I’m Harish Balasubramanian — a product and technology executive with a simple belief that has shaped everything I’ve done: that learning is the most durable competitive advantage any person or organisation can build.
That belief is the reason this blog exists. And it’s the thread that connects two decades of work across some of the world’s largest technology companies.
What I Do
I’m currently Director and Head of Innovation, Tech Strategy and Startups at Walmart Global Tech, where I report to the CTO Office and India Head. My work sits at the intersection of enterprise technology strategy, GenAI and Agentic AI, startup collaboration, and building the kind of innovation culture that produces real outcomes — not just presentations about real outcomes.
Over the course of my career at Walmart and SAP, I’ve contributed to few hundred millions in business impact, scaled engineering and innovation teams , launched and led enterprise products, and driven startup engagements that span everything from retail tech transformation to quantum computing, AI, IoT, and AR/VR.
The organisation I work with has been recognised with NASSCOM’s “Innovation with Impact” and “Exemplary Value-Adds Through Ecosystem Collaboration” awards, and Walmart ranked #12 globally in GlassDollar’s Startup Advantage Report.
My Background
I hold an M.Tech in Artificial Intelligence from BITS Pilani and an MBA in Strategy and Marketing from IIM Kozhikode. Before that, a Bachelor of Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University, where I graduated with distinction.
Twenty years of building things — and I still find the work genuinely interesting. That’s probably the most honest credential I can offer.
What This Blog Is About
This isn’t a thought leadership platform in the polished, carefully-managed sense. It’s a place where I think out loud about the things I’m genuinely curious about — AI and enterprise technology, innovation systems, startup ecosystems, leadership, strategy, and occasionally the books that have changed how I see things.
The writing here reflects how I actually think: observational rather than prescriptive, practitioner-led rather than consultant-positioned, and always more interested in the question worth asking than the answer worth selling.
I write for business professionals, innovation leaders, founders, and product managers who are navigating the same complexity I am. If something here sparks a thought, challenges an assumption, or saves you an expensive mistake — that’s the whole point.
What I Spend My Time On
Beyond the day job, I have spend a meaningful amount of time mentoring startups and intrapreneurs, coaching product and engineering leaders, and contributing to the broader technology and innovation community through NASSCOM, industry forums, and the whitepapers and publications I’ve developed over the years.
I also dedicate at least 15 hours a week to learning — deliberately, across technology, business, and adjacent fields. It’s not discipline. It’s genuinely the thing I enjoy most.
Let’s Connect
I’d love to hear from you — whether you’re a founder working through a hard problem, a product leader navigating an AI strategy, or simply someone who found something here worth discussing.
bharish 
@harishb07
harish.balasubramanian 
Share your thoughts