Optum India on the future of global capability centers in an AI era

Optum India participated in the CII Annual Business Summit, where industry leaders came together to discuss the future of global capability centers (GCCs) in an increasingly AI-driven world. The conversation focused on how GCCs are evolving beyond traditional delivery models to become strategic hubs driving enterprise-wide innovation, transformation and business outcomes.

Representing Optum India, Uma Ratnam Krishnan, Managing Director, spoke about how artificial intelligence is reshaping decision-making, redesigning work and enabling organizations to move beyond efficiency toward ownership and impact. She highlighted the importance of responsible AI, particularly in healthcare, where trust, explainability and meaningful outcomes are critical.

The panel also featured Praveen Kumar, CEO and Managing Director, Barclays India; Prashant Mehta, Managing Director, WPP GDC; and Ruchika Panesar, Country Head, India and Chief Digital and Information Officer, NatWest Group. The discussion was moderated by Manoj Marwah, GCC Markets Leader – India, EY.

The session reinforced a common theme: GCCs are no longer centers built only for scale. As AI becomes integral to business operations, they are increasingly becoming engines of enterprise transformation. For India, this presents a significant opportunity to lead not only through talent and expertise but also through innovation, ownership and lasting business impact.