03/01/2026
Sridhar Vembu and His Message to Students
Sridhar Vembu is the co-founder and chief scientist of Zoho Corporation and one of India's most influential technology entrepreneurs. He inspires students to move beyond conventional degree-centric thinking and focus on developing practical skills, independent thinking, and technological capabilities. According to Vembu, in the future world of jobs and innovation, what matters most is not just certificates, but problem-solving abilities, a thirst for learning, and real-world experience.
He has repeatedly emphasized that students should not be burdened by the pressure of obtaining degrees unnecessarily, but should instead focus on discovering and developing their skills. Zoho's practice of prioritizing skills over degrees in many roles is a practical example of this philosophy. Vembu holds a balanced view on artificial intelligence. He sees AI not as a replacement for humans, but as a powerful assistive tool. According to him, AI should be used to enhance learning, analysis, and depth of thoughtтАФnot for blindly copying and pasting.
Village-based development, nurturing local talent, and the philosophy of self-reliance are also important aspects of Vembu's thinking. Overall, he inspires students to become confident, skilled, and thoughtful individuals so that they can leverage technology to build their own future and the future of society.