According to the report published by the World Economic Forum in 2025, technological advancements are already bringing rapid changes to multiple industries, as employees expect 39% of core skills to be replaced within the next five years. The industry is changing rapidly, effective leadership and cohesive teamwork gain even more importance, becoming a crucial component for the sustainable growth of any business. As more and more tasks are delegated to AI-driven tools, the value of human-centered skills, such as leadership and social ability to collaborate, continues to rise. Despite the attempts to implement AI solutions to facilitate teamwork or augment social interactions, human leadership remains irreplaceable and plays a crucial role in creating high-performing teams. We spoke with Chetan Urkudkar, a software engineer with over a decade of experience in engineering and innovation, currently a Senior Staff Software Development Engineer at LiveRamp. He’s, a developer of a patented secure computing solution and a contributor of digital products that are currently used by companies across the world, and shared his insight on the growing role of leadership and teamwork in the innovation culture.
Chetan, your career in tech spans over a decade and includes working in several prominent companies, such as Saba Software, Cornerstone OnDemand Habu, and then LiveRamp. Could you tell us about the key moments that shaped your approach to leadership and innovation?
From the very beginning of my career, I was focused on not only fulfilling my short-term goals and dealing with the task at hand but also on continuously growing my skills and gaining a broader and more systematic understanding of the field. At Saba Software, the experience of building key foundational pieces of software and later developing a brand-new integration platform taught me the importance of focusing on the aspects of my work besides just writing code: namely, keeping a context of business goals in view. I have also learned the importance of productive collaboration, both within and across teams, as it provides a foundation for efficient and flexible products. Participating in winning at team events, such as hackathons, was another experience that shaped my perception of what productive teamwork looks like.
From your early engineering roles to your current position at LiveRamp, how did your responsibilities evolve beyond code to leading critical projects and teams?
Throughout my career, my role evolved from being more focused on individual contributions to a more strategic one, especially after joining Habu. Prior experience allowed me to become a leader who aligns and guides teams through both technical and organizational challenges. At LiveRamp, I work in close partnership with multiple teams, including product, quality assurance, and engineering, as well as other cross-functional teams. My current role demands guiding teams through both technical and organizational challenges, creating an environment where each of the team members can achieve their best performance.
Your approach highlights the significance of mentorship and a collaborative environment in creating an efficient team. What role did mentorship have in your career, and how do you transfer this experience into your own approach?
Exactly, mentorship has played a pivotal role in achieving success, and I am very grateful to the seniors I have worked with throughout my professional career for guiding me the right way from the start of my software journey. Now I strive to provide similar guidance for others, encouraging younger professionals to develop their skills and fostering the culture of collaboration that helps them to do so.
Looking back at some of the most significant projects you implemented with these teams, such as an ETL platform for an HR information system or a patented data collaboration cleanroom solution, what leadership lessons can you share that helped you to drive innovation at scale?
Organizing collaborative work across multiple teams is a key factor for success, especially for projects that need to balance the interests of multiple stakeholders. My approach to leadership helped me to align the technology strategy with the broader business objectives, which helped to create products that remain used by many clients till now, and this is the approach I continue to apply at LiveRamp.
In addition to your work at LiveRamp, you are also a member of Hackathon Raptors which unites innovators and technology professionals from all over the world, and a jury member for the Globee Awards for Technology. Why do you find it important to engage with the broader tech community through publications, awards, or open-source contributions?
No matter how skilled you are, there is always more to know, especially in a world where the technological landscape evolves rapidly. Participating in community events, such as conferences or awards, or working on open-source projects, provides one with the ground for establishing connections, sharing ideas, and learning from others’ points of view. Even for individual achievements, such as scientific publications or patented solutions, it is important to remember that they are based on years of gaining experience, learning, and working together with others.
What advice would you give to emerging tech professionals who aspire to move beyond technical roles and take on leadership positions?
One of the main changes recent technology advancements bring to the industry is the decreasing amount of routing work that gets delegated to automated or partially automated tools. This, in turn, increases the role of organizational skills and the ability to see a bigger picture for the professionals on all levels. Those who aspire to take on leadership positions in the technical industry need to focus on establishing connections, participating in collaborative projects, and building people skills alongside technical skills because valuable contributions are usually a result of a collaborative effort. Remember that leadership involves not only being able to solve problems yourself but also enabling others to do so.
Source: Beyond Code: Why Leadership and Teamwork are Crucial for Tech Innovation
