Lavanya Raj
Lavanya is an audacious, passionate, and highly driven Product Management and Data Product leader with over 18 years of experience delivering scalable solutions across machine learning, artificial intelligence, analytics, and business intelligence. She currently serves at PayPal, where she leads product strategy and development of enterprise data products that transform complex datasets into actionable insights, enabling smarter decision-making, stronger customer experiences, and measurable business impact. At PayPal, she has built a strong reputation for driving high-impact, cross-functional initiatives that support AI-driven platforms, customer intelligence solutions, and business analytics capabilities. She is constantly seeking new opportunities to innovate, lead, and take strategic leaps in her career while also inspiring and connecting with other professionals, especially women within the community, through mentorship and knowledge sharing.
During her tenure at PayPal, Lavanya has led program and product initiatives focused on scalable data infrastructure, customer analytics, and intelligent personalization systems that support both internal operations and customer-facing experiences. She is an experienced leader in program management, customer success, and product strategy, known for partnering closely with executive leadership to execute complex, cross-functional initiatives. Her core competencies include strategic planning and execution, stakeholder and vendor management, data-driven decision-making using KPIs and metrics, business process optimization, and customer lifecycle experience design. She excels at building and leading high-performing teams, fostering talent development, and creating environments where individuals can thrive through coaching, recognition, and strong leadership principles.
Lavanya’s career journey reflects resilience, curiosity, and a commitment to continuous growth. Since arriving in a new country in 2003 after graduation, she has built her career through determination, adaptability, and focusing on strengths while navigating professional transitions. Her educational background in engineering and business management enabled rapid career advancement from intern-level roles to leadership positions within a short period. In addition to her corporate work at PayPal, she is deeply involved in community service as a Project Cornerstone volunteer at Meyerholz Elementary, supporting programs that help youth feel valued and supported. Outside of her corporate career, Lavanya is passionate about coaching, mentoring, podcasting, writing, and supporting women and professionals through career and life transitions. She continues to aim for meaningful impact by giving back the guidance, opportunity, and inspiration she has received from her mentors throughout her career.
• College of Engineering, Guindy - BE
• Xavier Institute Of Management and Entrepreneurship - PGDBM
• Project Cornerstone Volunteer
• Meyerholz Elementary
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a combination of resilience, curiosity, and a strong commitment to continuous learning and growth. Throughout my career, I have embraced challenges as opportunities to innovate, build meaningful relationships, and develop scalable solutions that create real business impact. My experience across management, product strategy, and entrepreneurship has been driven by a passion for helping teams and organizations succeed through collaboration, clear communication, and data-driven decision-making. I am especially motivated by mentoring and supporting others, particularly within the community, and I proudly serve as a Project Cornerstone volunteer at Meyerholz Elementary, where I contribute to programs that help children and teens feel valued, respected, and supported as they develop into confident and responsible individuals.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to stay curious, ask questions, and focus on long-term growth rather than short-term validation. I’ve learned that being willing to learn, even when it means admitting I don’t know everything, has been essential to my development and success. This mindset has helped me navigate career transitions, overcome challenges such as relocation and professional breaks, and continue building meaningful contributions in my work. I am deeply motivated by opportunities to mentor and empower other women, and I hope to use my career journey to uplift and inspire others by sharing knowledge, creating opportunities, and helping them build confidence in pursuing their own professional and personal goals.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The advice I would give to young women entering my industry is to focus on developing and leveraging your core strengths while remaining versatile and open to learning across different domains. Throughout my career, I have found that success comes from being curious, asking thoughtful questions, and not being afraid to challenge the status quo. My own career journey has included transitions across areas such as product management, data, and technology-driven business solutions, and I have learned that adaptability and continuous learning are critical in a rapidly evolving industry. I would also encourage young women to seek mentors, build strong professional relationships, and advocate for themselves in opportunities, compensation, and career growth. Most importantly, believe in your ability to lead, innovate, and make an impact—your perspective and voice are valuable in shaping the future of technology and business.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are integrity, continuous learning, and empowering others. I believe in approaching every opportunity with honesty, accountability, and a strong sense of purpose. Curiosity and growth are also central to who I am, as I value asking questions, challenging assumptions, and constantly expanding my knowledge to stay adaptable in a rapidly evolving world. Equally important to me is giving back through mentorship, coaching, and community service, as I am deeply motivated to help others succeed and feel supported in their personal and professional journeys. I strive to maintain balance in life by prioritizing family, meaningful work, and the belief that being impactful and “irreplaceable” comes from contributing value both professionally and personally.