce. He also speaks of NTT Data’s commitment to responsible innovation and upskilling, prioritising business outcomes and shared risks over traditional headcount-based growth.
Also, this is quite the story of a global giant leveraging Indian talent — by empowering it in the first place — to redefine the future of digital transformation and enterprise intelligence. This conversation is important for professionals seeking the best in transformation and leadership in a world suffused with growing AI. It bridges the gap between high-tech strategy and human-centric values.
And as Amir notes, technical problems are always solvable, but the true challenge — and value — lies in managing relationships and understanding the nuance of a client’s business.
