Creating a future proof IT function: TTK Prestige CIO presents Toolkit

Ramasubramaniam R is currently serving as the Chief Information Technology Officer (CITO) at TTK Prestige. He was especially hired for undertaking a major digital transformation exercise at the company. He had the unique opportunity to architect the IT organisation from the ground up, laying a strong foundation for enterprise-wide technology enablement. This included establishing robust cyber resilience frameworks and initiating a forward-looking digital transformation agenda.

Moreover he had spent about more than a decade at Titan, joining in 1994 and leaving in 2016. Starting as a mechanical engineer in manufacturing at Titan, he was involved in everything from setting up new export-oriented units to overseeing design, production, and distribution. In the latter half of his tenure, he moved to IT, gaining a unique perspective on how technology can drive business outcomes.

Aligning IT with organisational strategy

One of the core learnings for Ramasubramaniam has been the necessity of aligning IT with organisational strategy. “Technology should always serve company goals and deliver measurable business impact,” he says. This belief motivated him to transition from being a technology consumer to a technology service provider, ensuring IT became a true enabler.

Ramasubramaniam underscores the significance of change management and adoption. He notes that technology only drives value when people and processes are aligned, and emphasizes the need for active engagement and communication during any transformation.

He champions a culture where even minor innovations are recognized and celebrated. According to him, rewarding small improvements helps establish an environment where teams become motivated to experiment, innovate, and strive for excellence.

Empowerment Through Autonomy

Granting employees autonomy and freedom is another cornerstone of his leadership philosophy. By empowering individuals at every level, he believes organisations foster greater responsibility, ownership, and consistent success.

Ramasubramaniam brings a manufacturing-rooted belief in lean and agile principles to IT. He notes that lean teams are more effective and better equipped to handle the volatility and uncertainty of today’s business environment.

The Value of Lifelong Learning

His commitment to learning is unwavering. Despite coming from a non-IT background, he dedicates time every day to updating his knowledge in digital technologies and cybersecurity, believing that continuous learning is crucial in a rapidly changing world.

A significant shift in his own approach has been toward data-driven decision-making. Harnessing and leveraging data has helped him and the organisations he has served make more informed choices and achieve better results.

Developing the next generation of leaders is a principle Ramasubramaniam holds dear. He believes in mentoring and empowering talent, and takes pride in seeing several of his mentees assume leadership roles. 

Citing the example of few employees he has groomed Ramasubramaniam says, “There are at least three or four senior team members I have coached, and they have reached the stature of GM within IT.” 

Driving Transformation Through Collaboration

He insists that successful transformation depends on close business-IT alignment. Ramasubramaniam says, “I dedicate 20 percent to 30 percent of my time towards business-IT alignment, so that we can win over the stakeholders,” which in turn builds trust and confidence among stakeholders in IT-led initiatives.

Reflecting on the pandemic, Ramasubramaniam highlights the work done by his team in future-proofing and agility in the period preceding the Pandemic. Proactive measures ensured continuity of operations during the crisis and underscored the importance of accelerated digital transformation. 

“None of the business operations were disrupted during the pandemic. Everything was business as usual. Thanks to our team's future proofing exercise, conducted in 2020. So even though the pandemic came as a surprise, we sailed through easily. It helped us in our efforts to accelerate digital transformation at TTK Prestige,” he says.