Decoding a Decade

Ten years ago on this day, I joined Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories inspired by the organisation’s purpose to accelerate access to affordable healthcare. I am grateful for my amazing team, colleagues, peers, family, and friends who have supported, challenged, and inspired me during this time. As I reflect on the past decade, I am reminded of the various programmes and initiatives that have created high impact or changed the course of our digital journey.

?While it has been a fulfilling decade, we continue to work on our ambition to be a digital–first organisation. To achieve this, we focus on two objectives — helping current businesses become more resilient and scalable, and developing a sustainable model of growth even beyond the pill and helping patients in multiple ways.

?Change doesn’t happen overnight and requires collective effort. I fondly remember the first 10x programme where we reduced the cycle time of a change control workflow from 35 days to less than four days to enable speedy change in our manufacturing operations. I remember the resistance at the beginning, driven by strong limiting belief that this type of radical shift is not possible. However, the same team achieved the goal once they won the battle in their minds. The big learning was that digital transformation is not only about digital technology; it’s also about helping our minds to evolve.

?The pandemic and resultant lockdowns were a big test of where we stood in terms of digitization. We were running a digital workplace programme for more than a year before the pandemic hit, and it enabled us to switch to remote working within 48 hours after the first lockdown was declared. There were lot of shift in priorities with the lockdown and programmes that were planned for months had to be delivered in weeks. That year, we were also hit by a cyberattack. I was amazed at the resilience of my team, who worked tirelessly to bring us out unscathed. In both cases, new ways of working emerged, cross–functional teams came together, every individual gave their best, and limiting beliefs were left behind. Our minds opened up to the Art of Possible, the true potential of teamwork, the power of a common purpose and the importance of inspiration and alignment.

?I will share my learnings over the past decade on this platform in the coming weeks. I look forward to hearing about your experiences and reflections too.

?Cheers!