Empowering Bankers: Design Thinking for Success - Exclusive Session by Ravi Saripalle at Prism Institute, Vizianagaram, April 13, 2024

Dear Friends and Students

Yesterday I was invited as a Guest Speaker by Prism Institute, Vizianagaram as part of its 50th Year Celebrations. This institute has been producing Bankers and officers for various Competitive Exams for the last 50 years by its founder Prasad Sir, a well-known Banker from Syndicate Bank! Surprisingly, a few guests who visited yesterday were retired as General Managers of various Banks that were produced by this Institute during 1974-80.

I had the privilege to address this group of officers who recently got selected for various Banks and Aspirants.

My topic was a critical need for Design Thinking to survive in a Banking Career.

Thanks to the 5G internet usage, deeper smartphone penetration, expansion of digital payments, frictionless data-led digital lending, risk-mitigated secure data protection, climate-conscious sustainable goals, and collaboration between banks and FinTechs, Banking career is a different position altogether. The volume of industrial+retail+services credit increased from 6 trillion Rs in 2009 to 41 trillion Rs in 2023 by all banks put together.

Banks started using tech interventions like

- Gen AI- Avatar-driven Virtual Assistants/chatbots,

- Gen AI + Predictive Analytics for improving risk assessment, KYC, fortifying fraud detection and credit scoring, Recognising customer behavior trends, credit decisions with automated underwriting

- Martech-AI in marketing, Bhashini AI for multilanguage support,

- IoT sensors data for accurate Agritech, industrial sensors

- Metaverse- Immersive digital experience, Virtual Branches

- Blockchain- Security and Transparency in every transaction so that no scope for any bank fraud in future

- Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are a form of digital currency issued by a country's central bank. They are similar to cryptocurrencies, except that their value is fixed by the central bank

- Frictionless credit framework- a standardized API and prioritizing swifter disbursement and scalability

- API-driven data sharing

- Open Network for Digital Commerce- ONDC will lower entry barriers for commerce participation

- Indian Financial Technology & Allied Services- Made transactions more secure

- BaaS Model- Tech-savvy neo-banking FinTechs operating on Banking as a Service (BaaS) platform with regular banks, helping Core banking services possible for traditional banks

- Data monetization- data is money

In this hour of Technology intervention, you tell me what skill a Banker needs?

My Answer is Design Thinking. Design Mindset! An empathy or Human Centred Experiential Innovations.

Do You Agree?

Ravi Saripalle

Adapting to the Beat of AI Timelines: Crafting Our Future Narrative

I will be taking at Two – Day National Conference on “Computational Intelligence and Sustainable Systems” 13th – 14th April 2024, Gayatri Vidya Parishad College for Degree and PG Courses, Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Dear Students

Today this topic is garnering higher significance than ever! 

The time taken from Turing's paper publication on Machine Intelligence in the 1950s and the first conference at Dartmouth in 1956 to the release of Deep Blue, the first computer chess-playing system to beat a reigning world chess champion, Garry Kasparov in 1997 is around 40+ Years. 

The time taken to witness advances in deep learning (particularly deep convolutional neural networks and recurrent neural networks) is around 60 Years!!

However, The time taken from the Google transformer architecture, Foundation Models, Open AI GPT 3 in 2020, GPT-4 in 2023, and the coming GPT-4 Turbo with Vision in June 2024 (the future GPT) is around 7 years!!

It is like the time it takes to damage the first 50% of Lungs by Infection would be exponentially longer than the next 50% damage. Sometimes the first 50% takes more than a year but the next 50% takes less than a week!

The same proliferation takes place in GPT advancement! 

We all need to wake up from our traditional mindset, skills, and jobs! Hope you agree!

Ravi Saripalle

What is the Best Gift an Institution and (or) Parent can offer to Student/Son/Daughter on a Birthday (12-24 Age group)?

Dear Institutional Leaders, Parents or Responsible Relatives or a Convinced Student

Over the past 14 years, I've been exploring a fundamental question: What is the most impactful gift an institution or parent can offer to a student, son, or daughter aged 12-24? Let's evaluate various options:

• 1.    Something Sweet - Bring them joy for an hour!
• 2.    Dinner at a Fine Restaurant - Delights them for a day!!
• 3.    Movie of Favourite Star- Excites them for a week!!
• 4.    A Stylish Outfit - Keeps them happy for 10 days!!!
• 5.    A Luxurious Gift - Ensures happiness for a year, perhaps!!!!

But do any of these gifts connect to their natural intelligence?

Do they help identify individual strengths, guide in career planning, or create hope?

Is there a gift that AI can never replace?

Yes, I propose a potential game-changer:

 

ü Gift Form: A Simple Letter

ü Style: Epistolatory Format Letter (a letter written in the style of a personal correspondence)

ü Content:

o   A brief reflection on the individual's performance/status over the past year, highlighting their achievements.

o  A reminder of the individual's strengths based on their natural intelligence assessment.

o   An anecdote on Design Thinking or an Empathetic Situation, fostering a Design Mindset.

ü Impact: This gift can bring hope and happiness to the Individual for lifetime!

ü Super Impact: Organizing a Design Thinking workshop exclusively for the same intelligence and age group students to aid in career planning.

Do You agree? Do you have questions and comments? If you are interested, I am ready to assist you in this process.

Please read the detailed proposal at https://rb.gy/fgvvkm and write to me at sdindia2020@gmail.com

You can also follow me on:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravisaripalle/
• https://i2itm.blogspot.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/ravishankarsaripalle/
• https://www.facebook.com/saripalle.ravi 

Dr. Ravi Saripalle

 

 

 

Riding Towards Empathy: The Inspiring Journey of Divya Y (3rd Yr, CSM, GVPCE) and Comfort Bikes

Dear Friends and Students,

One year ago, a student named Divya Y approached me for specific career planning advice. Currently, she is pursuing her 3rd Year B.Tech in Computer Science Engineering (AI-ML) at GVPCE. During our conversation, I observed a lot of clarity in her thought process and career decisions. The best career planning service we can offer such individuals is often not giving any specific advice! I followed this approach with Divya.

Subsequently, she became the CEO of Team Power Infrastructure India Private Limited, a startup jointly founded by Divya and her father, Yegi Sreedhar Kumar Garu. I wouldn't have invested in writing this story if it were a regular and routine idea. However, this startup is driven by a cause, confidence, and comfort. I closely reviewed her pitch deck, for which she recently won a 3.5 Lakhs grant from Vignan TBI. It was the most elegant business pitch deck I've seen. The first slide reads, "How many of you would like to make life easier for disabled and elderly people?"

I have been championing the Design Thinking course at GVPCE for several years. The process begins with empathizing. After going through their company’s journey, I realized that they are real practitioners of Design Thinking. Divya and Sreedhar Garu started a startup named "Comfort Bikes," aiming to provide freedom for people with disabilities. Comfort Bikes can be customized, run on autopilot mode, provide gravity chairs, and ensure comfort. It's truly innovative. Initially, I thought they were only focused on personal segment, but their focus extends to healthcare (30%), travel (25%), agriculture (20%), business (15%), and personal (10%) needs. They design their machines and have accumulated established machinery. Additionally, they manufacture bikes and cycles for regular use.

While Sreedhar Garu is busy with operations, Divya, as the young CEO, takes care of business pitches, meeting investors, business promotion, and supporting R&D in finalizing features. Divya’s parents are highly supportive of her entrepreneurial aspirations!

Last year, their production started, and they have already sold 500 bikes! Initially, they aimed to manufacture comfortable cycles for handicapped and elderly individuals, and then uniquely designed bicycles and tricycles suitable for all age groups in the future. They are also working on software-driven, AI-driven features to automate simple decisions.

Appeal to Battery Investors: Currently, they are seeking empathic investors who understand this business and are interested in investing in batteries.

Business Address: Team Power Infrastructure India Private Limited, Sathivani Palam, Visakhapatnam. If you are interested in investment or inquiries, please contact them at comfortbikes9@gmail.com. Divya’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/divyayegi

Congratulations, Divya! I wish you all the best for your future and hope to see you as the most successful CEO!

I hope this story inspires many who wish to embark on Heart-Smart Careers (Entrepreneurship, Intrapreneurship, Risk appetite-based careers). As I mentioned, there are 4 types of jobs - Head-Smart, Heart-Smart, Hands-Smart, and Heel-Smart. I wish all students above 17 years choose their careers based on this 4H-Smart Career Planning Framework rather than market demand and societal pressure (For more about this career planning framework, please go through https://i2itm.blogspot.com/2024/03/calling-all-parents-of-children-aged-12.html).

Best Wishes,

Ravi Saripalle

Build/Rebuild Your Career using Natural Intelligence and 4H Framework- Talk at Enterprising Bharat

Today I had a wonderful opportunity to be part of the Enterprising Bharat Conclave as a Jury and Speaker, held at Dr YVS Auditorium, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC6qqp0jcXs

"Calling All Parents of Children Aged 12-24 and Educational Leaders! Join Project आकांक्षा (Aakaansha) - Identify Individual Multiple Intelligences, Match with Suitable Job Descriptions and then with Types of Work too to Restore Smiles and Promote Mental Wellness. Enhance Organizational Productivity and Revenue!"

Dear Parents and Educational Leaders,

I have 5 questions for you:

1.    Do you agree that nearly every family grapples with the strain arising from the discord between children's education, ranking systems, institutional choices, and subsequent career paths?

2. Do you know your child/student’s Natural/Foundational Intelligence (FI)/Multiple Intelligence (MI) (Gardner's MI theory)? Can you identify the Top Two intelligences possessed among Math-Logic-Reasoning, Musical, Linguistic (Word Smart), Naturalistic (Nature Smart), Visual/Spatial (Picture Smart), Kinaesthetic/Body Smart, Intrapersonal (Self Smart), Interpersonal (People Smart)?

3.   If so, are they in the Foundational Stage, Intermediate, Advanced, Exemplary, or Eminence stage?

4.  Do you agree that students are admitted based on ranks, and they are heavily influenced by IQ-driven tests, completely ignoring their Emotional Quotient (EQ), Social Quotient (SQ), Adversity Quotient (AQ), Physical Quotient (PQ)?

5. Do you agree that educational decisions are often influenced by market demand/peer societal pressure rather than individual Natural Foundational intelligence(s) (FI)/Multiple Intelligence (MI)?

Finally, this recurring cycle not only fails to benefit individuals but also negatively impacts overall company productivity, taking a toll on both individual well-being and organizational effectiveness.

What is the Potential Solution? Answer is Project आकांक्षा (Aakaansha)

In light of these challenges, we request you to consider the potential solution - the 'Intelligence & Mental Wellness-driven 4H Career Planning Framework.' This framework is designed to empower individuals and organizations alike, offering a holistic approach to individual mental wellness and better career planning.

Please watch the proposal video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pICOv7yC-w

and  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC6qqp0jcXs

Highlights of the Solution:

1.    Identify the Top Two Foundational Intelligences (FI)/Multiple Intelligences (MI) of Children/Students.

2. Assess the current level of Intelligence (Foundational, Intermediate, Advanced, Exemplary, Eminence). Based on this, help them upgrade to the next level by the age of 17.

3.  At the age of 18 or beyond (during UG), assist them in taking up internships connected to their Top 2 Intelligences.

4.    If an individual decides to pursue higher education, ideally their Masters should be directly connected to their Top 2 FI/MI.

5.    For those opting for a job, the following process would apply:

General Principles

ü Best Case Scenario - Top Two Intelligences are aligned with the Job Description, benefiting both the individual and the organization (mental wellness, organizational productivity, revenue impact, sustainability).

ü Average Case Scenario - Top Two Intelligences are partially aligned with the Job Description, focusing on individual happiness while improving organization productivity.

ü Worst Case Scenario - Top Two Intelligences are weakly aligned with the Job Description, resulting in individual unhappiness and a negative impact on organization productivity.

 

Intelligence vs Job Description vs Nature of Job/Work  

 

It is not just Intelligence and Job Description that should match, but the Type or Nature of the Work within that Job Description should also match.

ü Head-Smart Jobs - More Research Oriented, Algorithmic Centred, Logic/Reasoning Involved, Heavy domain-centric - Individuals exhibiting these characteristics while practicing their Top Two Intelligences are fit for Head-Smart Jobs (High IQ, reasonable EQ/AQ/SQ).

ü Heart-Smart Jobs - More Risk Appetite, Entrepreneurial Qualities, People-Centric, Networking, Social Impact Mindset, Growth Mindset - Individuals exhibiting these characteristics while practicing their Top Two Intelligences are fit for Heart-Smart Jobs (More EQ-SQ-AQ and reasonable IQ).

ü Hands-Smart Jobs - More Hands-On Skills, Quick Replication of Ideas, Prototypes Making, Field Work, Quick Results, Non-specialization - Individuals exhibiting these characteristics while practicing their Top Two Intelligences are fit for Hands-Smart Jobs (Reasonable IQ-EQ-SQ-AQ).

ü Heels-Smart Jobs - More Physical Strength Needed, Job Connected Body Fitness - Individuals exhibiting these characteristics while practicing their Top 2 Intelligences are fit for Heels-Smart Jobs (More Physical Quotient (PQ), Reasonable IQ-EQ-SQ-AQ).

 

In a Nutshell, 3 Rules for a Happy, Sustainable, and Productive Society:

1. If an individual's Top Two Intelligences are Identified and Practiced, it contributes to Individual Happiness & Mental Well-being.

2.  If an individual's Top Two Intelligences match the Job Description, it enhances individual and organizational productivity and revenue impact.

3.  The World holds only four job types 4H - Head-Smart, Heart-Smart, Hands-Smart, and Heels-Smart. If an individual's Intelligence, Job Description, and Nature of Job or Work all align, it leads to improvements in individual, organizational, and societal productivity, forming a Happy Society!

 

Dr. Ravi Saripalle

Founder, Inspire to Innovate Storytelling Movement

 

Celebrating Failure - The Inspiring Journey of Bhuvan Kaushik, UPSC - 2 Times Prelims Qualified!

Dear Friends and Students,

I have shared numerous achievers' stories and insights into what it takes to achieve success. However, today I want to highlight a different perspective—the positive story of how one comprehends failure, consolidates strengths, and seizes new opportunities. There are valuable lessons to be learned from the story of Mr. Bhuvan Kaushik, a six-time UPSC attempter, two-time Prelims qualifier, now gearing up to contribute to Developmental and Transformative Projects.

Every UPSC aspirant embarks on the Kurukshetra War with hopes, aspirations, and specific strengths, fully aware of the intense competition in this toughest examination on Earth, with a mere 0.2% success rate. Despite the challenges, lakhs of students enter this arena, giving their best efforts. Some drop out, some succeed, and many face failure. However, only a few persist until the end, exhausting their limited options. This spirit deserves celebration in India. In this context, I'd like to share Mr. Bhuvan Kaushik's story.

Bhuvan, hailing from Nagpur, the Orange City, also known as Deeksha Bhoomi, Maharashtra, completed his BTech in Electronics and Communications Engineering from Yashwantrao Chavan College of Engineering in 2015. Although he secured a campus selection in Atlantis Lighting Pvt. Ltd and worked for a year, his true calling was the UPSC dream. He relocated to Delhi and began preparing for UPSC exams, successfully clearing prelims in 2019 and 2021. During his Civils preparation, he worked as a content and evaluation freelancer for multiple UPSC coaching centers, self-sustaining his journey. His services might be sought after by other organizations, yet his skills acquired during this process should not be overlooked:

 Six continuous attempts depict unwavering commitment and focus on the goal.

 Fifteen hours per day for six attempts showcase an exceptional level of hard work.

 Preparing for Mains and evaluating others' Mains papers provide diverse perspectives on the world 

 Choosing to stay in Delhi with limited resources, while classmates pursue MNCs/abroad opportunities/high packages, demonstrates his resolute nature.

 Despite the contemporary societal emphasis on matrimonial requirements such as packages, premium institutions, family background, and new criteria, he remains confident in himself.

 Personally, I have been observing this young man for a long time. He possesses substance, integrity, compassion, and a service-oriented mindset.

This story is not meant to boost or discourage aspirants, but rather to convey to organizations that these warriors should get opportunities in the industry esp. individuals like Bhuvan. They can bring significant positive changes to an organization.

Best wishes to Mr. Bhuvan Koushik! I am confident you will have a bright future wherever you work.

For Aspirants: Please watch Bhuvan’s podcast, His UPSC Journey

 Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFIm1BN-Bhc

 Part 2- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iMFSZHO4RU

For organizations interested in reaching out to Bhuvan, here are his contact details:

 Email: bhuvankaushik99@gmail.com

 Phone: 9561805320

 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bhuvan-kaushik-48a841207

Best Wishes Bhuvan!

Ravi Saripalle