Shree Mijarguttu

I attribute my success to perseverance, hard work, and a commitment to continuously proving myself, especially as a woman in a male-dominated field. Moving from India to a new country on my own required me to build confidence, adapt quickly, and step into spaces where I often had to make my presence and voice count among highly experienced professionals. I am proud to have grown from humble beginnings into a leadership role where I now contribute to strategic decision-making, supported by an organization that values performance and results. I also deeply value the guidance of my mentor and CEO, Sashank Purigala, whose trust and challenging opportunities have been instrumental in my growth and to whom I attribute much of my professional development.

The best career advice I’ve ever received has come from several mentors who have profoundly shaped my professional and personal growth, including Sashank Purigala, my CEO, who has played a pivotal role in my development by consistently challenging me with opportunities that pushed me to grow. I have also been fortunate to learn from Michelle Martin and Anderson Williams, whose guidance has been invaluable in helping me strengthen both my leadership capabilities and personal resilience.

My advice to young women entering this industry is to be prepared to consistently demonstrate your capability and resilience, even in environments where equality is still evolving. While many organizations strive for fairness, the reality is that you may sometimes need to work harder to prove yourself, and that’s okay—let your intelligence, skills, and dedication speak for you. Focus on strengthening your expertise and using your abilities to stand out, rather than being discouraged by bias or external challenges. Progress may take time, but with persistence and hard work, you will get there. I have been fortunate to work in an organization that values engineers based on performance, but I also recognize that this is not always the case everywhere, which makes preparation, confidence, and perseverance even more important.

One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is navigating the rapidly evolving technology landscape, particularly with the rise of automation and artificial intelligence, which is reshaping how work is done and the skills required to stay relevant. At the same time, this transformation presents significant opportunities for innovation, product development, and accelerated career growth. I see strong potential for professionals who are adaptable, continuously learning, and willing to embrace new technologies to build forward-thinking solutions and create meaningful impact.

The most important value to me is giving back to my community, as I am now in a stage of my career where I want to help others achieve their professional goals through mentorship and volunteer work, including my involvement with the Nashville Entrepreneur Center advisory network. I also strongly value hard work, perseverance, and being evaluated based on merit and performance. Overall, I strive to approach challenges with intelligence and intention while making a meaningful impact beyond my own success.