Gayathri Pingali
Gayathri Pingali is a seasoned product leader with 12+ years of experience driving digital transformation across healthcare, automotive IoT, retail analytics, and financial services. As a Principal Product Manager at Walgreens, she leads strategic initiatives that enhance customer experience, operational efficiency, and enterprise digitization at scale. Her work spans launching large customer feedback platforms, streamlining team member workflows, modernizing store operations, and developing AI-powered tools—resulting in multi millions in revenue impact and significant cost savings across the organization. Known for her strong technical acumen and customer-centric approach, Gayathri has successfully delivered complex SaaS, cloud, and AI-driven products throughout her career. Prior to joining Walgreens, she led the development of BMW’s Open Mobility Cloud, managing a predictive analytics and IoT platform that improved service availability from 80% to 99.9% and saved $$ million in operating costs. She has also built large-scale product intelligence systems at SPINS and drove cross-functional initiatives. At Bank of America, she also worked in the retail division improving client experience. Across roles, she is recognized for building high-performing teams, aligning diverse stakeholders, and translating intricate business challenges into scalable, intuitive digital solutions. Gayathri holds a Master of Science in Software Engineering from Seattle University and a Bachelor of Technology in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from RMCE Engineering college (Affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University). She is regarded by peers and leaders alike as a collaborative, steady, and inspiring product leader who thrives in dynamic environments. Based in Miami, Florida, she continues to champion innovation at the intersection of customer experience, AI, and enterprise transformation.
• Seattle University - Master of Science in Software Engineering
• Women in Product
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to three pillars: discipline, a lifelong curiosity for learning, and persistence—learning has always been my top priority.
From childhood through my pre-wedding years, my family—parents, siblings, maternal grandmother, uncles, and aunts—provided unwavering love, support, and freedom to chase my dreams. After marriage, with help from my husband, parents, and in-laws, I earned my master’s degree during my first pregnancy and joined Bank of America postpartum, heart full of gratitude.
Amid COVID-19 isolation and my second pregnancy, I thrived at BMW while raising my four-year-old and welcoming our newborn.
Today, my children inspire me most—their wonder and joy rekindle my love of learning. I am who I am because of my family’s boundless love.
The path was brutal: snowy commutes while pregnant, sacrificing career momentum for my spouse’s relocations, completing master’s assignments with a newborn while working full-time, and pushing through exhausting days. Yet nothing dimmed my dreams or inner fire.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Stay curious and never stop learning. The field evolves fast—what got you here won’t keep you here. Make time to learn consistently; it’s the single best investment in your future.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I advise young women entering product development in the tech industry to stay curious and keep learning. This constantly evolving field offers unparalleled opportunities to innovate, build, and serve customers worldwide. Product roles uniquely allow you to ideate, create, and directly impact millions of users.
I encourage them to ask questions—even when feeling shy or intimidated—and to stay persistent, as opportunities often come only through consistent effort. Most importantly, trust your abilities, even when others underestimate you. Feel confident in pursuing your goals, leadership roles, and global opportunities—the industry thrives on diverse voices and perspectives.
I also strongly urge young women to strive for financial independence by learning about investments and building personal net worth. Mastering personal finance prepares you for the responsibility of managing business finances.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The product org is always the core of any business. It provides the opportunity to deeply understand customer needs and align with business objectives. In this AI era, with the increasing awareness and availability of AI, I see significant opportunities for automation using AI. At the same time, one of the biggest challenges for companies is adapting to new ways of product development at a rapid pace.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity and empathy are very important to me in both my work and personal life. I always act with great integrity and pour my soul into everything I do - whether it's product development at work or taking care of my family members. In my opinion, many people may have a high intelligence quotient (IQ), but having a strong emotional quotient (EQ) is equally important if we are to treat our fellow human beings with respect and dignity. Whether at work or in my personal life, I make sure to treat those around me with empathy. If we as human beings lack the ability to truly understand the people around us, we will never be able to build healthier, more connected communities.