Her Story
About Nishtha
I have been working in software for three years at Oracle, focusing on AI projects where I collect metrics, demonstrate ROI, and conduct demos for leadership and customers. I released two patents with more in progress. I earned my master's from USC and am pursuing an MBA in AI at Westcliff University to develop leadership skills through case studies and strategies. A highlight was presenting my AI work at an all-hands meeting to over 600 people as the first and youngest engineer to do so.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Nishtha
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success comes from hard work and determination. I never give up no matter how difficult the situation or task is. I am willing to stay up late or work double as hard as others to make things right, and I believe that persistence will eventually make the work fruitful.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received is that it is okay to make mistakes and not to be scared when you are the youngest or least experienced person in the room. It is easy to feel intimidated or experience imposter syndrome, but you should take it as motivation to learn more and challenge yourself.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It is easy to get intimidated in a male-dominated industry where you barely see women and there is still a gender gap at leadership roles. You should not be afraid, embrace it, take a stand, and not be scared to speak up. Every woman deserves to be there, and that is how you make a change.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The opportunity in AI is that there is so much innovation still possible. You can challenge yourself, learn, build research and patents that add credibility and make a difference in the world. The challenge is that everything is fast-paced, making it easy to get burnt out, and it is difficult to keep up with trends while balancing work, personal life, and self-improvement through time management.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Respect is the first value that comes to mind, applying to both personal and professional life through mutual respect and appreciation. Honesty and integrity are also critical. In professional life, if a product is not working you must be honest and accountable rather than pushing fake data, which builds credibility so people believe in you.
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