Her Story
About Smitha
Smitha Varma, PMP, is a Technical Project Manager and PMP-certified professional with nearly three decades of experience spanning software engineering, technical leadership, program management, and enterprise technology solutions. Based in San Jose, California, she currently serves as a Technical Project Manager at United Airlines, where she supports aviation software applications that enhance operational efficiency and improve the experience of flight attendants. Her work involves managing technology solutions related to flight preparation, catering workflows, passenger seating management, customer issue handling, and regulatory compliance within an agile project environment.
Throughout her career, Smitha has held progressive roles including Software Engineer, Team Lead, Project Lead, Solutions Architect, and Senior Solutions Architect. Her expertise lies in data protection, data replication, data migration, cloud integration, software development, and enterprise solution deployment. Prior to joining United Airlines, she contributed to technology initiatives at organizations such as Nisum and HCL America, leading complex software projects involving application migration, cloud transformation, product sustainment, troubleshooting, and customer-focused technology enhancements. She holds a Master of Science in Computer Science from California State University, East Bay, and a Bachelor of Technology in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Government Engineering College, Thrissur.
Recognized for her strong communication skills, technical depth, and ability to collaborate across global teams, Smitha is passionate about delivering successful projects through strategic planning, stakeholder alignment, and customer-focused solutions. Her recent achievement of earning the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute reflects her continued commitment to professional growth and excellence in project execution. She values teamwork, accountability, respect for individuals, attention to detail, and work-life balance, believing that success is achieved when teams work together and support each other’s growth.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Smitha
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to perseverance, continuous learning, and a strong commitment to excellence. Over my 27-year career in software engineering, I have embraced new challenges, adapted to evolving technologies, and developed strong leadership skills. In my current role as a Technical Project Manager at United Airlines, I continue to focus on collaboration, innovation, and delivering successful outcomes.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to always put the summary at the top of my communications. An early manager taught me the importance of considering my audience and understanding that senior leaders often need a clear, concise overview before reviewing the details. This guidance has helped me communicate more effectively and make my messages more impactful.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is to be a team player. Collaboration, openness to learning, and building strong relationships with colleagues are essential for long-term success. By supporting others and contributing positively to a team, you can create meaningful opportunities for growth and advancement.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge and opportunity in my field is staying competitive in a rapidly evolving airline industry. We must continuously keep pace with other airlines while prioritizing customer experience, improving ease of use for flight attendants, and aligning technology solutions with business needs. Working in an agile environment allows us to adapt quickly, innovate, and deliver solutions that create value for both employees and customers.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are teamwork, respect, and balance. I believe that success is not achieved alone—we succeed by working together and ensuring the entire team thrives. I value being open-minded, paying attention to details, respecting others, maintaining work-life balance, and recognizing the contributions each person brings to the team.
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