Women At Centific event Highlights: Women Leaders in Tech with Prabha and Sandhya
This season’s Women at Centific AMA session, MC’d by Centific’s own Anh To, featured two remarkable individuals who shared their journeys, experiences, and invaluable advice with the audience. Let’s breakdown the key takeaways:
Introducing Surya Prabha Vadlamani:
Prabha’s 25+ years of industry experience started out with her working with Microsoft technologies. Since then, she’s leveraged her experiences and gained various leadership titles within the industry. Presently, Prabha holds the prestigious reigns as Centific’s very own Vice President of Enterprise AI Solutions and Cognitive Engineering.
Meet Sandhya Prusty:
Sandhya is a seasoned professional with 16 years of experience. Her passion for data and its transformative influence has led Sandhya through several roles. It is through those roles that Sandhya’s hard work has enabled her to hold the title of Director of Data Engineering here at Centific.
Insights and Anecdotes:
The session kicked off with a fun icebreaker activity: Two truths and a lie. Sandhya and Prabha shared interesting tidbits about themselves, showcasing their personal interests amidst their professional accomplishments. The audience participated in voting on which tidbits they believed to be truthful, and which was the lie. From Prabha’s zeal for climbing trees, to Sandhya’s first excursion to the United States, these anecdotes provided a glimpse into their vibrant personalities — and the hard truth that neither of them is a classical singer. From there, the discussion was in full throttle with participating audience members asking questions.
Navigating Leadership while Maintaining Heart:
When faced with the question of how to navigate being a respected leader while also maintaining a certain level of approachability, both Sandhya and Prabha emphasized the importance of fostering a team culture of partnership and accessibility. They highlighted the significance of regular communication and support, and just how imperative it is to remember that leadership means serving your team. This was summarized by Prabha’s sentiment, “I’m here to facilitate [my team members], not the other way around.” From there, the conversation shifted into how women should advocate for themselves in the workforce — particularly when it comes to mothers reentering the workforce.
Challenges and Triumphs:
Reflecting on the challenges faced by women in the tech industry, Prabha emphasized the need for resilience, self-confidence, and self-esteem in overcoming stereotypes and biases. Sandhya echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of remaining relevant, and advocating for oneself in male-dominated spaces. Both panelists agreed: It’s crucial to make colleagues aware of your circumstances unapologetically, showing that being a mother and a leader are not mutually exclusive. This thread of conversation ultimately lead to some sage advice.
Advice for Aspiring Women in Tech:
Both Sandhya and Prabha offered valuable advice to young women embarking on careers in technology. Their advice to aspiring women in tech emphasized believing in oneself, embracing calculated risks, and committing to lifelong learning. Encouraging the audience to embrace growth opportunities, they addressed the importance of perseverance and self-assurance in navigating professional hurdles.
Closing Thoughts:
As the event ended, Prabha and Sandhya shared their personal aspirations, from pursuing hobbies like swimming and singing, to continuing to embrace self-confidence and resilience in the face of adversity. Their inspiring words resonated with attendees, leaving a lasting impression and igniting a newfound determination to excel in the tech industry. The event served as a testament to the resilience, determination, and leadership prowess of women in technology, encouraging attendees to embrace their potential and forge ahead with confidence within their own personal and professional endeavors.
