When a transistor becomes a transformer

With limited resources and opportunities, he could amplify India’s potential and computing mettle through every organisation he went to – whether it was a government-scion or an emerging IT powerhouse or a startup or India’s own Silicon Valley think-tank or a non-profit venture. He continues to transform ideas, people and is always manifesting what they are capable of. He continues to achieve and make a mark. Dr. Sridhar Mitta in conversation with Dataquest editor Sunil Rajguru. Edited excerpts from a video interview…

- By DQ Bureau

It's not hard to understand why Dr. Mitta was fascinated by transistors at such an early age, in an uncanny way. Amplifying things was always his calling. The essence and the switch that he always pressed forward no matter where he went. Here's his story.

Dr. Mitta is an industry archetype and an icon in India's IT landscape, with over 50 years of work in pioneering technology, fostering innovation, and promoting entrepreneurship. Here are a few glimpses of what he has done in various avatars. At Electronics Corporation of India Ltd. (ECIL), he led critical projects for defense and space applications, marking the foundation of his illustrious career. As Wipro's CTO, he transformed its R&D division into a global profit center, introducing the "Lab on Hire" model for multinationals. He also played a pivotal role in establishing Wipro as India's most valuable company during his tenure. With e4e Inc., he went on to enable Indian entrepreneurs to access Silicon Valley's infrastructure, fostering innovation and crossborder collaboration. With EnThink Inc., the same man built a semiconductor IP design and licensing startup in Silicon Valley, catering to the global market. Also, the same brain pioneered global delivery of outsourced product development services for leading tech giants like Intel, Cisco, and Sun. He also served as President of TiE Bangalore and a trustee of TiE Global, promoting entrepreneurship globally. Fuelled by the desire to make an impact beyond his radius, he founded NextWealth, an IT company that integrates human expertise with digital tech to deliver data insights. Here, he created over 4,000 jobs across six delivery centers in small towns, empowering women and promoting social upliftment. Here's a quick circuit diagram of all the nodes and wires that created this light that never ceases to illuminate the industry.

From school to foreign campuses, from electrons to transistors