On World Youth Skills Day 2025, celebrated on 15th July, NCN proudly present powerful insights from industry leaders, highlighting the vital role of skill development, digital literacy, and youth empowerment in shaping a future-ready, inclusive, and innovation-driven India.
Mr. Sunil Sharma, Vice President – Sales (India & SAARC), Sophos
“World Youth Skills Day is a timely reminder of the urgent need to equip young people with the digital capabilities required to thrive in an evolving economy. With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated and frequent, there is a critical shortage of skilled professionals who can safeguard our digital infrastructure. At Sophos, we believe that investing in cybersecurity education and digital literacy is not just beneficial, it’s essential.
Our mission goes beyond providing cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions. We are deeply committed to building a pipeline of future-ready talent by partnering with stakeholders, enabling access to practical training, and fostering a culture of continuous learning.
One of the ways we do this is through initiatives like the Sophos Authorized Training Center (ATC) program which empowers select partners and training organizations to deliver official Sophos training and certification. Our focus is not just technical skills in areas like AI, machine learning, and threat detection, but also on cultivating analytical thinking and ethical responsibility.
Cybersecurity is no longer a niche, it is foundational to every sector, from healthcare to finance. By empowering youth with real-world knowledge and tools, we prepare them to take on tomorrow’s challenges today. The organizations that prioritize youth skilling today will shape the digitally secure world of tomorrow. At Sophos, we’re proud to play a role in enabling that transformation.”
Mr. Bensely Zachariah, Global Head of Human Resources, Fulcrum Digital
“With over 40% of the population under 25, India at the threshold of a colossal opportunity to leverage its demographic strength in the digital age. As AI, automation, and emerging technologies reshape industries, empowering youth with future-ready digital skills is no longer just a social imperative but an economic necessity. Yet, a large section of young Indians, particularly from tier 2/3 cities and marginalized communities, remains underserved and underprepared for this transformation.
This year’s theme, “Youth Empowerment through AI and Digital Skills,” underscores the urgency to build inclusive pathways for digital literacy and innovation. Public-private collaboration can drive real impact by integrating AI into school curricula, funding AI labs in rural institutions, and promoting initiatives like AI Olympiads, boot camps, hackathons, and digital apprenticeships. These interventions must be made accessible and scalable to ensure every young person has the opportunity to thrive in a tech-driven world.
At Fulcrum Digital, we are deeply committed to this vision. We actively support building an AI-first youth workforce through hands-on projects and internships for students in rural areas, mentorship programs, partnerships with NGOs to sponsor learners, and collaborations with academia to co-create open-source platforms that solve real-life local challenges. It’s time we enabled the youth not just to adapt to AI, but to lead it.”
Ms. Juveri Mukherjee, Global Head of HR, Aurionpro Solutions
“World Youth Skills Day resonates deeply with our mission at Aurionpro to nurture the talent that will shape the future of technology. As digital transformation accelerates across sectors, it is imperative to equip young minds with the capabilities needed to thrive in an AI-driven economy. This year’s theme, ‘Youth Empowerment through AI and Digital Skills,’ perfectly mirrors our vision.
At Aurionpro, we are enablers of this change. We are committed to creating immersive, hands-on learning experiences that bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application in critical areas like AI and financial technology. Our goal is to cultivate a generation of agile innovators who are both digitally fluent and future-ready.
Empowering youth is not the job of one institution but a collective responsibility across industry, academia, and government. Whether through structured learning programs or engaging platforms that foster strategic thinking and problem-solving, such as our recent chess tournament organized for young minds. By fostering digital literacy, encouraging continuous learning, and investing in skill-building ecosystems, we unlock new pathways to employment, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
On this day, we celebrate the boundless potential of our youth and reaffirm our commitment to transforming them into leaders of the digital age.”
Mr. Sachin Alug, CEO, NLB Services
“Home to one of the world’s largest pools of STEM graduates, India’s strength is now evolving into a digital edge. With over 25.5 lakh students graduating from the STEM field each year, the opportunity to build a future-ready, AI-enabled workforce has never been more promising. Of these, an estimated 30% are expected to take up roles directly linked to AI by the end of FY26, highlighting how AI is becoming core to India’s future of work strategy. Additionally, India is projected to require 1 million AI professionals by 2026, underscoring the urgency of this trend. As we mark 10 years of the Skill India Mission, we are witnessing its ripple effects right from urban campuses to small towns where youth are equipping themselves with practical, job-ready skills like – AI/ML Engineering, Cybersecurity, and Cloud Engineering.
There’s a clear shift from traditional learning to dynamic, AI-led skilling that prioritizes adaptability, innovation and real-world problem-solving. The good news is Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are emerging as new entrepreneurial potential, where young Indians are not just job seekers but also job creators, leveraging AI tools to launch businesses, solve local challenges and participate in the global economy.
To fully unlock this potential, we must double down on inclusive, accessible skilling models and invest in strong public-private partnerships. The journey from Skill India to a $10 trillion digital-first economy hinges on empowering every young Indian with the tools to lead and not just participate in the future of work.”
“At IDEMIA, we believe that empowering youth with future-ready skills is key to building a more inclusive and innovative world. Through our CSR initiative led by the IDEMIA India Foundation, the IDEMIA Skill Program reflects our commitment to bridging the digital and economic divide by equipping underprivileged youth with hands-on training in emerging technologies and preparing them for real-world careers.
What makes this program truly impactful is how thoughtfully it is designed. We work closely with industry experts to ensure the curriculum remains relevant, practical, and aligned with the skills most in demand today. From digital technologies to cybersecurity and data analytics, our students gain knowledge that opens doors. Equally important, we focus on building communication skills, confidence, and workplace readiness so they are fully prepared to succeed.
We are especially proud of our strong emphasis on job placements. With a proven 90 percent + placement track record, the IDEMIA Skill Program is not just about training it is a launchpad for meaningful careers. For many of our students, this is their first step toward financial independence and long-term success for them and their families.
As we celebrate World Youth Skills Day, we are inspired by the journeys of these young individuals who are now creating solutions, embracing innovation, and contributing to a better tomorrow. By investing in their growth through the IDEMIA India Foundation, we are not only shaping careers but also nurturing the next generation of leaders and changemakers.”
Ms. Bhagwati Shetty, CHRO, Comviva
“Artificial Intelligence and related technologies are transforming the technology landscape by automating tasks, enhancing decision-making and offering new insights. As AI continues to impact every industry, it is crucial that the government, industry and academic institutions work together to reskill and upskill the growing number of young professionals graduating each year in India. At Comviva, we recognize the immense potential that young talent brings to the workforce. We have partnered with University of Southampton Delhi and various universities in Bhubaneswar to co-develop strategic initiatives focused on talent development, collaborative innovation, and community impact. We have also launched a short-term course in AI/ML to equip students with practical skills that are in line with industry requirements.”
Mr. Amit Goyal, Managing Director, South Asia, Project Management Institute
“As we mark World Youth Skills Day 2025, it is vital to recognize that empowering today’s youth with future-ready skills is synonymous with equipping them to master the projects of tomorrow. In a world increasingly shaped by rapid technological advancement and artificial intelligence, building digital fluency and cultivating adaptive competencies are essential to developing future-ready mindsets and meaningful career pathways.
We see clearly that skills in project success, data-informed decision-making, and collaborative agility are not just valuable, but are actively redefining the future of work across all sectors. These are the core competencies that enable individuals to initiate, plan, execute, monitor, and close complex undertakings, turning challenges into opportunities.
To enable inclusive growth and long-term economic resilience, preparing youth must become a shared priority. Institutions must evolve beyond conventional training paradigms and invest in scalable, experiential learning frameworks that integrate mentorship and real-world application. By fostering a culture of continuous development and ethical innovation, we empower youth to lead transformative change, manage complex initiatives, and deliver tangible value through AI and digital skills across industries, communities, and borders. At PMI, we believe every person has the potential to be a successful project leader, driving progress for a better future.”
Mr. Sandip Weling, Chief Business Officer, Global Retail and Whole-time Director, Aptech Limited
“Today’s youth don’t just need skills, they need relevant, real, and future-focused ones. On this World Youth Skills Day, we at Aptech are proud to stand at the intersection of creativity, technology, and employability.
For over 39 years, Aptech has been empowering learners with cutting-edge, industry-aligned vocational training across emerging domains. From computer education, animation, to beauty artistry for the global stage, and virtual production and AI-powered design, our mission is clear: to make every young learner not just job-ready, but industry-ready.
As AI reshapes the world of work, it also unlocks new opportunities for youth empowerment, innovation, and expression. The world is changing fast, and our youth will need the right tools, technology, and opportunities to lead this change.”
Mr. Kartik Shahani, Vice President of India and SAARC, CrowdStrike
“India’s ascent as a global technology leader makes cybersecurity a national priority and strategic imperative for safeguarding our digital future, which includes developing the skills of the next generation of cyber professionals by building their AI literacy and digital skills.
As outlined in the 2025 CrowdStrike Global Threat Report, adversaries are faster, stealthier, and more sophisticated than ever. They no longer break in; they log in by exploiting stolen credentials. Cloud environments are under siege, generative AI is turbocharging social engineering attacks and insider threats are a rising challenge. The average eCrime breakout time has fallen to 48 minutes, with the fastest attacks observed at just 51 seconds. This evolving threat landscape demands a unified security approach – one that is AI-native, delivers comprehensive visibility and is powered by real-time intelligence, to detect and respond to threats at machine speed.
India plays a pivotal role in CrowdStrike’s global innovation engine. Our Pune-based Innovation and Development Center is home to exceptional talent driving cutting-edge platform capabilities for our customers throughout the world. Defending against sophisticated adversaries and cyber threats also requires developing future human defenders. Through our partnership with the India STEM Foundation, we are helping inspire young minds to explore and pursue cybersecurity, while building their cyber awareness and equipping them with the skills needed for tomorrow’s challenges.
CrowdStrike’s mission is to stop breaches. We’re proud to work with organisations in India of all sizes – and the local cybersecurity ecosystem – to accelerate this mission and together, make India a safer, more resilient nation. As we celebrate World Youth Skills Day, CrowdStrike remains committed to empowering organisations and cyber professionals – including the professionals of tomorrow – with the security capabilities and real-time intelligence required to stay ahead of advanced cyber threats.”
Ms. Noopur Julka, Senior Director, UST
There are some shifts that happen once in a century and now the frequency is shortening fast. Be it the steam engine, aerospace technology, and fast tract to the millennium, it was the internet. Internet was not a technical skill but a baseline of what one should know to survive than thrive. AI and automation will be the same – baseline to survive not just succeed.
We are seeing a complete mindset shift of how we should think of consumption models for our customer. The trend was offshoring to automation to process optimization, but it always led to people efficiency but not it is changing. We will advance to a world where there will be agents offered on a subscription basis – scalable and on demand.
How can we empower youth? Well, we can open the doors however the youth will have to walk in with eagerness hunger and excitement to learn! The real skill is mindset – to experiment and to upskill on the foundational principles to business applications. The challenge is content fatigue. AI tools can also be helpful in prioritizing and navigating the noise to build skills that matter.”
Covered By: NCN MAGAZINE / Youth Skills
If you have an interesting Article / Report/case study to share, please get in touch with us at editors@roymediative.com , roy@roymediative.com, 9811346846/ 9625243429
