Priya Ganapathy, Ph.D., PMP

I attribute my success to resilience, sincerity, and enthusiasm to learn. I thrive in team environments where I like to meet with people, share different ideas, and pool those ideas together to make something cohesive. That's really my strength. I believe some of my greatest accomplishments have come from my willingness to remain open to new ideas, seek knowledge from others, and embrace opportunities for growth. Having fun and working collaboratively with others is what drives me forward.

The best career advice I've ever received is to always do your homework before you meet with any type of stakeholders. Spend sufficient time doing thorough homework and understand what the gap is in the stakeholder's solution, and then try to pitch it in a more intelligent manner. This advice came from my mentors, Steve Mundy and Greg Walsh, who taught me the ropes of business development and how to approach different stakeholders. Through them, I learned that thorough preparation, understanding stakeholder priorities, and approaching opportunities with a clear strategy can significantly influence outcomes. This has become a cornerstone of my professional approach.

I want to encourage young women entering my industry that they don't have to figure out everything. They can just take one step at a time. I think it's important to always have a sense of learning and being open to new experiences. Most importantly, they need to value themselves the most. That's the key thing. Women bring valuable perspectives and leadership qualities to industries that continue to evolve and innovate, so my advice is to remain confident in their abilities, stay curious, invest in continuous learning, build strong professional relationships, and never underestimate the value of their contributions.

I'm working in a very hot field right now, which is autonomous systems. There is a lot of opportunity for women who are already trained in supply chain if they have to work in the drone industry. I think they will have a lot of roles and opportunities. We also have a need for drone pilots, people who can operate these drones remotely. These are the two key areas which have opened up considerably in my field. The rapid advancement of autonomous systems, drone technology, and next-generation surveillance capabilities is transforming how organizations approach security, operations, logistics, and decision-making. As innovation accelerates, there is growing demand for professionals who can combine technical expertise with strategic thinking and business acumen.

Psychological safety is key in any workplace, and I would definitely be championing that if I get to spin off something on my own. I like to work with the talents that people have, the strengths that people have, and understanding what those strengths are and what actually motivates each team player. I think that is a key thing, and I'll always be mindful of that. I like to meet people where they are. I believe high-performing teams are created when individuals feel empowered to contribute their ideas, leverage their strengths, and engage in open communication. Creating environments where people feel valued and supported has become a central aspect of my leadership philosophy.