In this episode, I had the honor of reconnecting with my longtime friend and tech leader, Vidhya Narayanan. Vidhya and I go way backâwe used to work together at Sun Microsystems. It was a profound experience catching up on how our careers have evolved over the years and the significant impact Vidhya has made in the tech industry.
As a woman of color who has risen to executive leadership roles, Vidhya has a wealth of insights to share. We dove into her inspiring journey, from accidentally stumbling into engineering to intentionally pursuing management and strategy positions. Vidhya shared how she navigated the male-dominated tech world, facing and overcoming subtle biases.
However, Vidhya's expert perspective on blending technology and business strategy is the real gold in this conversation. As leaders, we must walk the fine line of staying technically engaged while driving high-level strategic decision-making. Vidhya candidly discusses her mistakes and the keys to maintaining that vital harmony between tech and the bottom line.
If you're a woman in tech aspiring to leadership roles, this episode is packed with invaluable insights you won't want to miss. Vidhya offers practical and actionable advice on leveling your technical skills, building trust with your engineering teams, and using technology to propel the business forward. Get ready to be inspired and empowered in your career journey!
About Vidhya:
Vidhya Narayanan is a seasoned engineering leader with a unique blend of technical expertise and strategic business acumen. As a Director of Engineering at Google, she guides high-performing teams across critical products like Google Workspace, driving innovation and operational excellence.
With over two decades of experience in the tech industry, Vidhya has honed her skills in building and empowering engineering organizations. Known for her ability to bridge the gap between technology and business, she aligns engineering priorities with overarching company goals, delivering substantial results. Vidhya's diverse background includes leadership roles at companies like Oath, Verizon, and Intel, where she spearheaded the transformation of large-scale cloud and media platforms.
Vidhya is passionate about cultivating a culture of accountability, coaching, and continuous learning. She expertly navigates complex challenges, leveraging emerging technologies and agile practices to drive impactful, customer-centric solutions. As a respected thought leader, Vidhya shares her insights on harmonizing engineering and business strategy, inspiring others to reach new heights in their own careers.
Follow Vidhya Narayanan on LinkedIn to learn from her leadership journey and insights: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srividhyanarayanan/
