Her Story
About Mallika
Mallika Gaonkar serves as a Senior Program Manager at Experian, where she collaborates with the CTO and senior leadership to define operational goals and manage multiple projects focused on cloud computing, AI, and fabric. With more than 15 years in the IT industry, she began her career as a data engineer after earning a bachelor's degree in electronics and engineering from India, advancing to roles as a lead data architect and later transitioning into project and program management, including product-side positions. She has contributed to notable initiatives such as the 2016 DirecTV app launch and a Hadoop-related bill at the Department of Justice, and she received two service awards during her longest tenure at HP. Her work emphasizes Agile and Scrum methodologies, risk management, budgeting, governance, and cross-functional team coordination to achieve strategic alignment and measurable outcomes.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Mallika
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to focus, hard work, planning, determination, and independence. I work independently.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've received is to relax. Don't worry too much, do as much as you can. You can't take everybody's burden. Do the best you can. Sometimes if people don't ask for help, don't offer it on your own.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
There are a lot of opportunities in the IT field. You need to constantly upgrade yourself because what you study won't last throughout your career. You also need to have a work-life balance. Start your career a little early so you can retire a little early if you have savings.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
My biggest challenge is finding time for work-life balance and to upgrade my professional career. My profession keeps me busy so I don't find time to spend with my family or improve myself.
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