(September 16, 2025) At the crossroads of strategy, technology, and human connection stands Abhinandan Jain, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Digital Officer at Startek, a global customer experience (CX) management solutions provider. Based in Alpharetta, Georgia, Jain is also the host of the CEX Talks podcast, where he explores the convergence of customer and employee experience (CX + EX), digital ethics, and leadership with thoughtful voices in the industry. His insights are sought after across industry forums, investor panels, and boardrooms, where he speaks on topics ranging from AI-driven service design to business reinvention and customer trust in a fast-changing digital economy.
Outside the corporate world, Jain serves as a board advisor to universities, mentors early-stage founders, and supports nonprofits expanding access to affordable healthcare—all part of his commitment to applying strategy for genuine social impact.
A natural communicator from the start
Communication has been a thread running through Jain’s life long before boardrooms and podcasts. As a student, he thrived on stage and in debate halls, winning Best Actor competition at a national level and collecting multiple Best Debater awards. These early experiences proved invaluable later, enabling him to unite technology, customer experience, and leadership to solve problems that matter. “That ability to communicate clearly, think on my feet, and connect with people has stayed with me throughout my leadership journey,” he reflects in a chat with Global Indian.
Delhi roots, global perspectives
Abhinandan Jain grew up in Delhi in a middle-class Jain family where education was never just about grades, rather about values, perspective, and possibility. Home life often featured spirited debates that embodied Anekantavada, the Jain principle that truth has many sides. “It taught me to listen deeply and respect multiple viewpoints,” he says.
His next big leap came in Mumbai, where studying engineering in the early ’90s felt like riding the first wave of India’s IT revolution. That sense of possibility carried him across the world when, early in his career, he was among a select few chosen to move to the United States, starting in Minneapolis. “It was transformative learning to work across cultures, deliver on global expectations, and prove that an Indian engineer could thrive on any stage,” he recalls.
Abhinandan Jain with colleagues
In Minneapolis he went on to earn an MBA in Finance, gaining a non-technical lens to understand markets, strategy, and the art of turning ideas into sustainable value. More recently, he completed a master’s in Jain studies from the University of Madras, a way to reconnect with his roots and deepen the philosophy of empathy, balance, and respect for diverse perspectives—that has guided his career.
Early career: Learning by doing
Jain began his professional journey in 1995 with Pertech Computers (Altos) in India, at a time when the IT revolution was still finding its feet. Solving practical problems with limited means taught him humility and resourcefulness.
A year later, Siemens selected him to move to Minneapolis. “For someone from a middle-class family in Delhi, that was life-changing. I was suddenly building mission-critical smart grid and SCADA systems for global clients, learning precision, accountability, and how to deliver in high-stakes environments,” he says.
By 1999, at Braun Consulting in Minneapolis, he was leading CRM and analytics projects that helped businesses understand their customers in entirely new ways. “It showed me how technology can transform not just processes but relationships,” he notes.
From 2002 to 2012, Jain’s career took him to Genpact, where he led teams across North America, EMEA, LATAM, and APAC. “Building new markets, leading diverse teams, and driving transformation at scale taught me that authentic leadership is about empathy, trust, and respecting cultural nuance,” he adds.
Abhinandan Jain with colleagues at Startek
Later, at Birlasoft, Sutherland, and Servion, Jain spearheaded major transformations—integrating M&A capabilities, building high-growth digital and AI businesses, and forging partnerships with industry leaders like AWS, Google Cloud, Salesforce, and Genesys. “These experiences taught me that change isn’t about tech alone; it is about aligning people, purpose, and execution,” he emphasizes.
Steering Startek into a digital future
Until a few weeks back, Abhinandan Jain has served as Chief Growth Officer at Startek, repositioning the company from a traditional BPO to a digital-first CX transformation partner. Among his key achievements is the launch of Startek® Agent Assist, a GenAI-powered platform that has delivered measurable results and earned the Artificial Intelligence Excellence Award, Stevie®, and Globee® recognition for CX innovation. “I’m proud to have been named among the Top 100 Global Chief Digital Officers, but what matters more to me is the journey that got me here,” he says.
Strategy with a human heart
As Chief Strategy Officer at Startek, Jain’s mandate covers sales, partnerships, and innovation—but at its heart, it’s about connecting vision to execution. “I focus on uniting diverse markets and global teams around a shared purpose: delivering customer experiences that truly change how people feel, act, and remember,” he explains.
His approach blends AI innovation with human empathy to create interactions that are more personal, efficient, and impactful. Under his leadership, Startek has evolved from being a transactional vendor to a true transformation partner. “We’re not just meeting SLAs—we’re creating career paths, upskilling opportunities, and more meaningful work for our teams globally,” he adds.
Abhinandan Jain with team members
For Jain, customer experience is not just about business outcomes but about transforming lives, strengthening communities, and building enduring brands. His goal is to ensure growth is both sustainable and human-centred, delivering real value to clients while creating opportunities for people wherever the company operates.
Guiding principles and lifelong learning
Abhinandan Jain believes in carrying forward India’s values while making a meaningful impact on a global stage. “It’s about combining empathy, adaptability, and deep respect for diversity with a relentless drive to deliver results,” he says.
India, he adds, gave him a foundation of resilience, ambition, and creative problem-solving—skills essential for leading diverse teams and driving transformation at scale. His biggest leadership lesson is simple: never stop learning. “The world is changing faster than ever. Staying curious and adaptable isn’t optional; it’s essential. Authentic leadership is about enabling others. It’s not enough to set strategy—you must give people the purpose, tools, and trust to deliver. The best outcomes come from teams that feel ownership,” he explains.
Empathy, he insists, is critical in a world of AI and automation. Technology must solve real problems, improve work, and deliver value people genuinely appreciate. He also believes in building careers, not just delivering services, investing in people and creating meaningful opportunities that outlast any single contract.
Advice for younger professionals
For younger professionals, his advice is to take risks early. “Stretch yourself. Build depth, but also seek breadth so you can connect the dots others miss,” he urges. He often leans on Anekantavada, the Jain idea of many-sided truth. “When something goes wrong, I ask, am I seeing this from all angles? That habit helps me avoid blame, listen deeply, and find real solutions,” he says.
Reading, reflection, and giving back
What truly motivates the business executive is impact at every level. “I’m inspired by seeing how our work can change things—not just for companies, but for people, communities, and entire societies,” he shares. Moments like seeing an agent in a small city use AI tools confidently and open new career paths, or hearing from a client that Startek helped them serve their customers better, reaffirm his purpose.
Away from work, Jain is a voracious reader. He looks at timeless lessons in Hindu epics like the Mahabharata and the Gita, Buddhist teachings on mindfulness and impermanence, Jain principles of Anekantavada and non-violence, and even Greek myths and philosophies as guidelines in ethics and leadership. He mentors startups, invests in young founders, and helps run a family nonprofit providing medical care to underprivileged communities—a commitment that keeps him connected to fresh ideas and grounded in service.
Future aspirations
Jain’s next chapter is shaped by a desire to create meaningful impact at scale. “A big priority for me is contributing more directly to India’s growth story,” he concludes.
He sees immense potential in unlocking India’s talent and resilience, making technology more accessible, designing solutions that work across diverse realities, and supporting the next generation of leaders ready to take the country forward.
- Follow Abhinandan Jain on LinkedIn
Very impressive 👏👏
Truly a role model…many wishes