AstraZeneca India Outlines Strategy for Talent-Led Growth in GCCs
9 JUNE 2025 / 2 min read
Pharmaceutical major AstraZeneca India is revolutionising its approach to talent management in Global Capability Centres (GCCs) by implementing a strategic framework that prioritises skill-based growth, inclusivity, and technology-driven HR processes.
According to Anuradha Kumar, Head of HR, GITC, AstraZeneca India, who was speaking at the People Matters GCC Talent Summit 2025 in Hyderabad, this shift is about reimagining HR as a catalyst for competitive advantage, where talent strategies are intricately linked with business objectives. By adopting digital talent scouts, the organisation proactively identifies and develops critical skill sets, reducing hiring lead times and staying ahead in the competitive market.
This forward-thinking approach enables AstraZeneca to build long-term capabilities, with about 10% of annual hires being graduates from top institutions developed for future readiness rather than immediate role fit. Technology plays a pivotal role in enhancing hiring efficiency, candidate experience, and recruiter capacity through automation and AI, ensuring consistency and minimising bias.
Moreover, AstraZeneca fosters an inclusive culture, prioritising gender diversity, early-career professionals, the LGBTQIA+ community, and neurodiverse individuals, creating psychologically safe environments through Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and leadership-level advocacy.
The implications of AstraZeneca's strategy for GCCs suggest that organisations must make deliberate shifts to embed skill-based thinking, utilise technology purposefully, design for inclusion, and enable talent to grow with the business.
By adopting these strategies, GCCs can transcend mere hiring and focus on nurturing, aligning, and retaining talent, ultimately driving sustainable growth and competitiveness. As industry experts note, this talent-driven approach will be crucial for GCCs to evolve into innovation hubs, contributing significantly to enterprise decision-making and global growth.
According to People Matters, AstraZeneca's experience offers valuable insights for GCCs aiming to build future-ready organisations. By rethinking talent strategies and leveraging technology, GCCs can unlock the full potential of their workforce, driving business impact and sustained growth. This approach not only enhances talent density and agility but also empowers organisations to adapt to the rapidly evolving business landscape.
