Leaders Tech Talk: A Letter to Santa from India’s IT Leaders: One Wish to Shape Tech Leadership in 2026

As 2025 draws to a close, we asked India’s CIOs, CTOs or IT CXOs a simple yet powerful question—one that cuts through buzzwords and budgets. If Santa could grant just one wish to help them lead better in 2026, what would it be? Their answers reveal the priorities, pressures, and purpose shaping the future of IT leadership.

Here’s what India’s IT leaders had to say—unfiltered, insightful, and deeply human.

Arindam Singha Roy
CIO, Adaa Group

I'd ask Santa for Neuromorphic Computing chips that mimic the human brain! They'll revolutionize tech innovation and problem-solving in 2026.

Bantesh Singh
CIO, Ozone Group

The ability to turn every technology investment into measurable business value—with clear vision, resilient systems, empowered teams, and data-driven decisions that confidently lead the organization through 2026 and beyond.

Dr Balvinder Singh Banga
Group CTO, V-Trans (India) Ltd

If I could ask Santa for one wish to power leadership in 2026, it would be enterprise-grade Agentic AI systems that don’t just analyze data but autonomously plan, decide, and execute across operations.

An AI co-leader that optimises supply chains in real time, anticipates risks, and continuously improves outcomes would truly redefine how organizations scale with speed and intelligence.

Hetal Pandya
Head IT, NEPRA - Let's Recycle

If I could ask Santa for one wish, it would be AI systems that combine predictive intelligence with clear explainability.

By 2026, leaders will need technology that not only forecasts outcomes but also explains the “why,” enabling faster, more confident, and ethical decision-making.

Prasad Kumar Panda
Head IT, JMA Group

My one wish would be clear, decisive insight in moments of complexity—so I can turn uncertainty into direction and lead with confidence in 2026.

Prasad Tripurari
CTO, Ramoji Group

As we step into 2026, my aspiration is for Quantum Computing to advance at an accelerated pace, hand in hand with the development of stronger, more resilient firewalls that safeguard global computing systems. I also envision remarkable progress in AI agents for all industries. A future where technological breakthroughs flourish in harmony with minimal  or zero cyber threats would truly be the greatest gift to humanity and world.

Raghunath Reddy N
Head IT, Omron Industrial Automation India

I'll ask an AI-first, secure and fully automated IT landscape that helps us move from support function to strategic digital partner for the organization.

Sanjiv Kumar Jain
Group CIO, Krishna Maruti Group

I wish all shadow IT functions be abolished and let Core IT perform pushing AI deployments for excellence in the organisations.

Uday Khairnar
Group CIO, Malpani Group

AI model costs in India to become more affordable. The focus should shift from fear of human replacement to opportunity.

Looking Ahead to 2026

These wishes point to a future driven by agentic, explainable, and resilient AI—where technology delivers clarity, security, and real business impact.

In 2026, leadership will belong to those who turn complexity into confidence and innovation into outcomes.

Team IndiaIT360

Write With Us

IndiaIT360 is passionate about fostering community within the tech industry. IndiaIT360's commitment to staying abreast of the latest trends and advancements in the IT industry ensures that their content is not only informative but also insightful and forward-thinking. Through their writing, they aim to demystify complex technological concepts, making them accessible to a broad audience.