Her Story
About Pooja
I have been in the technology field for almost 20 years now. I started as a financial analyst back in 2005 and worked my way up the finance ladder until 2015, when I transitioned to become the Director of Data Technology and Analytics, managing technical teams. For the last 5 years, I have been serving as an engineering director. My main areas of expertise today include business transformation, AI adoption and implementation, and leading cross-group and enterprise projects, executing and delivering them. Leadership has also been one of my core areas of expertise throughout my career. On a typical day, I focus on three key responsibilities: first, ensuring that I'm leveraging AI in my day-to-day work to be 10 times more productive than I was a year ago; second, managing company-wide capital expenditure programs by collaborating with several different groups at the company; and third, coaching and mentoring senior-level people and mid-career people at my company as well as outside.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Pooja
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to having a positive attitude, diligence, and dedication. Of course, God's blessings have been important, along with my parents' and siblings' support, and now my husband's support, both from my maternal and paternal family. My dad used to write on my report card when I was young, 'Sky should be the limit,' and he would tell me to keep giving my best, keep enjoying life, and keep taking action. That's what inspired me the most. My daughter's advice to be unique in my own way has also been really creative and fascinating, because in today's world, we always like to follow people who are really influential and then just be like them. But no, you can still be you and then learn from them.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is that dreaming big, creating the plan to execute, and taking actions with passion can help you achieve any dream.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Just keep going and build connections while you are on your journey. Reach out for help, reach out and ask people to mentor you, and you also mentor others. Do not be afraid, even if you're gonna be the single person in the room, the single woman in the room, along with all male counterparts. You can do this, you got this.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest opportunity in our field is that you can decide the limitation of what you want to achieve. It's like limitations exist in our mind, but now with the help of AI, you can build things, you can really go and have a builder mindset. If you have that, then you can get anything done. The limitation would be just staying up-to-date all the time with all the noise that are coming from different systems. How can you still be adaptable, demonstrate growth mindset, and continue to learn, grow, and help out others.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are integrity, accountability, and character. Being family-oriented definitely turns out to be important as well.
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