Leadership SHOTS — A Compilation Of Dialogues For All!
Today marks the 100th day of “#100daysonLinkedIn” challenge that we #EmpoweredVoices Lean In circle had started! We started this journey to learn, share, grow & empower. Day 1 to Day 100 was filled with learning together & sharing wisdom nuggets with a strong partnership.
Way to go…………! Kudos to #EmpoweredVoices.
Recently during Lean In Level UP session 3, Devi Anantharaman gave a meaningful tag of “SapthaRishis” to this team which constitutes of 7 individuals who stepped up to write about their career journey, leadership, technology, processes & much more.
Note: The Saptarishis are the seven sages of Indian mythology who brought down to the earth the required knowledge and energies to strengthen the processes of transition — Courtesy : Blog by Preethi Guruswamy | Executive & Leadership Coach (https://medium.com/lean-in-women-in-tech-india/leaninwiti100daysonlinkedin-6cd9638ea787)
When I was thinking of a subject to write on Day 100 of this LinkedIn challenge, I got an idea of “Leadership shots — a collection of dialogues” to share a meaningful content with all. This article is a compilation of “Dialogues with EmpoweredVoices members”.
Do read through this article to get a view of their experiences, perspectives and their take on Leadership, Technology & Career. Do know more about them, their favorite book/quote, their mantra of success, & thoughts. Each member was interviewed with different Qs & topics to bring out the depth of their experience in their current roles. This compilation is very near to my heart as I learnt a lot from this group, both personally & professionally.
I must confess that writing dialogues & compiling them wasn’t easy. I started with very basic Q — what is a good dialogue? And this is what I came across — Good dialogue is natural and authentic while also advancing the plot or disclosing more about the character. That’s how I started off! This is an honest and humble attempt to bring out different perspectives, stories & meaningful content for you. This compilation is to bring out the best for you & bring out the voice that matters!
Lets get started…………!
[1] Dialogue with Preethi Guruswamy | Executive & Leadership Coach
Name: Preethi Guruswamy
No. of years of Industry Exp: 25 Y
Current Role: Executive and Leadership Coach
Favorite book & key take-away: “Atomic Habits” — By focusing on building habits instead of setting goals, I have improved my self-awareness and lifestyle, and become the person I want to be, rather than procrastinating.
Your Success Mantra: FOCUS: Follow your vision, Optimize your performance, Celebrate your achievements, Upgrade your skills, Stay positive
Your Fav quote(s): “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.” — Steve Jobs
“What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do.” — Tim Ferris
What is your North star?
To empower leaders discover and activate their inner wisdom, and to foster positive mindful and emotionally resilient leadership that drives positive outcomes and success in their arenas and markets.
What is your vision for Women in Tech?
My vision for women in tech is to create a world where women pursue their passion and potential, innovate and lead in the tech industry, break stereotypes and overcome barriers, inspire and support each other, and make a positive impact through their work in tech.
I want to see more women inspiring, mentoring, and supporting each other. I want to see more women making a positive impact on the world through their work in tech.
Being that invisible teammate to visible friend promoting each other and leaning in. I am passionate about empowering women in tech, who bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and skills that enrich the tech sector and foster creativity and collaboration.
I envision a future where women in tech are not a minority, but an integral and equal part of the tech community, respected and valued for their work and achievements. To achieve this, I coach leaders individually or in organizations, and create a supportive community for women in tech in India through my micro blogs #PreethiAnubhavaChakar and Lean In Network, Women in Tech India.
What is needed to build high performing teams?
To build high-performing teams, you need to have a clear vision, effective communication, trust, feedback, collaboration with mindful of wellbeing and high engagement among team members.
What makes a great leader?
A great leader can inspire and motivate others to achieve a common vision and goal. A great leader also has the following qualities:
Emotional intelligence: They can understand and manage their own and others’ emotions, and communicate and resolve conflicts effectively.
Inner wisdom: They can make sound decisions and judgments, based on their knowledge, experience, and intuition, and learn from their feedback.
Value: They have a clear set of values and principles that guide their actions and decisions, and align them with the mission and culture of the organization.
Vision: They have a compelling vision of the future that they want to create and achieve, and communicate and translate it into realistic and measurable goals and strategies.
Voice: They have a unique and authentic voice that reflects their personality, style, and values, and express it with clarity, confidence, and influence, and listen to and respect the voices of others.
Virtue: They have a high standard of moral and ethical conduct that they uphold and model for others, and foster a culture of virtue and ethics in their organization.
Your message to the women who is set out to break the barriers?
Women have the power and the passion within themselves to achieve their goals and dreams.
Believe in yourself and your abilities. And as you rise, remember to lift other women with you. Share your wisdom, your experience, and your opportunities with other women. Together, we can make a difference. We are strong, We are courageous, We are amazing !
That’s the powerful tone that Preethi Guruswamy | Executive & Leadership Coach has set for all the women out there. Thank you Preethi for inspiring us every single day! More power to you…!
Moving on…
[2] Dialogue with Sobhitha Neelanath
Name: Sobhitha Neelanath
No. of years of Industry Exp: 19Y
Current Role: Engineering Manager, Dell
Fav book & key take-away: “Atomic Habits” by James Clear — ‘Walk slowly but never backward’.
Your Success Mantra: Explore, Experiment and Enable
Your Fav quote: “I didn’t come this far to only come this far”
What is your North Star?
Pay it forward.
What are the common challenges leaders face?
Balancing the role of managing upward, downward and peers with composure.
As a leader, what would it take to create success for your team and company?
Trust, confidence, and innovation are three factors which help any team and organization succeed.
What causes a leader to derail?
Lack of support from the team or management, or a lack of foresight.
What are the first 3 things you would do you are a leader in your new job?
Understand the culture
Connect with the team
Identify the primary focus areas
Thanks Sobhitha Neelanath for your thought provoking insights. Taking away my wisdom bits through this dialogue. Way to go !
[3] Dialogue with Devi Anantharaman
Name: Devi Anantharaman
No. of years of Industry Exp: ~19Y
Current Role: Engineering Manager
Fav book & key take-away: “Ikigai”
Book described how to lead a purposeful and balanced life by aligning our passions, strengths, values, and contributions to the world.
Your Success Mantra: Never give up
Your Fav quote: “Not everything we face can be changed, but nothing can be changed until we face it”
What is your North star?
Living a purposeful life and doing things that align with my beliefs and values.
What is your take on elevator pitch?
Always be prepared with your elevator pitch, you never know who you will bump into. Use it to leave a lasting impression on your audience and it might lead you to the next big opportunity.
Share one of the situations in your career where you turned a failed event into an opportunity.
In the beginning of my career, I was placed with a company. A couple of days before the joining, I got notified of the joining date getting pushed to a few months later. I became anxious and approached my college placement committee. Despite the fact that I had passed out of the college and it was the placement season for the next year students, I was allowed to participate in the test for the next company. This landed me a job in my native place, which gave me the added advantage of staying with my parents in the initial stages of my career, which helped me focus on my career more. This was a smaller organization where I got to learn and execute a lot of new things beyond my role. I was part of the branding team and was actively involved in organizing and marketing events.
What is your leadership style?
People oriented leadership style. People first approach, empower and provide autonomy to the people to achieve the desired outcomes.
What are the ingredients for growth? And why?
Positive mindset
Discipline
Creating sustainable habits
Stepping outside your comfort zone
Positive mindset helps in maintaining resilience, overcoming obstacles, and staying motivated in the face of difficulties. Discipline involves self-control, time management, and the willingness to make short-term sacrifices for long-term gains. Habits play a significant role in shaping one’s daily actions and, over time, contribute to lasting positive change. Taking on new responsibilities, learning new skills, or embracing unfamiliar situations can lead to personal and professional development.
Thank you Devi Anantharaman for enlightening us with your thoughts & experiences. Happy to see that your north star & mine matches.
Continuing the conversations…
[4] Dialogue with Shilpi Mitra
Name: Shilpi Mitra
No. of years of Industry Exp: 17+ Y
Current Role: Principal Software Engineering Manager
Fav book & key take-away: “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”
This book talks about very simple 7 habits to practice leading effectively.
Be Proactive, Begin with end in mind, Put first things first, Think win-win, Seek first to understand than to understood, Synergize, Sharpening the SAW
Your Success Mantra: Manage your time, else time will manage you. Work hard, Party Harder.
Your Fav quote: “If you want to go fast go alone, but if you want to go far, go together”
What is your North star?
To lead from the space of empathy for the customers, and everyone around me. This will enable me to craft solutions to achieve more.
How do you delegate tasks?
Choose the right person. It is very important step.
Provide crisp and right instructions, set accountability,
Maintain open dialogue and set up mechanism for periodic monitoring from far, and connect for status and feedback.
What are the top 3 qualities a leader must possess?
Empathy — working from a space of care, concern and respect is very important.
Being authentic — Bringing your whole self to work and model the behaviour one expects.
Open for feedback and sharing information — Being transparent and taking regular feedback is very important to continue fostering trust.
Can you share your ways of managing top talent in your team?
Give them rope to express and lead/execute freely — Delegate with trust
Keep regular check-ins to provide help, monitor, and fostering accountability — Continuing the street of trust and invest in their growth
Invest in their growth by providing coaching and help find mentors
Spotlight and share opportunities in the organization
Why should/shouldn’t women employees advertise about their work/capabilities? Your take on it.
Women employees should advertise about their work and capabilities. I believe in “IAMRemarkable”. If it is backed by data, it is branding not bragging. Women often tend to undermine their own capabilities and not raise hand for the next opportunities. By practicing the art of advertising, the work, and capabilities, it will open doors for opportunities to be routed their way. IT will also help boost the confidence in self and help build network. There can be others who can benefit from your story. In fact I would extend this to say that everyone should build their brand and talk about their work and capabilities in a healthy way.
Thank you Shilpi Mitra for your sharing your take on women showcasing their capabilities. “IAMRemarkable” — lets all believe in that!
Moving on with our next dialogue….
[5] Dialogue with Deeksha Jaiswal
Name: Deeksha Jaiswal
No. of years of Industry Exp: 6 Y
Current Role: Senior Analyst — Talent Acquisition (Technical Recruiter in Dell R&D Hiring)
Fav book & key take-away: “You Can Win” by Shiv Khera
This Book emphasizes the power of positive thinking and self-motivation. The key takeaway is to cultivate a winning attitude, set clear goals, and persevere in the face of challenges, as success is not just about talent but also about determination and resilience.
Your Success Mantra: “My success star is illuminated by the meaningful connections I forge in the tech industry. Over the past 6 years as a tech recruiter, success to me is not just about filling roles but fostering long-term partnerships, empowering individuals to thrive in their careers, and contributing to the growth and diversity of the tech landscape.”
Your Fav quote: “Empowered women empower women. In a world where uplifting one another is our guiding principle, every woman’s success becomes a beacon of inspiration, lighting the way for others to rise.”
What is your North star?
My North star is the pursuit of creating diverse and inclusive tech teams that drive innovation. I am committed to fostering an environment where every voice is heard, and unique talents are recognized and valued, contributing to the success and growth of both individuals and the organizations I serve.
How do you motivate a team?
In my current role, I haven’t got direct reportees. However, my mantra to motivate a team is recognizing individual contributions, and promoting a positive work culture rooted in collaboration and growth can be powerful motivators. Regular communication, acknowledging achievements, and providing opportunities for skill development contribute to a motivated and engaged team
As an interviewer, what are your top 3 attributes that you would like to see in the candidate?
As a technical recruiter, my top three desired attributes in a candidate include strong technical proficiency aligned with the job requirements, effective communication skills to collaborate seamlessly with cross-functional teams, and a demonstrated ability to adapt to evolving technologies, showcasing a commitment to continuous learning and professional growth
Allyship is fundamental and is needed across levels. What is your take on this?
Absolutely, allyship is paramount, especially in fostering diversity and inclusion, particularly for women in a diverse team. It goes beyond just supporting diversity initiatives; it involves actively listening, advocating, and creating an inclusive environment at all organizational levels. When allyship is ingrained across levels, it not only enhances workplace culture but also enables women to thrive, contribute their best, and achieve their full potential.
Thanks a bunch Deeksha for sharing your thoughts. Absolutely, loved your favorite quote.
Going to the next dialogue…
[6] A Dialogue with Surabhi Kumari
Name: Surabhi Kumari
No. of years of Industry Exp: 4 years 5 months
Current Role: Senior Data Engineer
Fav book & key take-away: Atomic Habits
Book describes — Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity
Your Success Mantra: Consistency is key
Your Fav quote: “Everything happens for our own good”
What is your North star?
I am dedicated to creating a world in which any search for leaders yields a diverse list of women who have defied stereotypes in various ways.
What’s you take on the horizontal spread of the knowledge spectrum vs depth of it?
I believe more in a hybrid approach, I always strive to have a diverse knowledge base to understand and learn from different perspectives and also strongly believe in having a key strength or expertise which I am trying to merge with my professional career.
What is your take on tech agility? Adapting to the change in technology space?
In today’s fast-paced and dynamic tech environment, agility is crucial for staying competitive and relevant. While I do understand that in larger organizations, adapting to any change is not as easy or flexible like a mid scale or new organization but having the right foundations could help pace the journey.
How do you keep yourself motivated (intrinsic motivator)?
I always take inspiration from journeys, try to be grateful and happy for my achievements and maintain unwavering consistency in pursuit of my goals. Annually, I embark on a reflective process, envisioning long-term aspirations. By strategically prioritizing the most impactful goal and dedicating concerted effort in the initial quarter, I ensure not only its accomplishment but also lay a foundation for continuous learning and adaptation throughout the year. This intentional approach keeps me profoundly focused and perpetually inspired on my journey of growth.
What is the biggest challenge you have experienced and how did you deal with it?
During my college years, I undertook the role of Class representative. In my third year, a significant challenge arose when a new director implemented a rule requiring 75% attendance, leading to the detainment of half the students. With determination, I swiftly left the exam hall to prepare a petition for the director, outlining the reasons why students missed classes, mainly due to internship preparations and state sports championships. I engaged in persuasive discussions with professors, successfully arranging extra classes within the next three days to ensure all students could qualify. Simultaneously, I convinced my peers to postpone the next exam to the end of the week, proposing a weekend session. Steering a group of 400 CSE graduates during their internship period to collectively skip an exam and persuading professors for additional classes taught me the fundamentals of leadership. This experience ignited my motivation to continue working in the right direction, reinforcing the belief that challenges are opportunities for growth and positive change.
Thanks Surabhi for sharing the key insights. My key take-away from this dialogue is the adaptability to the changing tech environment. I agree to your point to stay relevant in this fast paced race. More power to you!
Now, Sharing a bit about me as I’m part of #EmpoweredVoices Lean In circle.
[7] Little bit about me — Divya Rao
Name: Divya Rao
No. of years of Industry Exp: 18+ Y
Current Role: Engineering Manager at Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Favorite Book: “The Leader Who Had No Title” by Robin Sharma.
This book awakens the inner leader from within. Author says that we need no title to become a leader and each one of us have the potential to become the leader of our life.
Your Success Mantra: There is no shortcut, keep practicing every single day
Favorite quote: “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing”
What is your North star?
Being able to enable others to lead & succeed. My north star is well described in my blog https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7126171389673226240-W6WN?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
As a closing note, it’s important that we empower ourselves to excel, break those invisible fences around us, enable other women to lead & succeed and Lean In to create a strong network. More power to each one of you!
WE WILL SUCCEED !!!
