International

Mr. Ajay Kumar Raina is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in leadership roles within the skill development, legal, management, and banking industries. Currently serving as the Group General Counsel, Director & Chief Operating Officer at NSDC International, he is responsible for developing and implementing the company's overall strategy, operations, and collaborations. Mr. Raina has a keen interest in skill harmonization and the internationalization of India's vocational education and training. He believes in a learning outcomes approach to skills development, with a focus on practical, hands-on training that empowers learners to succeed in their chosen careers. In addition to his operational responsibilities, Mr. Raina also heads the legal department at NSDC, bringing his expertise in legal affairs to ensure compliance with regulations and best practices. Prior to his current role, Mr. Raina held various leadership positions at Kotak Mahindra Bank, where he developed and implemented successful strategies for business growth and development. Mr. Raina holds a degree in Law from the University of Jammu.

Alok Kumar is a transformational leader with over 24 years of experience across global workforce solutions, international mobility, and strategic business development. As CEO of NSDC International (NSDCI) since November 2024, he has been pivotal in positioning India as a global hub for skilled talent through high-impact partnerships and international skilling ecosystems.

Under his leadership, NSDCI is expanding its global footprint in skilling. He is spearheading the establishment of Skill India International Centres, forging workforce mobility corridors with countries across the GCC, Europe, and Asia, and leading critical collaborations with the world's leading organizations and institutions.  

Prior to NSDCI, Alok served as President & Country Head at ManpowerGroup India, where he drove significant growth and expanded workforce solutions nationwide. His earlier roles at The Adecco Group, Bharti Enterprises, Reliance Communications, HCL Infosystems, and Redington further honed his expertise in sales strategy, enterprise solutions, and key account leadership.

With a strong track record of scaling businesses and driving cross-border talent deployment, Alok Kumar stands at the forefront of advancing India’s global skilling agenda. 
 

Ms. Shreshtha Gupta is a distinguished technology leader, renowned for architecting future-ready digital ecosystems that drive innovation, enable scalable growth, and deliver long-term strategic impact. 

As Chief Technology Officer at the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and NSDC International, she drives large-scale digital transformation initiatives that strengthen institutional resilience and elevate the nation’s skilling capabilities. 

With a career spanning over 16 years, she has worked across key domains such as Retail & Supply Chain, Healthcare, and Information Technology, operating across APAC, EMEA, and the Americas, bringing a global perspective and cross-industry depth to her work. 

At NSDC, she has designed and implemented the world’s first Digital Public Infrastructure for Skills and Education, a groundbreaking model now referenced globally for its innovation, scalability, and inclusivity. The DPI is now a cornerstone of NSDC’s digital strategy, driving nationwide scale and impact. 

Recognizing its significance, Shreshtha was invited to present it to the Hon’ble President of India, highlighting its role in shaping the future of India’s workforce and digital economy. She heads a high-performing teams delivering next-generation platforms powered by Generative AI and hyperscale cloud architectures, aligned to India's digital and demographic advantage. She has forged strategic alliances with global technology leaders including Microsoft, AWS, Google, Oracle, Cisco, as well as multilateral organizations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF, enabling rapid innovation and expanding the reach of NSDC’s digital services with unmatched agility. Under Shreshtha’s leadership, the technology vertical has evolved from a traditional cost center into a strategic profit center, delivering measurable revenue growth, driving digital business expansion, and unlocking new value streams for the organization. By operationalizing digital assets, monetizing platforms, and introducing scalable tech-driven service models, she has helped position technology as a core business enabler. Her focus on commercial viability, sustainable innovation, and outcome-based strategy has directly contributed to enhancing NSDC’s financial sustainability and market competitiveness. 

Her leadership has been recognized at premier global platforms. She has shared her insights at United Nations, Geneva on Human-Centered Digital Transformation of Skills Development and has earned accolades such as ‘CTO of the Year’ by ASSOCHAM and ‘Leader of Tomorrow’ by ET Ascent. She also serves on the Governing Councils of several sectoral bodies, shaping policy and technological direction on a national scale. A passionate advocate for inclusive innovation, she served as a Jury Member on ‘Her Startup Show’, featured on OTT platforms like JIOHOTSTAR, inspiring and mentoring India’s next generation of women entrepreneurs across India. Beyond technology, she also champions equity and workplace integrity as Chairperson of NSDC and NSDCI’s Internal Complaints Committee (P.O.S.H.). Known for her strategic foresight, transformational leadership, execution excellence and inclusive vision, Shreshtha Gupta is widely regarded as one of the influential technology leaders advancing India’s digital transformation on the global stage.