06.04.25 By Bridgenext Think Tank
In this edition of our “Meet the Team” series, we sit down with Shailesh Pardesi, Vice President of Engineering at Bridgenext, to talk about everything from flower-infused tea to leading large-scale digital transformation initiatives.
Based in Pune, India, Shailesh brings over 20 years of expertise in product modernization and platform innovation, plus a flair for writing comedic skits and rallying teams around bold new ideas.
From building U.S. patent-winning software frameworks to designing generative AI solutions that are reshaping industries like healthcare, finance, and more, let’s dive into his journey.
Bridgenext Team Stats:
How did you get into the field of engineering and technology? Share your career journey:
My fascination with technology began when I first saw a computer at my father’s office at the Life Insurance Corporation of India. That moment sparked a lifelong passion. I began my career with an Indian ISV focused on insurance products, where my background in insurance and computing earned me an internship – and later, a full-time role.
I taught myself ASP, JavaScript, and HTML to stay ahead of industry trends, which led me to Patni. Over 13 years there, I grew from Software Engineer to Microsoft Practice Lead, gaining experience across technologies and leadership roles.
In 2013, I joined Xoriant, where I led modernization efforts for various ISVs and developed frameworks that automated software engineering tasks—one of which earned me a U.S. patent. A brief stint with Capgemini followed, where I focused on sustainable IT and developed a framework to assess and reduce carbon emissions in software development.
For the past two years at Bridgenext, I’ve been focused on digital engineering excellence, building high-performing teams, fostering collaboration, and driving continuous learning—all while staying deeply engaged with our clients.
What excites you most about leading transformational digital initiatives at Bridgenext?
The thrill of solving real problems, improving operational efficiency, and, most importantly, delighting our customers. Every digital initiative is a chance to make a tangible impact.
Tell us about a project that you’re particularly proud of. What was the impact?
One that stands out is a predictive analytics platform we built for a California-based ISV. It used proprietary neural networks to detect zero-day threats in real time. I designed the data ingestion engine that enabled lightning-fast threat detection and helped identify phishing threats across platforms like Teams and Outlook. It’s rewarding to know our work can help prevent ransomware attacks and protect billions in enterprise value. It’s a real-world example of AI-driven security innovation in action.
What’s a tech trend that you think will reshape the industry in the next 5 years?
AI is reshaping customer experience through hyper-personalization, instant support, and proactive engagement. From chatbots and sentiment analysis to predictive analytics and loyalty optimization, AI is transforming how businesses connect with customers.
I’m particularly excited about Generative AI solutions. It’s revolutionizing industries from personalized content and virtual assistants to fraud detection and multilingual support by making digital interactions more human, efficient, and impactful.
Which tool, software, or framework do you rely on daily and why?
Beyond Microsoft 365, I use VS Code to review code and actively explore GitHub and M365 Copilots. I believe in leading by example—if I expect my team to embrace these tools, I must be the first to adopt them.
What’s one innovation in digital transformation that you find particularly exciting?
Generative AI is transforming customer experiences by enabling instant, personalized, and seamless interactions across industries. It powers intelligent chatbots and virtual assistants that provide 24/7 support in natural language, significantly reducing wait times and enhancing responsiveness. Personalized recommendations, like those on Netflix or Amazon, elevate shopping and content discovery, while AI-generated dynamic content, such as emails, advertisements, and product descriptions drive deeper engagement.
In healthcare, Gen AI supports symptom analysis and virtual consultations; in banking, it enhances fraud detection and delivers personalized financial advice. It also streamlines operations by automating customer support ticket summaries, multilingual translations, and sentiment analysis, ensuring faster, more empathetic service delivery.
In a recent project with a top logistics firm, we successfully modernized over 20 core applications using AI-augmented development and GenAI-led migration. This approach accelerated the process by 40% and reduced operational costs by 30%, delivering remarkable efficiency and savings.
By anticipating user needs, automating routine tasks, and humanizing digital interactions, Generative AI is redefining customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and brand loyalty.
What do you love most about working with your team at Bridgenext?
What I love most about Bridgenext is our open culture and can-do attitude. Everyone is encouraged to share ideas and deliver high-quality outcomes.
How do you foster innovation and collaboration within your team?
We foster innovation through a culture of “fail fast, fail safe,” empowering teams to take risks and think like customers. Initiatives like Ideathons, Hackathons, and QAthons keep our teams engaged and forward-thinking. Recognizing and rewarding innovation is key to sustaining this momentum.
What’s a defining moment in your career that shaped your leadership style?
A defining moment in my leadership journey came in 2011 at Patni, when I was tasked with leading the Microsoft Technology Practice. I had to build a global team, manage a $35M revenue target, and ensure delivery excellence from 1,500 engineers. This experience reshaped my views on trust, empowerment, and collaboration, and deepened my understanding of P&L and operational strategy.
What’s your favorite productivity hack or habit?
I rely on tools to help prioritize tasks, set reminders, and ensure timely follow-ups. My approach is to tackle high-priority tasks based on the time required to complete them, starting with those that take less time. This strategy allows me to reserve larger blocks of time for more demanding tasks. I also find that taking short breaks and engaging in casual conversations with team members on non-work topics helps refresh my mind and often sparks new ideas.
Favorite quote or motto that inspires you?
“Great things in business are never done by one person; they’re done by a team.” – Steve Jobs
This quote constantly reminds me of the strength and support I have in our Bridgenext team. Together, we’ve achieved remarkable milestones, and I’m confident we’ll continue to deliver exceptional value to our clients in the future.
From building AI-driven platforms to mentoring next-gen engineers, Shailesh is helping shape the future of enterprise engineering at Bridgenext. Whether it’s streamlining operations for a healthcare enterprise, scaling data analytics or generative AI solutions, or turning bold ideas into scalable platforms, he does it with calm clarity—and a green tea in hand.
Stay tuned for more inspiring stories in our Meet the Team series!
