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Glance-upGrad partner up to tackle India’s 13.4 per cent unemployment rate
MUMBAI: Imagine unlocking your phone and unlocking your future at the same time.
In a world where smart screens are as essential as the air we breathe, Glance and upGrad are reshaping how we learn and grow. This groundbreaking collaboration turns your lock screen into a gateway of endless possibilities, offering free, job-ready skills through upGrad’s Intern-Zip programme.
With the swipe of a finger, millions of young Indians now have access to life-changing upskilling opportunities, proving that in the 21st century, innovation and ambition go hand in hand.
Glance reaches 235 million users daily, nearly 47 per cent of whom are under the age of 24—making it a strategic platform to connect with young Indians. Within three weeks of the launch, upGrad’s content has garnered over 100 million views (glances) on lock screens, underscoring the programme’s reach and impact.
The Intern-Zip programme, designed for individuals aged 20-24, aims to address India’s 13.4 per cent unemployment rate among graduates by equipping them with skills for professional success. Courses include foundational topics such as technical expertise, soft skills, and professional development, all accessible directly from the users’ lock screens.
InMobi co-founder & Glance COO & president, Piyush Shah expressed optimism about the initiative, “With Glance, we’re not only reaching millions—we’re empowering them to seize opportunities and inspire them to discover something new every moment. By bringing upGrad’s workforce-ready content directly on smart lock screens, we’re equipping users with technical expertise, soft skills, and professional development tools.”
upGrad co-founder, Mayank Kumar highlighted the relevance of skilling in a transforming economy, “India has now become a global epicentre of learning and skilling, and this is the most opportune time to scale our value proposition to a different demographic altogether. Partnering with Glance allows us to expand our reach and leverage smart tech integration, further reinforcing our commitment to this cause.”
Glance chief marketing officer, Bikash Chowdhury underscored the programme’s alignment with India’s broader economic goals, “As India works towards becoming a $5 trillion economy, a skilled, adaptable workforce is essential for sustaining growth and solidifying the nation’s standing as a global talent hub. Our goal with the Glance for Good programme is to inspire positive behaviour and drive large-scale, real-world impact.”
By combining Glance’s AI-driven lock screen platform, available in seven Indian languages, with upGrad’s expertise in skilling, the initiative creates an unparalleled opportunity to empower India’s youth and address the evolving demands of a tech-driven economy.
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Boeing appoints Barun as head of FP&A for global engineering function
Seasoned finance leader to steer budgets and strategy across global centres
BENGALURU: Boeing’s finance cockpit has a new pilot, and he is no stranger to turbulence or transformation. Boeing has appointed Barun as head of FP&A for global engineering, placing him at the centre of financial strategy for its worldwide engineering and technology operations.
Based in Bengaluru, Barun steps into a role that is as expansive as it is critical. He will serve as the primary finance lead for Boeing’s Engineering and Technology Centers globally, working closely with executive leadership to shape financial decisions, manage complex budgets, and design scalable finance processes that support the company’s growing engineering footprint.
In a note announcing his move Barun said, “I’m excited to share that I’ve joined Boeing Global Engineering. This opportunity is incredibly meaningful to me not just from a professional standpoint, but also for what Boeing represents globally.” He added that he looks forward to contributing to an organisation that continues to shape the future of aerospace and innovation.
Barun’s mandate spans strategic financial leadership, operational oversight, and stakeholder engagement. From directing large-scale budgets and schedules to influencing long-term organisational goals, the role blends financial discipline with business foresight. He will also lead cross-functional teams and partner with finance colleagues worldwide to support engineering programmes across geographies, including India.
The appointment caps a long stint at Juniper Networks, where Barun spent over a decade, most recently as finance senior manager. There, he led FP&A for global product business units and G&A functions, driving budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning. He also played a key role in enterprise-wide transformation, including spearheading an Oracle to SAP ERP migration and building advanced analytics capabilities using tools such as Tableau and SAP Analytics Cloud.
His earlier career includes finance leadership roles at Sony India Software Centre, Cognizant Technology Solutions, and Mphasis, where he focused on financial planning, governance frameworks, and operational efficiency across global delivery centres.
A chartered accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Barun brings nearly two decades of experience across financial planning, digital transformation, and analytics-led decision making.
His appointment comes at a time when global engineering operations are becoming increasingly complex and distributed, requiring sharper financial oversight and agile planning. With Barun at the helm of FP&A for engineering, Boeing appears to be tightening its financial playbook as it looks to scale innovation with discipline.
