I walked into a leadership conversation and said our current model wasn't enough before I had a fully built alternative. Courage came from being willing to move forward without all the answers.
Sri Kulidindi · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Sri
Sri Kulidindi is a global IT leader with over two decades of experience leading complex technology programs across the energy and infrastructure sectors. Currently serving as Director of IT Planning, Portfolio, and Program Management at Michael Baker International, she partners closely with executive leadership to align technology initiatives with business strategy and deliver measurable outcomes.
With deep expertise in enterprise applications, cloud platforms, and large-scale transformations, Sri is known for bridging the gap between technical execution and business value. She leads high-performing, globally distributed teams and drives disciplined execution through strong governance and data-informed decision-making.
Born and raised in India, Sri was the first woman in her family to pursue a professional career and relocate independently to the United States—a milestone that reflects her resilience and determination. She holds an MBA from Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School and began her career as a programmer before advancing into IT leadership. Her leadership philosophy centers on outcomes over outputs—creating clarity, driving alignment, and enabling teams to deliver meaningful impact.
Beyond her professional work, Sri is actively engaged in community service and leadership initiatives, continuing to inspire others through her commitment to growth, collaboration, and meaningful impact.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sri
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to discipline, accountability, and strong time management. Having spent many years in project management, I’ve seen firsthand how critical these fundamentals are to delivering meaningful outcomes.
In my role, accountability extends beyond my immediate team. I work closely across functions—including finance, legal, and other business areas—where IT plays a key role. Ensuring alignment and shared accountability across these groups has been essential to driving consistent delivery.
Ultimately, success comes from creating clarity in expectations, maintaining focus on priorities, and holding both myself and others accountable to the outcomes we commit to.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to always view your work through the lens of the customer. It’s easy to focus on delivering on time and within budget, but that doesn’t always translate to meaningful value.
What truly matters is how the outcome is experienced by the customer—whether it solves the right problem and delivers the impact they need. That perspective has shaped how I prioritize, make decisions, and define success.
It’s a mindset I carry with me in every role: success isn’t just about delivery—it’s about the value it creates for those you serve.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say discipline is foundational. Start small, and don’t underestimate the value of early responsibilities. No work is insignificant—those initial tasks are where you build the habits, credibility, and understanding that shape long-term success.
Focus on doing the basics well, stay consistent, and be patient with your growth. Over time, those small steps compound into bigger opportunities and greater responsibility
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is achieving alignment and clarity across the organization. Working with leaders from different functions often means navigating strong perspectives and differing priorities.
In those situations, I’ve found that grounding conversations in data is essential. By focusing on insights rather than opinions, it becomes easier to create alignment, drive objective decision-making, and move forward with clarity.
The opportunity lies in how we leverage data and emerging capabilities like AI to enhance those insights—bringing greater transparency, faster analysis, and more informed decision-making.
Ultimately, the ability to align diverse stakeholders around a shared understanding remains critical to delivering meaningful outcomes.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is the most important value to me. Without it, nothing else holds—trust, credibility, and outcomes all depend on it.
The second is empathy. In many organizations, people are often referred to as “resources,” but I’m intentional about not thinking that way. These are individuals who bring their time, energy, and perspective to the work every day.
Leading with empathy means understanding that—and creating an environment where people feel respected, heard, and supported. In my experience, that’s what enables teams to perform at their best.
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