Irshad Buchh has established himself as a key figure in the tech industry, particularly in the rapidly evolving fields of AI/ML and GPU technologies. With a rich international background, including experience in Saudi Arabia (King Saud University), India, and the United Kingdom, Irshad has taught and practiced computer science, networking, and architecture across academic, fintech, and healthcare sectors. From 2019 to 2024, he served as the Principal Solutions Architect at AWS. Now, as the Senior Principal Architect at Oracle, he is spearheading innovations that are set to propel the AI and cloud services sectors into the future. Irshad’s career is marked by his work with some of the world’s largest companies, as well as his dedication to continuous collaboration and public speaking at major events like Oracle Cloud World, KubeCon, and AWS re:Invent. His talks consistently emphasize key themes: thought leadership, delivering tangible results, and the critical importance of ongoing training and development. In this article, he shares his insights on the current landscape and future direction of AI.
Thought Leadership’s Role In Driving Innovation
According to Irshad, thought leadership is the driving force behind continued innovation. Early in his career, he noticed cloud experts were scarce early on and took it upon himself to fill this gap. “I focused on mastering core cloud services like compute, storage, networking, and databases—not just with AWS, but also with Oracle, GCP, and Azure,” he explains. His tenure at AWS allowed him to experience successful collaborations with CIOs, where he architected solutions tailored to diverse industry needs. This hands-on experience provided him with deep insights into the practical applications and challenges of cloud computing. This success has afforded him a wealth of experience and knowledge, which he has shared through more than 20 scholarly publications, multiple keynote presentations, and personal mentorship of aspiring tech entrepreneurs and executives. His contributions have solidified his reputation as a thought leader and inspired others to innovate and adopt best practices in the ever-evolving tech landscape.
Real Workplace Applications, Not Just Concepts
Irshad Buchh argues that true innovation goes beyond merely adopting new tools; it’s about strategically aligning advancements with business objectives to achieve tangible results. “In my experience,” he notes, “innovations like Serverless architectures, advanced containerization, and AI/ML capabilities are revolutionizing how companies operate.” Serverless computing enables businesses to scale applications efficiently without the burden of managing infrastructure, which allows companies to reduce costs and boost agility. Similarly, containerization through tools like Kubernetes accelerates application deployment and management, leading to faster development cycles and enhanced operational efficiency.
For Irshad, AI and machine learning should allow leaders to harness data to drive strategic initiatives, improve customer experiences, and streamline operations. By embracing these innovative solutions, C-level executives can stay ahead of market trends, respond swiftly to changes, and drive growth.
Contributing to the industry, while facing rapid change
“Over the years, I’ve had a front-row seat to the dynamic evolution of the cloud landscape,” In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Irshad played a key role in developing the Smart Back to School (SB2S) in partnership with NTT Data. These applications addressed the urgent need for organizations to manage health and safety protocols effectively.
The SB2W/SB2S platforms allow users to upload vaccination proof, attest to vaccination status, or submit COVID-19 test results easily. Administrators can securely monitor compliance through a dedicated dashboard. The applications are noted for their security, meeting stringent standards such as NIST and HITRUST, and their adaptability to evolving pandemic guidelines.
The impact of Irshad’s work extends beyond NTT Data, with institutions like Colorado State University at Pueblo utilizing the application to enhance their pandemic response, earning national recognition. This solution has set a new standard in health and safety management during the pandemic.
Irshad’s innovative and secure SB2W/SB2S applications have significantly influenced the industry by providing a critical tool for managing COVID-19 safety protocols. He also advises tech professionals to take a strategic learning and professional development approach. “Allocating your time effectively is key,” he says. He recommends an 80:20 split in weekly schedules, with at least eight hours dedicated to learning new services and features from providers like AWS and Oracle.
“The future of cloud computing promises to be even more transformative,” he predicts, pointing to trends like edge computing and IoT, which create a more decentralized and interconnected ecosystem.
Be Willing To Challenge The Norm
Despite his commitment to continuous learning, Buchh also strongly advocates challenging the current system. “A quote that resonates deeply with me is from Steve Jobs: “Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your inner voice…” This mantra has led Irshad to build some of his most impactful systems – such as his RAG-based solution for improving doctor-patient interactions and operational efficiency within the healthcare industry. “I received a lot of differing opinions when I suggested using Generative AI to solve the problem of doctors spending too much time on clinical notes.”
Despite the various opinions, he stuck to his plans and implemented an Generative AI solution that has increased efficiency within the healthcare industry. Irshad Buchh believes that staying true to your idea, embracing your creative ideas, and keeping in touch with individuality is the key to continued and impactful innovation while adapting AI and Cloud based services.
More about Irshad Buchh
Irshad Buchh is a seasoned Cloud Solutions Engineer at Oracle Corporation, based in Dallas, TX. With nearly 30 years of industry experience, Irshad has held several key roles, including Principal Cloud Solutions Architect/Consultant and Consulting Technical Manager. Before joining Oracle, he spent five years as a principal solutions architect at Amazon Web Services (AWS), where he played a crucial role in designing cloud-based solutions for public sector and commercial clients in sectors like Healthcare and FinTech.
Irshad is widely recognized as an industry thought leader, having authored and published approximately 20 articles on various cloud technologies. His expertise extends to public speaking, where he has delivered technical sessions at various conferences such as Oracle Cloud World, CdCon, KubeCon, and DockerCon over the past 15 years.
To learn more about Irshad Buchh and his upcoming keynotes on AI and technology, you can follow him on LinkedIn.
