Shashi's journey to success has been fueled by her determination and passion for innovation and shaped by comprehensive education and learning.
Shashi Singh leads a team of experts that drive digital innovation and sustainable value creation at Tietoevry Create, our global digital engineering business. In this role, she deals with modern technologies, including GenAI, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data engineering, augmented reality, extended reality, metaverse, conversational AI, Intelligent Automation, and the Internet of Things. Shashi's journey to success has been fueled by her determination and passion for innovation and shaped by comprehensive education and learning.
“As a team, we are continuously in a learning mode as we are immersed in the fascinating and challenging realm of diverse cutting-edge technologies, in which developments are extremely fast paced,” says Shashi. Adding that she truly believes in the value of a culture where everyone constantly learns, unlearns, and relearns. Shashi explains, “I have always sought to expand my horizons and stay up to date with the latest advancements in technology. However, I also believe that success is not solely dependent on individual efforts. The support and cooperation of both the team and the ecosystem play a vital role in achieving success.” Below, Shashi shares insights from her exciting journey from being the first girl in her family to pursue engineering, to leading a team of digital innovators today.
Don’t be afraid of challenges and break societal norms
Despite initial resistance, my family supported my wish to pursue engineering. As the first girl in my family to pursue engineering, I feel proud to have set an example and inspired more women in our community to explore a career in technology. Family and societal support are crucial in helping girls make the right choices, especially when faced with decisions about marriage or a career in technology. Having a supportive ecosystem is critical to pursuing one’s career journey with determination and steadfast dedication.
I firmly believe that more women should pursue technical education and get into roles that enable them to contribute their unique perspectives and experiences, which are crucial in creating groundbreaking solutions. For me diversity is not just a goal, but a driving force behind innovation. By bringing together individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, and skill sets, we can approach problems from multiple angles and uncover unique insights.
A commitment to continuous learning and a passion for innovation has helped me navigate my career
My education is a source of great pride for me and has significantly contributed to my personal and professional growth. Equipped with a degree in engineering from NIT, I began my career as a developer at a software company, where I gained hands-on experience in requirement gathering, programming, and testing.
As I delved deeper into SMAC technologies, my interest in analytics and data science grew, leading me to further pursue a degree in data science and advanced business analysis at IIM Ahmedabad. While working in business process management, I realized that addressing customer needs requires considering not only the technologies but also the underlying business problems. A postgraduate course in Digital Strategy for New Age Organizations from MIT Sloan and digital marketing from Columbia Business School helped me to broaden my perspective and enrich my business knowledge.
I believe all my learnings and experiences have provided me with a full playbook to drive digital transformation and helped me transition into a delivery management role over the last two decades and start leading teams.
Corporates can help women overcome the unique challenges they face as they progress on their career path
As a senior woman leader, I have seen that women often struggle with developing effective networks, limiting their chance to connect with key stakeholders and senior professionals who can guide them. Corporates that are genuinely committed to diversity and inclusion make sincere efforts to empower and connect them with mentors who can help them define successful career paths. They also provide opportunities and coaching for women leaders to fulfill their roles effectively.
Apart from empowering women through focused mentoring and coaching initiatives, organizations such as Tietoevry make a difference by offering flexible work hours and part-time opportunities, enabling women to balance both professional and family responsibilities well.
An important lesson I have learnt is that success is not solely a result of individual efforts, effective teamwork and collaboration are significant contributors to it. The support and cooperation of both the team and the ecosystem play a vital role in achieving one’s goals.
To truly drive innovation, it is important that we recognize and appreciate the importance of bringing in diverse perspectives. This is only possible if we ensure that we create an equitable work environment where everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute and grow.
To all young women aspiring for leadership positions, my message is to keep pushing forward, continue to build and expand your networks, raise your voices, remain engaged with the community, and embrace lifelong learning for constant growth.