Software People Stories

In this special Women’s Day episode of Software People Stories, Gayatri sits down with Manisha Deshpande, VP, Digital Platform Engineering at Neurealm, for a deeply reflective conversation on career evolution, motherhood, leadership, and thriving in the AI era.

Manisha’s journey begins in the early 2000s — renting desktops with friends, coding in C++, and working at startups before “startups” were cool. A pivotal on-site experience early in her career changed how she viewed engineering — from writing code to understanding customer impact.

Across 25 years in technology — from digital asset management to identity & access management, from services to product engineering, from engineering leadership to heading UX Centers of Excellence — Manisha shares the inflection points that shaped her:

• Choosing to intentionally slow down during certain seasons of life
• Moving from domain specialist to product mindset thinker
• Bridging design and engineering
• Leading horizontally across business units
• Preparing teams for AI not just technically — but mentally

She speaks candidly about:

• Why “letting go” without regret is powerful
• The importance of showing up every day
• Building a support system beyond work
• The shift from executor to thinker in the AI age
• Why curiosity is the only non-negotiable skill

From rental 386 desktops to AI agents and workflow automation — this episode is about evolution, resilience, and staying human in a rapidly changing industry.

If you’re a software professional navigating change, motherhood, leadership, or the AI disruption — this conversation is both grounding and energizing.

Here are powerful pull-quotes you can use for LinkedIn, audiograms, or graphics:

1. “Technology is shrinking in shelf life — but curiosity never expires.”
2. “You cannot have it all at the same time. But you can choose your season — without regret.”
3. “If you remain an executor, you will be automated. If you become a thinker, you will thrive.”
4. “Letting go is not failure. It is prioritization.”
5. “Show up every day. Even when you’re slowing down, you’re still moving forward.”
6. “AI can accelerate execution — but intent and context still belong to humans.”
7. “Full stack today is not just technical depth — it is empathy, collaboration, and business awareness.”
8. “Build foundations — health, support systems, hobbies. They are your resilience engine.”
9. “Learning is not optional anymore. But evolution is a choice.”
10. “Be curious, not fearful.”

With over 25 years of experience in the IT industry, Manisha Deshpande is a highly skilled and visionary leader in digital platform engineering. She is deeply committed to design-led, human-centric product development, ensuring that engineering teams align with cutting-edge design principles to deliver impactful, scalable products.

Manisha’s expertise spans the entire product engineering lifecycle, from UX design to cloud infrastructure. She combines a product mindset with AI-powered development to accelerate delivery and drive smarter engineering decisions, creating innovative solutions that address both current and future challenges.

An advocate for diversity and inclusion, she mentors college-bound female students, providing valuable guidance to help them succeed in their careers.

Earlier in her career, Manisha held leadership roles at Persistent Systems, where she led teams in identity and access management, API management, business process management, and security solutions. She is known for her ability to build high-performing teams, collaborate for growth, and drive product excellence.

Outside of work, Manisha’s passions for painting, traveling, and hiking fuel her creativity and provide inspiration for her leadership approach.

Manisha can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/in/manisha-deshpande-0881b36/

In this deeply personal and inspiring episode of Software People Stories, Gayatri speaks with Dr. Vaijayanthi Srinivasaraghavan (Viji) — a seasoned technology leader, Senior Director at UPS, and a resilient voice for women navigating complex careers and life transitions.

From learning C++ through shared manuals in the early 90s to leading global logistics technology at massive scale, Viji shares a journey shaped by grit, reinvention, and purpose. The conversation explores her early career struggles, health challenges, and defining leadership moments — including navigating motherhood, rebuilding her career, and evolving across roles at IBM before helping build UPS’s Global Capability Center in Chennai.

Viji reflects on how technology, AI, and analytics are transforming supply chain ecosystems while emphasizing that leadership today requires curiosity, empathy, and continuous learning. More than a career story, this episode becomes a powerful reflection on resilience — rewriting oneself after setbacks, embracing change without guilt, and building ecosystems that help women thrive.

Recorded as part of the Women’s Day special series, this conversation blends technology, humanity, and lived experience — reminding listeners that growth is rarely linear, but always meaningful.

• Early career beginnings as an electrical engineer learning software development in the 90s.
• Overcoming autoimmune health challenges and redefining career paths.
• Transformational leadership lessons from early mentors and global work experiences.
• Career evolution through startups, IBM’s long tenure, and transition to UPS.
• Building and scaling a Global Capability Center with a startup mindset.
• The role of AI, analytics, and logistics technology in moving millions of packages daily.
• Continuous learning culture — embracing AI as a hands-on skill across generations.
• Personal reflections on resilience, single motherhood, cancer survival, and reinvention.
• Women’s Day message centered on self-worth, removing guilt, and prioritizing wellbeing.

• “Belong — don’t blur. You are here because you deserve to be here.”
• “AI is here to stay. Don’t stand on the fence — start embracing it.”
• “Do not feel guilty for choosing yourself. Put the oxygen mask on first.”
• “Rewrite yourself. Life will throw curveballs — and that’s okay.”
• “Leadership is not just about technology; it’s about listening and empathy.”
• “Only if you are okay, the people around you will be okay.”

Dr. Vaijayanthi Srinivasaraghavan (Viji) is a seasoned technology leader and Senior Director at UPS India Technology Centre, bringing over three decades of experience across software engineering, supply chain technology, analytics, and global delivery leadership. Her career spans early R&D engineering roles, semiconductor innovation, a long tenure at IBM, and now building next-generation logistics technology at UPS.

An alumna of the University of Madras and a strong advocate of continuous learning, Dr. Viji is also a published author. She co-authored the book Shape It: A Perfect Gift for Budding Engineers to Become Industry Ready, a self-development guide that shares real student stories and practical skills to help young engineers navigate evolving workplaces. ()

Known for her philosophy of “belong, don’t blur,” she blends deep technical expertise with empathetic leadership — mentoring the next generation of technologists while championing resilience, lifelong learning, and inclusive growth in the technology ecosystem.

Viji can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaijayanthisr/

In this deeply personal and inspiring episode of Software People Stories, Gayatri speaks with Dr. Vaijayanthi Srinivasaraghavan (Viji) — a seasoned technology leader, Senior Director at UPS, and a resilient voice for women navigating complex careers and life transitions.

From learning C++ through shared manuals in the early 90s to leading global logistics technology at massive scale, Viji shares a journey shaped by grit, reinvention, and purpose. The conversation explores her early career struggles, health challenges, and defining leadership moments — including navigating motherhood, rebuilding her career, and evolving across roles at IBM before helping build UPS’s Global Capability Center in Chennai.

Viji reflects on how technology, AI, and analytics are transforming supply chain ecosystems while emphasizing that leadership today requires curiosity, empathy, and continuous learning. More than a career story, this episode becomes a powerful reflection on resilience — rewriting oneself after setbacks, embracing change without guilt, and building ecosystems that help women thrive.

Recorded as part of the Women’s Day special series, this conversation blends technology, humanity, and lived experience — reminding listeners that growth is rarely linear, but always meaningful.

• Early career beginnings as an electrical engineer learning software development in the 90s.
• Overcoming autoimmune health challenges and redefining career paths.
• Transformational leadership lessons from early mentors and global work experiences.
• Career evolution through startups, IBM’s long tenure, and transition to UPS.
• Building and scaling a Global Capability Center with a startup mindset.
• The role of AI, analytics, and logistics technology in moving millions of packages daily.
• Continuous learning culture — embracing AI as a hands-on skill across generations.
• Personal reflections on resilience, single motherhood, cancer survival, and reinvention.
• Women’s Day message centered on self-worth, removing guilt, and prioritizing wellbeing.

• “Belong — don’t blur. You are here because you deserve to be here.”
• “AI is here to stay. Don’t stand on the fence — start embracing it.”
• “Do not feel guilty for choosing yourself. Put the oxygen mask on first.”
• “Rewrite yourself. Life will throw curveballs — and that’s okay.”
• “Leadership is not just about technology; it’s about listening and empathy.”
• “Only if you are okay, the people around you will be okay.”

Dr. Vaijayanthi Srinivasaraghavan (Viji) is a seasoned technology leader and Senior Director at UPS India Technology Centre, bringing over three decades of experience across software engineering, supply chain technology, analytics, and global delivery leadership. Her career spans early R&D engineering roles, semiconductor innovation, a long tenure at IBM, and now building next-generation logistics technology at UPS.

An alumna of the University of Madras and a strong advocate of continuous learning, Dr. Viji is also a published author. She co-authored the book Shape It: A Perfect Gift for Budding Engineers to Become Industry Ready, a self-development guide that shares real student stories and practical skills to help young engineers navigate evolving workplaces. ()

Known for her philosophy of “belong, don’t blur,” she blends deep technical expertise with empathetic leadership — mentoring the next generation of technologists while championing resilience, lifelong learning, and inclusive growth in the technology ecosystem.

Viji can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaijayanthisr/

In this episode of Software People Stories, Gayatri sits down with Hiran , Co-founder of Ashwatta Sustainability Ventures (domain Ashwatta.earth) , to explore how climate innovation is evolving beyond buzzwords into real systems change. From her beginnings in chemical engineering to building a venture studio focused on translating breakthrough science into scalable climate companies, Hiran shares a grounded perspective on what it truly takes to build a sustainable future.

• Hiran shares her journey from chemical engineering to climate tech commercialization.
• Ashwatha Earth focuses on building climate companies by translating science into scalable ventures.
• Conversation framed around women leaders in climate and deep tech.

• Shift from clean tech to climate tech, but the mission remains sustainability.
• Circularity and responsible material use are central themes.
• Need to rethink systems that nature cannot naturally recycle.
• Climate innovation goes beyond solar and wind.
• Key areas: thermal storage, alternative fuels, advanced materials, and fusion.
• Industrial heat and heavy transport remain major decarbonization challenges.

• Ashwatha Earth building PVC upcycling solutions.
• Emerging climate startups in emissions tracking, digital twins, hydrogen storage, carbon capture, and biochar.
• Strong in deployment, financial models, and application-layer innovation.
• Gaps in deep-tech ownership, patents, and long-term risk capital.
• Opportunity to move from adoption to innovation leadership.

• AI accelerates optimization, modeling, and material discovery.
• Data availability is still a major limitation.
• AI complements science rather than replacing it.
• Institutional co-founder approach to take tech from lab to market for making Venture Studio Model
• Higher success probability compared to traditional VC power-law models.
• Focus on zero-to-one building and de-risking innovation.
• Local solutions can scale globally when economics and distribution are solved.

• “It doesn’t matter whether we call it clean tech or climate tech — the goal is a sustainable future for all.”
• “Electrons alone won’t solve the energy problem. Heat, materials, and chemistry matter just as much.”
• “Circularity isn’t a trend — it’s learning to live within the limits of the planet.”
• “The Global South is great at deploying solutions, but deep-tech ownership is where we need to grow.”
• “AI can optimize what exists — but the fundamental breakthrough still has to come from science.”

Hiranmayee Vedam is a climate tech entrepreneur, chemical engineer, and Co-founder of Ashwatta Sustainability Ventures(domain Ashwatta.earth), a venture studio focused on translating breakthrough science into scalable sustainability ventures. An alumna of IIT Madras, she brings over 17 years of experience spanning process engineering, advanced materials, and climate technology commercialization. Over the years, she has contributed to research-led innovation and knowledge sharing across materials, energy systems, and sustainability, with work that bridges academic insight and industrial application. Known for her systems-thinking approach to circularity, deep-tech entrepreneurship, and production-scale climate solutions, Hiran is actively shaping pathways for Global South innovations to move from research pilots to real-world impact.

Hiran can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiranvedam/ 

Sujatha Ramani brings together corporate precision and grassroots purpose. With leadership experience at global companies like HP and Wipro, and two entrepreneurial ventures of her own, she made a deliberate shift into the social sector to build opportunity where it matters most.

Since 2019, as CEO of Pollinate Group, she has led with clarity and conviction advancing women’s entrepreneurship, sustainability, and ethical growth across underserved communities in India and Nepal. She balances sharp execution with long-term vision, always anchored in dignity and agency.

An MBA and computer science graduate, Sujatha also finds joy in soulful singing, nurturing her garden, and passionately following Cricket, Tennis, and Football.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sujatha-ramani-226a665?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

This is part of the specials we have every year focusing on women in IT.

In this conversation, Srini Sundararajan shares his experiences and perspectives on empowering women in the workplace, particularly in IT. Srini's key messages include:

- His upbringing which emphasized the importance of education and non-discrimination between genders.

- His early professional experiences, including managing and interacting with women colleagues for the first time.

- The importance of treating women as equals in the workforce and his approach to avoiding gender discrimination.

- His story of hiring and supporting a woman who was returning to the workforce after a seven-year break.

- Insights into managing women in his team and the different challenges they face, such as work-life balance and societal expectations.

- Instances from his career that highlight the importance of recognizing and addressing unique challenges faced by women, such as menstrual cycles and maternity breaks.

- Advice on inclusive policies like paternity leave to support working families.

- Emphasizing the role men can play in ensuring a comfortable and empowering work environment for women.

Through real-life stories and learned lessons, Srini Sundararajan illustrates the importance of empathy, fairness, and structural support in empowering women in the IT industry.

In this episode of Software People Stories, VR Govindarajan, aka Govi, the co-founder and executive chairman of Perfios Software, shares his comprehensive journey from the early days of his career to building successful startups. Govi dives deep into his academic background, industry experience, and the various startups he co-founded, including Aztec Soft and Perfios. He emphasizes the importance of technology-focused innovation, building a product company out of India, and navigating the challenges of operating in a regulated industry. Govi also shares his insights on the value of teamwork, culture, and maintaining a larger purpose beyond just making money. Throughout the conversation, he provides valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs on raising funds, managing teams, and scaling businesses globally.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:35 Govi's Background and Career Journey

01:43 Early Startups and Challenges

02:48 Building Aztec Soft and Going Public

03:10 Transition to Perfios and Product Focus

06:18 Navigating the Dot-Com Bust

08:18 Acquisitions and Selling to MindTree

13:41 Importance of Team Effort

17:34 Choosing the BFSI Sector

20:39 Challenges in a Regulated Industry

22:29 Managing B2B Sales and Integration

24:26 Focusing on Product Development

24:46 Creating a New Market Category

25:06 Challenges of Evangelizing a New Product

26:21 Leveraging Global Trends

28:07 Expanding to International Markets

34:25 Managing Code and Customizations

36:54 Importance of Local Customer Support

38:11 Leveraging AI and Data

41:22 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

44:51 The Importance of Culture and Values

48:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The timestamps are approximate and do not include the time for the intro. Add about 90 seconds to locate the section

As the Co-founder & Executive Chairman, Govi has been the driving force behind building Perfios into the Operating system for the BFSI in India and across the globe. Perfios is an acknowledged technology driven SaaS Pioneer that works across almost all financial institutions (Banking and Insurance Sector) both in India and across 18 countries in South East Asia, Middle East and North Africa. Perfios is a Unicorn and is backed by some of the best Global Investors. As a fintech Pioneer, Govi has been part of many committees in industry forums such as FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM. He has been an active speaker at many BFSI related conferences and public institutions.

He brings over 35 years of rich experience in the IT industry across the US and India. Before co-founding Perfios, Govi was the Co-founder, CTO, and Board Member at Aztecsoft, a pioneering force in the offshore product development space. From being a startup, Aztecsoft got listed in the Indian markets and was run as a public company before being sold to another Public company. Prior to starting Aztecsoft, he played a key role in advancing database technologies at global technology leaders such as Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) and IBM.

Govi holds an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts and a B.E. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. 

He may be reached at: [email protected]m

In this episode of Software People Stories, Jordan Richards, a Digital Transformation and Knowledge Management technologist, and Founder of Tacitous (www.tacitous.com) a Knowledge Management blueprint and platform designed to help organisations capture, retain, and share critical knowledge at scale shares his extensive experience with technology and knowledge management. From his early days with the ZX 80 computer to his consulting work with oil companies, Jordan emphasizes the importance of solving real-world problems through technology. He advocates for a 'people first, process second, technology third' approach, and shares insights on how to ensure successful adoption of IT solutions by understanding user stories and daily workflows. Jordan discusses the critical importance of managing both knowledge and collaboration within organizations, especially with regard to retirees, and touches on the implications of AI and digital twins in modern business environments. He also shares personal practices that help him stay grounded and continuously updated with the latest trends in technology.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:45 Guest's Origin Story in Technology

01:43 Solving Problems with Technology

02:15 User-Centric Approach to IT Solutions

05:02 Challenges in IT Deployment

05:41 Building Effective IT Strategies

06:40 Understanding Organizational Knowledge Flows

11:14 Importance of Personas in IT Solutions

18:56 Knowledge Management and AI

27:56 Engaging Retirees: Challenges and Solutions

29:38 Building a National Repository of Expertise

32:04 Encouraging Knowledge Sharing and Consumption

34:41 The Role of AI in Knowledge Management

39:21 The Importance of Human Oversight in Technology

43:07 Staying Updated and Lifelong Learning

49:00 Personal Principles for Staying Grounded

The timestamps are approximate and do not include the time for the intro. Add about 90 seconds to locate the section

Jordan Richards is a Digital Transformation and Knowledge Management technologist, and Founder of Tacitous (www.tacitous.com) a Knowledge Management blueprint and platform designed to help organisations capture, retain, and share critical knowledge at scale. With 20+ years of international experience across high-risk and complex environments (including Oil & Gas and large-scale operations), Jordan specialises in institutional memory, lessons learned, communities of practice, and AI-enabled knowledge retention. He works with government entities, NGOs, and industry leaders to build practical, technology-enabled KM ecosystems that strengthen workforce continuity and organisational resilience.

Website: www.tacitous.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanrichards/

Email: [email protected]

In this podcast episode, Sudipta Lahiri, Head Of Engineering and Products at Nimblework, Inc shares his compelling journey from growing up in a cosmopolitan township and studying metallurgical engineering to becoming a leader in the tech industry. He discusses his early career experiences, including a pivotal moment that led him to quit his job at SAIL and pursue further education at IIT Madras. Sudipta delves into his transition from engineering to account management and later into sales. He emphasizes the importance of attention to detail, the challenges and benefits of using AI in software development, and his personal practices that help him stay organized and effective in a fast-evolving industry. Key takeaways include the necessity of understanding the end goal, leveraging change agents for successful tool adoption, and the indispensable role of cognitive behavioral skills in leadership.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:37 Early Life and Education

03:20 First Job and Career Pivot

05:12 Graduate Studies and Entry into IT

07:59 Joining Wipro and Early Projects

12:17 Transition to Sales and Account Management

14:39 Challenges and Success in Sales

15:42 Return to India and Joining i2 Technologies

17:18 Joining Digité and Embracing Agile

19:26 Reflections on Career and Mentorship

28:21 Challenges in Developing Platforms for Developers and Managers

29:24 Focusing on Efficiency for Developers

30:34 Evolving Processes to Minimize Data Entry

33:25 Addressing Tool Adoption Challenges

34:11 Identifying and Leveraging Change Agents

40:06 Balancing Process and Flexibility

46:25 Impact of AI on Software Development

54:19 Personal Practices for Staying Grounded

The timestamps are approximate and do not include the time for the intro. Add about 90 seconds to locate the section

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sudiptalahiri/

Head Of Engineering and Products at Nimblework, Inc. (Distinguished Fellow, Kanban University, SPC4, AKT, KCP, DAD/CDA)

● Three decades of international leadership experience across diverse industry verticals

● Multi-cultural exposure ranging from a $4 billion company to running a technology start-up

● A Lean/Agile coach and practitioner passionate about helping multiple organizations and teams gain agility and enhanced productivity

● Demonstrated success in developing new products for Lean Software Development

● Entrepreneurial style with an exemplary record in strategic planning, business development, solid execution, and developing high performing teams

In this podcast episode, Shiv is in conversation with Bhargav Bhikkaji, a tech leader, entrepreneur, and founder-CTO of MajorDomo Inc with deep expertise in cloud and Gen-AI driven enterprise software. 

In this episode of Software People Stories, Bhargav shares his inspiring journey from his early interest in physics and mathematics to becoming a DevOps pioneer. Initially focused on engineering and computer networking, Bhargav's career path led him through various roles at HCL Cisco and Dell before transitioning to an entrepreneurial venture. He describes the challenges of moving back to India, starting a consulting business, and eventually founding a company that focuses on DevOps and AI deployment solutions. Bhargav emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs, continuous learning, and staying grounded through personal practices like long-distance running.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:31 Early Interests and Education

03:13 First Steps in Networking

04:21 Career Growth and Innovations

05:13 Transition to DevOps and Kubernetes

07:23 Starting a Consulting Business

10:27 Challenges and Strategies in Networking

18:08 Patents and Open Source Debate

26:36 Navigating the Transition from Technical Expert to Entrepreneur

27:42 Understanding Customer Needs in Product Development

29:45 Balancing Immediate Customer Demands with Long-Term Solutions

32:10 Managing Multiple Roles in a Startup

33:49 The Importance of Customer Conversations and Product Market Fit

34:36 Challenges in Developing Developer Tools

37:42 Articulating the Value Proposition of Major Domo

40:41 Handling Rollbacks and Ensuring Transaction Integrity

46:52 Keeping Pace with Rapid Technological Changes

49:00 Staying Grounded Amidst the Chaos

50:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The timestamps are approximate and do not include the time for the intro. Add about 90 seconds to locate the section.

Bhargav Bhikkaji is a tech leader, entrepreneur, and founder-CTO of MajorDomo Inc with deep expertise in cloud and Gen-AI driven enterprise software. 

As the Founder, Bhargav leads the development of platform solutions that simplify and automate complex cloud-native and Gen-AI operations. 

He is passionate about bridging the gap between cutting-edge technologies and real-world outcomes, sharing insights on GenAI, RAG, LLMOps, enterprise AI, and governance through talks, articles, and video series. 

Bhargav’s work blends engineering excellence with strategic thinking, helping teams adopt scalable, secure, and cost-effective cloud and AI solutions. Outside work, Bhargav enjoys endurance running and often reflects on resilience and growth—bringing the same mindset to tech and leadership that he applies in life’s challenges

One can reach out to Bhargav Bhikkaji at 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhargav-bhikkaji and 

http://x.com/bbhikkaji