Vidhya Chandrasekaran’s Journey from Kitchen to Google

At Analytics Vidhya, we’re celebrating the Women of Data Science by highlighting their remarkable journeys and achievements on our blog throughout March. We believe their stories can inspire, uplift, and empower others. Today, we have the privilege of featuring Vidhya Chandrasekaran.

Let’s delve into her inspiring story!

Vidhya Chandrasekaran’s Journey in her own Words

I started my career that was associated with extreme responsibility but paid extraordinary dividends right after my under graduation. Yes, I started as a home-maker and took care of my family and my kids full time.  While I relished my experience as a home maker, in parallel I also started preparing for my next avatar by doing my masters in parallel and keeping myself updated with the ever growing tech world by doing tech courses and training.

Finding Passion in Data

After a few years, I found a job that gave me an entry and I did not look back after that.  Started in Database programming and transitioned later to a database architect my experience with Data gave me an immense interest in Data science. The organizations I was associated with and the leaders I worked with enabled me to become a Leader in the space of Machine Learning.

Reflections on a Rewarding Path

Looking back at my career journey as a woman I am humbled with the opportunities I was presented with and also recall Learnings along the way.   Women leaders can have a transformative impact on organizations and society. They can bring different perspectives, decision-making styles, and leadership behaviors, contributing to diversity of thought, innovation, and resilience. 

The Keys to my Success

Here are the top 5 things that have helped my journey 

• Curiosity and Continuous Learning: While it is hard work to learn continuously, it has always given me new perspective and has helped me stay abreast of industry trends, and embrace diverse ideas
• Growing People: Investing time on Developing   people around us and not restricted to ones own team alone has always given me utmost satisfaction and fulfillment.  Women leaders need to leverage on this skill that comes very naturally to them
• Mentors and Sponsors: Sponsors and mentors are crucial for women leaders because they provide guidance, support, and opportunities for advancement in male-dominated environments. They offer valuable advice, help navigate challenges, and advocate for their proteges, aiding in skill development and career progression. Good Managers can be great mentors as well as they know the context more than others.  In my case most of my managers have been mentors as well 
• Risk Taking: Successes in my career is directly proportional to the risks that I had taken along the way.  All or most of the time opportunities come masked as challenges and taking calculated risks on taking them upon is crucial for moving ahead.  By confronting challenges head-on, leaders demonstrate courage and determination, inspiring others to persevere in the face of adversity. Moreover, overcoming obstacles and learning from failures builds valuable experience and skills, equipping leaders with the confidence and insight to navigate future uncertainties

Learnings from her Experience

Looking back at my career journey if I have start over again, I would first on the following things in the same order

• Imposter Syndrome: Women leaders including myself have awaited until we tick all the boxes where in most case opportunities would have moved on.  
• Your Work would not talk for itself: Marketing ones work is as important as the work itself. Even excellent work can go unnoticed if it’s not adequately communicated or promoted.  Especially if you are a leader this is even more critical
• Navigating organizational politics: Most women may be less inclined to participate in organisational political activities Organizational politics are often an unavoidable aspect of working in any organization. Therefore, it’s essential to develop the skills necessary to navigate these dynamics effectively including building relationships, understanding power structures, and advocating for one’s interests while also maintaining integrity and ethical standards. 

I recently joined Google to lead Software Engineering teams.  In my previous role with PayPal, I managed  AI product Management and ML Science teams to lead AI personalization for PayPal Merchants.  

About Vidhya Chandrasekaran

Vidhya Chandrasekaran, a seasoned leader in Data, ML, and Business, boasts 19 years of experience in Data and 8 in Leadership. Known for spearheading change, she excels in building high-performance teams and driving ML solutions. Leading Software Engineering teams at Google, she remains a lifelong student and leader.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Summing-up

Vidhya Chandrasekaran’s journey exemplifies resilience, dedication, and leadership in the realm of data science. Her story is an inspiration for aspiring professionals, showcasing the transformative power of continuous learning, mentorship, and embracing challenges. Vidhya’s impact resonates not only in her achievements but also in her commitment to empowering others.

You can also share your story or nominate someone who has inspired you by filling out this form. 

Let’s continue to uplift and empower each other in the journey towards a more inclusive and innovative future.