Swati Shekhar on Her Engineering Journey, Challenges, and Career Advice

Early Aspirations and Problem-Solving

• 🚀 Swati Shekhar initially aspired to be an astronaut, driven by a desire to explore and leverage available tools to solve problems.
• 💡 Growing up in a small town in India during the late 80s and 90s, she had limited exposure to technology, with her first real computer experience at age 17.
• 🧩 Her approach to problem-solving focused on understanding the big picture and utilizing available tools, rather than deconstructing them.

Navigating Challenges and Stereotypes

• ⚠️ Swati faced societal stereotypes in India regarding women in engineering, with some questioning her career choice and its impact on marriage prospects.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Her parents, however, were supportive and treated her and her brother equally, encouraging her to pursue her interests.
• 🎓 She chose engineering over medicine, influenced by her peer group and gaining admission to a competitive engineering college.

Engineering School and Culture Shock

• 🧠 Engineering college exposed her to brilliant minds, initially causing feelings of being overwhelmed and questioning her ability to match up.
• 🤝 She learned to hold her ground, avoid intimidation, and leverage the strengths of her peers to achieve goals.
• 🚺 A significant culture shock was being one of only 30 women among 500 men in her engineering program, a stark contrast to her all-girls school.

Career Path and Risk Appetite

• ✈️ Graduating in 2002, she secured a job at Microsoft in Redmond, US, a major transition from her small-town background.
• 💰 Facing financial challenges upon arrival in the US, with limited funds and a delay in her first paycheck, significantly increased her risk appetite.
• 📈 She believes that overcoming such early life challenges, like being alone in a new country with few resources, builds resilience and increases one's capacity to handle future risks.

Leadership and Career Advice

• 🔄 Swati's career has been circuitous, evolving from a focused engineer to roles in program and product management, and now leading the engineering team at Ground Labs.
• 🤝 As a leader, she emphasizes empathy, listening, and understanding her team, aiming to emulate the supportive mentors she has had.
• 🎯 She prioritizes clear communication and ensuring her team feels aligned towards common goals, even if it requires more effort.
• 🤔 For those considering a job change, Swati advises being certain about what excites them about the new role and to be authentic to themselves.
• ✨ She believes organizations should cherish diversity of thought, as individuals bring unique problem-solving approaches and a valuable spark to their work.