Pradyumn Sharma, CEO of Pragati Software: Driving Excellence in IT Training for Over Three Decades

Pradyumn Sharma, CEO of Pragati Software, shares insights into the company’s three-decade-long journey as a pioneer in corporate IT training. In this interview, he highlights Pragati’s unwavering commitment to quality, its focus on practical, hands-on learning, and its ability to adapt to emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, and quantum computing. Sharma discusses how tailored training programs have made Pragati a trusted partner for industry leaders like Citibank and Siemens, while emphasizing the critical role of upskilling in navigating the rapidly evolving tech landscape. He also shares his vision for the future of corporate training in a digital-first world and offers valuable advice for aspiring tech professionals.

1. Pragati Software has been a leader in corporate IT training for over three decades. What do you think has been the key to your long-term success, and how has the company evolved to meet the changing needs of corporate India?

Pragati Software’s enduring success in corporate IT training over the past three decades stems from an unwavering commitment to quality. This is evident in our meticulous trainer recruitment and onboarding processes, comprehensive ‘Train the Trainer’ programs, and a strong focus on analyzing and acting upon participant feedback to continually enhance our offerings.

Our approach combines theoretical knowledge, hands-on exercises, and real-world use cases to ensure our training programs are not only informative but also highly practical and impactful.

At the core of our operations lies a culture of continuous learning and innovation. We encourage our trainers to stay ahead of industry trends, ensuring the content we deliver remains current and relevant. 

Moreover, by proactively identifying emerging technologies, investing in skill development, and consistently delivering measurable outcomes, we’ve been able to maintain a competitive edge.

Another key factor is our commitment to building strong, trust-based client relationships. Our dedicated sales team works closely with clients to deeply understand their needs, allowing us to deliver tailored solutions that foster long-term partnerships and sustained success.

2. With a wide range of training programs on emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, and blockchain, how do you ensure your courses stay relevant to today’s fast-changing tech landscape?

Staying relevant in today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape requires agility, foresight, and a relentless focus on quality.

At Pragati Software, we have developed a structured approach to ensure our courses meet current and future industry needs. First, we actively track technology trends and industry requirements by engaging with our corporate clients, attending conferences, and staying tuned to global developments. This helps us identify emerging technologies and areas of demand early on.  

Once we’ve identified these areas, we invest in skill-building for our trainers. Our team undergoes rigorous upskilling to ensure they have both the depth and breadth of knowledge needed to deliver high-quality training.  

Course content is continuously refreshed and aligned with real-world applications. We integrate practical examples, hands-on exercises, and use cases from diverse industries to make the learning experience relevant and engaging.  

We also take feedback seriously. Participant reviews and client input are analyzed after every program, allowing us to refine and improve the course structure and delivery regularly.  

Finally, our commitment to innovation ensures we’re always exploring better ways to deliver training—be it through hybrid formats, virtual labs, data storytelling techniques, or content customization.  

This comprehensive strategy ensures our training programs not only keep pace with today’s tech landscape but also anticipate the needs of tomorrow.  

3. How does Pragati Software customize its training programs to cater to the unique needs of various industries such as BFSI, fintech, and manufacturing? Can you share any examples of how your training has made a tangible impact on organizations?

Customization is a cornerstone of our training philosophy at Pragati Software. To cater to the unique needs of industries like BFSI, fintech, and manufacturing, we adopt a collaborative and research-driven approach.

We start by interacting extensively with key stakeholders in the client organization to understand their specific challenges, goals, and training needs. This is complemented by tracking trends and use cases across industries to ensure our training remains aligned with global best practices. Additionally, attending industry-specific conferences allows us to stay updated on the latest IT trends relevant to different sectors.

Our tailored programs are designed to address these unique requirements. For instance:

• In the BFSI sector, we partnered with a leading organization to upskill their application developers in a graph database platform and machine learning techniques for fraud detection.
• In manufacturing, we developed a program for a large company with nationwide offices to train their users on creating data visualization dashboards tailored to their specific operational needs.
• For a mid-sized Indian software development company, we created an in-depth program to build architecture skills for their experienced developers, enhancing their ability to design robust systems.

4. Under your leadership, Pragati has developed a reputation for practical, hands-on learning. Could you tell us how this approach helps trainees apply their skills effectively in real-world scenarios?

Practical, hands-on learning is at the core of Pragati Software’s training methodology, and it has been a key driver of our success.

Our approach ensures that trainees don’t just learn concepts in theory but gain the confidence to apply them directly to real-world challenges. Our training programs are carefully designed to include:

• Interactive exercises that mimic real-world scenarios, allowing participants to solve problems they are likely to encounter in their roles.
• Industry-specific use cases tailored to the client’s domain, ensuring the skills taught are immediately relevant.
• Guided practice sessions, labs, and projects where participants work on solutions using the same tools and frameworks they’ll use on the job.

In addition, we encourage the training participants to list the challenges from their own regular work related to the technology that we are imparting training on. The trainer helps the participants to devise solutions to those problems.

5. Pragati offers training in both online and in-person formats. How has the shift towards online learning changed the way you deliver training programs, and what do you see as the future of corporate training in a digital-first world?

During the early days of the pandemic, the nearly 100% shift to online training was an absolute necessity. It enabled the clients to continue to get their employees upskilled while they mostly worked from home. But after the pandemic got over, a majority of Indian clients have shifted back to in-person training programs, or adopted a hybrid model. There are obvious pros and cons of online and in-person training programs: online training provides convenience, flexibility, and scalability, while in-person training is stronger in fostering deeper connections and collaboration, and better focus and attention from the participants, 

To adapt to the shift to online training programs, we reimagined our training programs by:

• Enhancing interactivity in virtual sessions. We use tools like live coding exercises, virtual labs, polls, and breakout rooms to keep participants actively engaged.
• Ensuring practical, hands-on learning remains central. Our online programs include simulations, case studies, and real-world projects tailored to the client’s context, ensuring that participants can apply their learning immediately.
• Offering flexible learning resources. Recorded sessions, downloadable materials, and online discussion forums make it easier for participants to learn at their own pace while staying connected with trainers and peers.

Looking ahead, the future of corporate training lies in a hybrid model. Emerging technologies like AI, AR, and VR will further personalize and enrich the learning experience, creating immersive and adaptive environments tailored to individual needs.

6. You have been a thought leader in areas like AI/ML, Big Data, and blockchain. What emerging technologies do you think will have the most significant impact on businesses in India in the next 3-5 years?

Technology-driven transformation has never been so rapid, dramatic and far-reaching in the last four decades of my career as it has been in the last couple of years. My sense is that several emerging technologies will play pivotal roles in shaping businesses over the next few years:

• Generative AI and advanced Machine Learning. Their potential for automation, personalization, and cost optimization is immense.
• Internet of Things and Edge Computing. India’s push towards smart cities and digital infrastructure means that these technologies will continue to drive efficiencies in areas like manufacturing, logistics, and utilities.
• Quantum Computing. Still in nascent stages, but has tremendous potential to solve complex optimization problems across domains.
• 5G and Beyond. This will lead to enhanced connectivity, enabling connections in remote work, telemedicine, and autonomous systems.
• Green Computing. Essential for addressing environmental challenges, will also unlock new business opportunities.

7. Pragati’s clients include some of India’s most well-established companies like Citibank, Siemens, and Oracle Financial Services. What key factors make Pragati the preferred choice for such high-profile organizations, and how do you maintain long-term partnerships with these clients?

I think the key factors that help in making Pragati a preferred choices would be:

• Tailored training solutions
• Focus on practical and impactful learning
• Commitment to excellence and quality
• Proactive support and flexibility
• Staying at the forefront of technology trends

Building and maintaining long-term partnerships is about creating consistent value. We focus on fostering trust by delivering results, maintaining open communication, and evolving alongside our clients. Many of these organizations have been with us for over a decade—a testament to the strong relationships and tangible outcomes we’ve built together.

8. You’ve led numerous sessions on cutting-edge topics like generative AI and HR analytics. What do you think are the biggest challenges organizations face in adopting these technologies, and how can corporate training help address them?

The key challenges that many organizations face are:

• Lack of awareness and understanding of the full potential of these technologies and their alignment with the business goals
• Skills gap
• Change management and resistance
• Integration with existing systems: legacy systems not being compatible with the newer technologies, creating technical and operational roadblocks

Training programs help in building awareness and strategic insight, upskilling employees, and fostering confidence and adaptability.

9. As a mentor and respected industry figure, how do you inspire your team and the next generation of tech professionals? What advice would you give to young professionals looking to excel in the IT and tech training field?

• Embrace lifelong learning. Especially critical for the rapidly evolving IT industry.
• Master the fundamentals
• Have a passion for knowledge sharing.
• Develop strong communication skills.
• Make training programs lively, interactive and practical-oriented.