Top talent today wants to be where the future is being built: John Reid-Dodick, Chief People & Leadership Officer at Thoughtworks
Thoughtworks India remains one of the largest talent pools and delivery hubs for the global technology consultancy and hiring plans in the country will follow a measured, demand‑led way, with growth in spaces like AI‑first engineering, data & AI, cloud/platform, modernisation and managed services, said John Reid-Dodick, the recently-appointed chief people and leadership officer at Thoughtworks.
In an interaction with ET’s Sreeradha Basu, he spoke about Thoughtworks priorities for the India market, catering to the needs of a multigenerational workforce and preparing the India workforce for rapid AI adoption.
Edited excerpts:
What are your top priorities, especially with respect to the India market, in your first year in the new role?
My priorities focus on three key areas to drive our ambitious strategy:
First is building the capabilities to power our growth in AI and data. India is central to this, and we are aggressively investing in building these skills internally. A cornerstone of this approach is Thoughtworks University (TWU), which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. By combining deep technical training in AI and distributed systems with a consulting mindset and a full year of mentorship, TWU ensures we are shaping the future leaders of the industry – just as we have for over 4,000 alumni globally.
Complementing this is our STEP program, a ‘work-integrated learning’ initiative where we identify high-potential polytechnic graduates early. We sponsor their higher education while they work on live projects, ensuring they gain academic theory and practical application simultaneously. Between TWU and STEP, we are cultivating future tech leaders from the grassroots up.
Second is aligning career growth with our business evolution. My priority is to expand opportunities for our India team to lead global functions and complex projects, ensuring they continue to drive impact far beyond this region.
Third is culture. We are building on a foundation of technical excellence, 'people over process,' and deep collaboration. My focus is to strengthen these existing attributes to ensure our culture and growth strategy are perfectly aligned. We want to celebrate the global perspective that our Indian leadership brings.
What is your strategy to attract and retain top talent in India’s hypercompetitive market?
Our strategy is rooted in a simple truth: top talent today wants to be where the future is being built, not just talked about. We are building that future through our aggressive focus on Data, AI, and agentic capabilities. For a technologist, joining Thoughtworks means working on the industry's most relevant and challenging problems, supported by an internal culture that is ‘AI-first’ in operation.
But equally important is how we engage with the wider ecosystem. We believe in radical knowledge-sharing through our technical community events. These events allow potential talent to engage with our leaders and 'try on' our culture of learning before they even apply. Thoughtworks offers its current talent multiple such platforms to showcase their knowledge and become recognized industry experts both at and outside the company. This makes them feel valued and invested in, knowing that we prioritise their individual growth as experts, as much as the company brand.
We view our relationship with talent as a lifelong partnership. This is embodied in Afterworks, our dedicated alumni network, where alumni reconnect, access career support, and often find their way back to us. By treating our people as family even after they leave, we build a reputation that keeps top talent gravitating back to us.
How do you plan to cater to the needs of a multigenerational workforce?
We plan to cater to a multigenerational workforce by recognizing that different life stages require different support structures. For our youngest talent (avg age 19), for instance, we use the STEP program to provide training and financial support simultaneously. For experienced women in tech returning to the workforce, we use Vapasi to provide a technical refresh and confidence. Finally, we bind these groups together through a culture of inclusive showcases and mentorship, ensuring that a long-tenured leader and a fresh intern interact as equals, learning from one another.
How are you preparing your India workforce for rapid AI adoption?
Our approach is rooted in moving beyond simple coding assistants to transforming the entire software delivery lifecycle - from decision-making in software architecture and exploratory testing to incremental legacy modernization. This AI-First Software Delivery (AIFSD) approach leverages AI as a creative engine to scale innovation and reduce toil. Ultimately, this technical foundation supports our ambitious strategy to integrate AI into every aspect of value creation for our clients
To support this strategy, Thoughtworks is preparing the workforce through a 'Humans plus Machines' approach: Tooling & Enablement, Skill Acquisition and Certified Expertise.
DEI has been a strong focus area for Thoughtworks. What are your plans going forward in India?
For Thoughtworks, DEI is fundamental to how we build a resilient business and a technology industry that truly serves society. India has always been central to this journey, and we have built a strong foundation through programs like Vapasi, Thoughtworks’ returnship program for women to Interning with Pride for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Looking ahead, we will continue to lead with empathy and consideration for equality.
Getting diverse talent in the door is only half the job; ensuring they thrive is the other. India has a strong policy base: equal opportunity and non‑discrimination, gender‑neutral anti‑harassment/POSH implementation, and LGBTQ+‑inclusive policies (including gender affirmation and transition at work). Guided by our India DEI Council, we use data from our engagement surveys to create concrete, regional action plans.
Ultimately, we believe that diverse teams build better software. By integrating DEI into our business strategy, we are ensuring that Thoughtworks India remains an employer of choice for all talent.
In an interaction with ET’s Sreeradha Basu, he spoke about Thoughtworks priorities for the India market, catering to the needs of a multigenerational workforce and preparing the India workforce for rapid AI adoption.
Edited excerpts:
What are your top priorities, especially with respect to the India market, in your first year in the new role?
My priorities focus on three key areas to drive our ambitious strategy:
First is building the capabilities to power our growth in AI and data. India is central to this, and we are aggressively investing in building these skills internally. A cornerstone of this approach is Thoughtworks University (TWU), which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. By combining deep technical training in AI and distributed systems with a consulting mindset and a full year of mentorship, TWU ensures we are shaping the future leaders of the industry – just as we have for over 4,000 alumni globally.
Complementing this is our STEP program, a ‘work-integrated learning’ initiative where we identify high-potential polytechnic graduates early. We sponsor their higher education while they work on live projects, ensuring they gain academic theory and practical application simultaneously. Between TWU and STEP, we are cultivating future tech leaders from the grassroots up.
Second is aligning career growth with our business evolution. My priority is to expand opportunities for our India team to lead global functions and complex projects, ensuring they continue to drive impact far beyond this region.
Third is culture. We are building on a foundation of technical excellence, 'people over process,' and deep collaboration. My focus is to strengthen these existing attributes to ensure our culture and growth strategy are perfectly aligned. We want to celebrate the global perspective that our Indian leadership brings.
What is your strategy to attract and retain top talent in India’s hypercompetitive market?
Our strategy is rooted in a simple truth: top talent today wants to be where the future is being built, not just talked about. We are building that future through our aggressive focus on Data, AI, and agentic capabilities. For a technologist, joining Thoughtworks means working on the industry's most relevant and challenging problems, supported by an internal culture that is ‘AI-first’ in operation.
But equally important is how we engage with the wider ecosystem. We believe in radical knowledge-sharing through our technical community events. These events allow potential talent to engage with our leaders and 'try on' our culture of learning before they even apply. Thoughtworks offers its current talent multiple such platforms to showcase their knowledge and become recognized industry experts both at and outside the company. This makes them feel valued and invested in, knowing that we prioritise their individual growth as experts, as much as the company brand.
We view our relationship with talent as a lifelong partnership. This is embodied in Afterworks, our dedicated alumni network, where alumni reconnect, access career support, and often find their way back to us. By treating our people as family even after they leave, we build a reputation that keeps top talent gravitating back to us.
How do you plan to cater to the needs of a multigenerational workforce?
How are you preparing your India workforce for rapid AI adoption?
Our approach is rooted in moving beyond simple coding assistants to transforming the entire software delivery lifecycle - from decision-making in software architecture and exploratory testing to incremental legacy modernization. This AI-First Software Delivery (AIFSD) approach leverages AI as a creative engine to scale innovation and reduce toil. Ultimately, this technical foundation supports our ambitious strategy to integrate AI into every aspect of value creation for our clients
To support this strategy, Thoughtworks is preparing the workforce through a 'Humans plus Machines' approach: Tooling & Enablement, Skill Acquisition and Certified Expertise.
DEI has been a strong focus area for Thoughtworks. What are your plans going forward in India?
For Thoughtworks, DEI is fundamental to how we build a resilient business and a technology industry that truly serves society. India has always been central to this journey, and we have built a strong foundation through programs like Vapasi, Thoughtworks’ returnship program for women to Interning with Pride for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Looking ahead, we will continue to lead with empathy and consideration for equality.
Getting diverse talent in the door is only half the job; ensuring they thrive is the other. India has a strong policy base: equal opportunity and non‑discrimination, gender‑neutral anti‑harassment/POSH implementation, and LGBTQ+‑inclusive policies (including gender affirmation and transition at work). Guided by our India DEI Council, we use data from our engagement surveys to create concrete, regional action plans.
Ultimately, we believe that diverse teams build better software. By integrating DEI into our business strategy, we are ensuring that Thoughtworks India remains an employer of choice for all talent.
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