Anushka Handa

I attribute my success to several key factors. First, being transparent, whether it's forming a relationship within your team or with your manager or leadership. Being transparent about what your goals are and how you feel about your job on a day-to-day basis is crucial, because if there's something you're unhappy with, you can voice your opinion and they can place you on a different project. Work ethic is really important to me. Even when I'm mentoring people at work, if I don't see the work ethic, I feel like whatever I'm telling them is just a waste of my time because they're not willing to put in the work. Especially in the early years of your career, be the first one in and the last one out. If you're willing to put in the work, after a couple of months or years, it'll pay off. I also believe in constantly learning and always working on your knowledge. I've made it a fact that I set an hour aside every week, whether it's a Sunday, Monday, any day of the week, just once a week, one hour, I try to learn about something new, something that's maybe related to my industry but I can use it in some way or the other to get ahead of my peers. Even if you're at the top of the leaderboard, there's something you can do better. Just be curious. My family being across the world from me, there's a lot I've given up to be so far away from them. Everyone has something to lose, but I've given up a lot to be here, which is why I know I'm gonna put in everything I have to succeed.

The best career advice I've received came from my older sister, who really helped me understand how to have proper outreach and how to network in today's world. I truly believe your network is your net worth, and she really helped me form those connections and teach me how to stay in touch with people. These are all such little skills that are really important, and I didn't realize how much they pay off until I actually entered the corporate world. Once you're in there, then the advice really starts resonating.

I would say speak your mind and don't be afraid to ask questions. I've always been one of those girls who's been afraid to ask a question in class, because in our head it just sounds stupid at first, but when you actually ask it, you're helping so many people around you who have the same question. So speak your mind. Everyone has their own creative side and strength, so definitely just throw your opinion out there, ask that question. Guys have the confidence to ask questions, so women shouldn't feel like we just can't ask the same question.

When I look around, there are not a lot of people of color in my field. I don't feel like I've been treated differently yet because of that, but I do wonder why I'm the only brown woman here and there are not many others. So there's a lot of opportunity for more diversity in this industry, which is good because it'll bring a different perspective, and customers are of all kinds. Another big challenge for me is my family being across the world from me, so not being able to see them too often. There's a lot I've given up to be so far away from them. Everyone has something to lose, but I've given up a lot to be here, which is why I know I'm gonna put in everything I have to succeed. In terms of the tech industry itself, AI is the biggest chatter right now. Instead of getting ahead of AI, there's no way we can do that because that's a computer, it's been coded, it's gonna be faster than the human brain. So it takes me back to just learning how to use AI better in your day-to-day work.

I would say definitely just being transparent, whether it's forming a relationship within your team or just forming a better relationship with your manager or leadership way ahead of you. Being transparent about what your goals are and how do you feel about your job on a day-to-day basis is important, because if there's something you're unhappy with, then you actually voice your opinion and they can place you doing something on a different project. That brings me to my next point: work ethic is really important. Even when I'm mentoring people at work, if I don't see the work ethic, I feel like whatever I'm telling them is just a waste of my time as well, because they're not willing to put in the work. Especially the early years of your career, be the first one in and the last one out. If you're willing to put in the work, after a couple of months or years, it'll pay off.