Building IFS's Generative AI Talent Domain

Client: IFS (Innovative Future Solutions)

Objective: Expand IFS’s Generative AI team to support the development of production-ready AI solutions through a globally distributed workforce.

Challenge:

IFS set an ambitious goal to establish itself as a leader in Generative AI by assembling a distributed, high-performing team across multiple geographies. This team would consist of experts in AI Architecture, Data Science, Machine Learning (ML), and Product Ownership at senior to director levels.

Key challenges included:

1. Immediate Needs:

   Hiring 60 professionals within two months to address urgent project requirements.

2. Future Expansion:

   Growing the team to 200 roles, including 140 positions in Sri Lanka and elite roles in North America.

3. Specialized Team:

   Establishing a “black belt” team of top-tier Generative AI specialists, sourced from the top 2% of the global talent market, including professionals from companies like Microsoft.

4. Distributed Team Model:

Supporting a distributed team structure while ensuring collaboration and alignment across geographies.

Benchmarking salaries globally rather than adhering to rigid banding, accounting for regional variances in compensation.

Approach:

Global by Design was tasked with executing this multifaceted hiring initiative, leveraging its expertise in sourcing niche, high-calibre talent and building effective distributed teams. The approach included:

1. Global Talent Mapping:

   Conducted a market-wide analysis to identify professionals with proven experience in delivering scalable, production-ready AI solutions.

   Focused on senior and director-level hires with a product-centric background across North America, Europe, and Asia.

2. Localized Salary Benchmarking:

   Conducted salary research tailored to each region to remain competitive while respecting local market norms.

   Provided IFS with actionable data to make informed compensation decisions, attracting top talent without overspending.

3. Distributed Team Strategy:

   Designed hiring workflows to support collaboration across time zones.

   Emphasized candidates with experience in remote or distributed team environments to ensure seamless integration.

4. Specialist Search for the Black Belt Team:

   Leveraged premium recruitment strategies to identify and engage elite Generative AI specialists from companies like Microsoft and other top-tier firms.

   Prioritized hires with experience in leading teams and delivering transformative AI solutions.

Results:

• Outcome: We have been able to deliver over 80 headhunted candidates in under 3 weeks across all regions which created a 25% reduction in total salaried cost compared to solely hiring in L1 locations.

• Foundation for Growth: Built a scalable framework to support the recruitment of an additional 140 roles in Sri Lanka and elite positions in North America.

• Distributed Team Model: Enabled IFS to operate a distributed team with cohesive collaboration across regions, leveraging candidates with prior experience in remote work.

• Black Belt Team Progress: Secured initial hires for the black belt team, including individuals from top-tier companies in North America.

• Informed Decision-Making: Delivered comprehensive insights on salary expectations by geography, empowering IFS to tailor competitive offers and optimize costs.

Key Takeaway:

Global by Design's expertise in building distributed teams and sourcing niche talent enabled IFS to rapidly scale its Generative AI capabilities. By blending global talent mapping with localized salary benchmarking, Global by Design helped IFS establish a high-performing, distributed team poised for sustained innovation and success in AI-driven product development.