Tell us a little about yourself – your early days, where you were born, your schooling, college, your major, when you moved to the US, and how you landed at your current role.
I was born in Mumbai, India in a family that was famous for making it on page three. My hero, my dad passed away when I was only 13. As an entrepreneur, he founded multiple technology companies and left a famous legacy of tech companies, tech education, and entrepreneurship that impacted millions back in India. We were forced to leave India for circumstances beyond our control. I managed to get through high school and graduated from NYU with a degree in Computer Science and Business Studies. With some scholarships, and working my way through, I was the happiest when I graduated with multiple offers in hand from the Big 4. I was fortunate to work with organizations and leaders that were at the top of their game in the world of tech, consulting, and hedge fund industries. I worked for a consulting company and then was offered an operations role at Bridgewater Associates where I worked for 4 years. When I had my child, I decided to take a break from the corporate world and raise my firstborn in 2011 while also dabbling in real estate investing.
After a few years of doing this, however, I craved to be back in the workforce. My first formal role in Customer Success (CS) was at Apptio, a SaaS company based in Seattle as a Customer Success Advisor. Although I started as a developer in my first job, I was better aligned to manage relationships and was soon on the business side. Customer Success felt like home: a close sense of belonging and being able to leverage both my engineering and relationship-building skills. Scaling CS across geographies, crossing the language and cultural barriers through CS, and realizing that humans no matter where they are, have more in common than we realize, has been a humbling experience. I have since set up CS teams multiple times over and led global teams, with innovation and customer love at the center of everything I have built with world-class teams. My passion for AI is a calling I could not ignore along the way. I have since combined CS and AI to fuel the next-gen CS/CX. I continue to invest and have a healthy real estate portfolio across the East Coast.
Have you drawn professional inspiration from others? Who/what inspired you to pursue your current career and why?
The people that have made the biggest impact in my career are my Bridgewater work family. Ray Dalio, Kokoro Kawashima-Zajec, Claude Amadeo. They collectively taught me to speak my mind and be unapologetically me, and they helped me recognize my voice when all I was taught to do was whisper. I learned to fail, fail fast, reflect, and pivot to the next strategy.
What skills do you use most often in your leadership role? How have you grown those skills? What leadership skills are you continuing to work on?
Two skills I use the most and incorporate these on a daily basis: 1) Listening – this is a lot more than plain hearing. Listening takes into account active engagement, respectful silence, asking clarifying questions, and being open-minded about what is being said. 2) Reflection – this is a crucial skill for any leader. The ability to be self-aware, learn from experiences, and work on continuous improvement. Being able to connect the dots over a period of time helps to make wiser decisions. My life has been a continuous journey of learning: this year, I am on a path to sharpen my persuasion and negotiation skills. This requires me to become an engaging storyteller.
How do you manage self-doubt? How have you built confidence and/or resiliency over the course of your career?
Like most of us, I grew up with a lot of self-doubt and imposter syndrome was my middle name. I have however in the last few years given this emotion a different meaning. Personally, I treat self-doubt and imposter syndrome as an opportunity for growth. We tend to harbor these feelings when we are doing something we may have not done before or learning something new. If we embrace this emotion as growth, it becomes a little easier to recognize and navigate. I continue to do things that make me uncomfortable until they become the norm, explore opportunities and paths that challenge me, and stretch my limits.
How do you balance your career, personal life, and passions? Is there such a thing as balance?
Balance can be a funny thing. Just when you feel you have a secure footing there is an unexpected turn. I don’t think there is ever a perfect balance, but I do think there are moments where we can take a step back and see the pieces come together. As a mother with two young kids and a thriving career, there are some things I do to maintain predictability:
Set Priorities – Identifying what matters most and accordingly allocate time and resources. Recognize that priorities can shift over time, and it’s okay to reprioritize as needed.
Establish boundaries – Learning to say no! Simple things like blocking time on my calendar to focus on work or the gym.
Delegate – Building a team and empowering them to be in the driver’s seat. Hiring the best talent, smarter and wiser than I!
Staying Flexible – Life happens, it’s important to learn to adapt.
What are the most important qualities you look for in people? Why?
The people in my team and in my closest circle are the ones where I invest a critical amount of my time. It is very important that we align principally. Here are some things that are important qualities I look for and admire.
Being self-aware and embracing their success and failures
Courage to be radically transparent
Generous, someone who will pull people up along their success journey
Resilient: being an individual who can bounce back and adapt to change
How important is it to have a mentor and/or sponsor to grow as a leader? How do you go about finding a mentor(s, and what are some steps to build that type of relationship? Who was/is your role model and/or leadership mentor?
Mentorship is critical to success. I will take it one step further: relying solely on one mentor may limit your growth and development. I think it is crucial to have your own “Board of Directors” that can provide a diverse perspective. Building relationships with multiple mentors expands your network and multiplies your opportunities. To establish a connection with mentors, it is critical to understand what your personal goals are, you need a place to start to share your story. Research people in the industry and skills your mentor should have. Attend conferences, be visible, and be heard. Reach out and write to your possible mentors and introduce yourself and explain your purpose. Be incredibly respectful of their time and show gratitude. Make sure you continue to engage with your mentor at appropriate intervals and keep them updated on your progress. Celebrate your success and share your hardships.
Personally, for me, I have my own circle of trusted advisors that I reach out to before I make important decisions and when I have milestone updates to share. Each one of my mentors comes from different walks of life so I have a broader perspective. I do however have a role model, my father who I aspire to model my life around. I have seen a man who was disabled since he was a child and had overcome many hardships to be a pioneer in his industry and he did it with a smile on his face. Every life he touched he made better.
How can women support other women in their workplaces?
There are several things women can do to support other women in the workplace.
Be intentional about supporting other women! Amplify the voices of women. Make room for their voices to be heard. When you agree, be vocal and support them in meetings and other work settings.
Go beyond mentoring and sponsor other women for opportunities. Unlock doors and spaces for them that they would not normally have access to.
Be part of Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, and promote gender bias training and programs.
Create a Reverse Mentorship program or a skill-swapping workshop where more senior leaders are learning about the newest trends and technology from the younger women.
Promote a work-life balance and self-care routine, this is especially true for working mothers.
Share your network and resources with your mentees to help them accelerate their path.
If you could instantly become an expert in any skill or subject, what would that be and why?
Being able to speak any language at the drop of a hat! I think this would be a marvelous skill to have! I would be able to connect with any human in their native language and build an instant connection.
If you could have dinner with anyone (living or dead), who would that be and why?
That would most definitely be Ruth Bader Ginsburg! Her trailblazing career as a lawyer, advocate for gender equality, and Supreme Court Justice has had a profound impact. I would be honored to hear about her experiences fighting for women’s rights, her strategies for navigating challenges in male-dominated spaces, and especially her reflections on the evolution of gender equality in the United States. I would cherish the opportunity to learn from her wisdom.
Rapid-fire Questions
Last book you read (or are reading)
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness.
You’re a new addition to the crayon box. What color would you be and why?
I would be the most sparkling glitter crayon! I could blend with any color!
What was the last gift you gave someone?
A DoorDash gift card for a colleague who I know was super busy working on a major project and could use some care and a hot meal!
If you were to write an autobiography, what would you name it?
Illuminate: The Journey Through Glass Shards.
What does Neythri mean to you?
Neythri to me is a sisterhood! One I wish I had 15 years ago! It is my safe space to learn from my peers, uplift others along the way, and connect with some of the best minds in the world!
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