#537 AI, People, and Performance: Sriniketh Chakravarthi on Building Future-Ready Teams

In this episode, Apexon CEO Sriniketh Chakravarthi joins us to unpack what it really takes to build and scale a global technology services company in the era of AI and automation. We explore the intersection of technology, culture, and execution — and why the future belongs to leaders who can combine deep tech understanding with human-centric leadership. From scaling teams to embracing Agentic AI, Sriniketh brings a grounded, operator-first perspective shaped by experience across strategy, M&A, and hands-on execution in some of the world’s most dynamic tech environments. 👤 About Sriniketh Sriniketh Chakravarthi CEO, Apexon A seasoned technology leader with a background in financial services, strategy, and digital engineering, Sriniketh has led Apexon’s transformation into a next-gen digital engineering partner focused on AI, digital experience, and data-powered innovation. Backed by Goldman Sachs and Everstone Capital, Apexon operates across the US, UK, India, and Mexico with a mission to improve human life through digital transformation. 🔑 Key Takeaways • Culture is the No.1 driver of sustainable performance at scale • Execution is a leadership discipline — not a buzzword • AI will transform services, but humans remain the multiplier • Entrepreneurial DNA must be protected even in large orgs • Services firms must evolve into AI orchestration partners • The next era belongs to companies combining talent, tooling, and trust • Change management in AI era is harder than the tech work itself 🎓 What You Will Learn • How to build a culture that scales with growth • Why AI will reshape the technology services industry • What “agentic AI” really means for enterprises • Lessons on leadership, humility, and talent development • How to balance investor expectations with people-first leadership • Why operators must stay hands-on and continuously learn • Strategies to upskill teams for AI-first work environments 📌 Episode Highlights Time Topic 00:00 Intro & welcome 01:00 Sriniketh’s journey: strategy → operating → CEO 04:00 Leadership pillars: culture, execution, strategy 08:30 Team mindset & the importance of low-ego talent 10:20 Tech as a force for good — real healthcare impact stories 14:30 Keeping entrepreneurship alive in a 5,000+ person org 17:40 Merging multiple companies into one culture & mission 21:00 Talent in the AI era: young engineers & reskilling 26:00 Balancing investors and people — sports team analogy 32:00 The future of services in the age of AI & agents 38:00 AgentThrive: scaling AI in enterprise environments 46:00 Human + AI collaboration and the next workforce frontier 52:00 Advice for entrepreneurs building future-ready teams 57:00 Closing thoughts & where to connect 🔗 Resources Mentioned • Apexon Website: https://www.apexon.com/ • Sriniketh LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srinikethchakravarthi/ • “Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done” — Ram Charan