Back in 2008, then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon pointed out that investing in women was not only the right thing to do—it was the smart thing to do. Women bring to the table a unique set of qualities and perspectives that enable businesses to innovate, connect more deeply with customers, and perform better.
Unfortunately, women are still under-represented in the tech industry. Research from S&P Global finds that women occupy less than one-fifth of spots on the boards of directors at tech companies, and the share is lower for women executives.
At Salesforce, we’re striving to close this gap. From spending $15 million to ensure equal pay for equal work, to nurturing the Salesforce Women’s Network that mentors and supports women in their career journey—we’re committed to creating a workplace where women feel just as valued and empowered as men.
Today, as we count down to International Women’s Day, we’re delighted to celebrate the achievements of four amazing women from Salesforce India who are breaking barriers, and paving the way for other women to succeed. Here are their inspiring stories and best pieces of advice for other women to thrive in their careers.
Vijaya Tirumalareddy:
Hard work, perseverance, and patience pay off
Vijaya Tirumalareddy was raised in a small village in Andhra Pradesh where owning a TV, radio, or even a telephone was a distant dream. It was only by reading the newspapers every morning that Tirumalareddy learned about the myriad technological advancements taking place around the world.
Inspired, she went on to become the first graduate in her family, overcoming language barriers and more to chase her dreams.
“I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to conquer challenges,” she recounts.
Today, Tirumalareddy is Director, Software Engineering at Salesforce, a company that she says she was drawn to for its culture of openness and belonging. At Salesforce, she also gets the opportunity to fulfil her passion of giving back to society. Using the seven paid days of volunteer time off (VTO) provided by the company each year, Tirumalareddy mentors young girls from small towns who aspire for a career in STEM.
What’s her secret to success? “Born and raised in an agricultural family, I was taught early on that hard work, perseverance and patience are key to achieving what you set your mind on,” she says.
Read more about Tirumalareddy’s inspiring story here.
Padmaja Kota:
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
When Padmaja Kota, Director, Software Engineering first joined Salesforce in 2014, there were very few women. But today, the Salesforce Women’s Network—one among nine diversity networks in the company—is steadily growing and amplifying the progress of women.
“When we realised that the office space was not conducive for women just coming back from maternity, we ensured that we had designated rooms for new mothers, such that they could return to work comfortably,” says Kota who is an active member of the Women’s Network.
She is also committed, as an engineering director, to empowering her team with the right opportunities.
“I believe, that as a leader, you are responsible for the team’s success first. Once they are successful, your own success follows,” she says.
Today, she advises younger women to be clear about their goals, to have a sense of direction, and to step out of their comfort zones. She also attests to the importance of mentors in helping women forge successful careers.
“Raising your hand and saying, ‘I need help’ may not be comfortable, but I have grown to realise that people are extremely willing to help when you reach out, and that’s one of the main reasons I’ve been able to build a career of over 17 years,” she says.
Read more about Kota’s inspiring story here.
Shanthi Padmanabhan:
Good leaders learn to adapt
Although Shanthi Padmanabhan, VP, Customer Success at Salesforce, was born into a family of lawyers and doctors, her passion lay in building things and understanding the nuances behind them. A curious mind and strong intuition led her to choose software development as a career.
Over the next 31 years, she went from working on a Global Positioning System at ISRO, to leading multi-national teams in some of the world’s top organisations. Along the way, she took several risks—including, at one point, a pay cut to be involved in something that she would be able to build from scratch.
Leadership, she believes, is a lot like parenting. “At Salesforce, I try to work closely with each of my team members, to figure out their strengths and to play to them, which helps the larger team function better,” she says.
One of the things she learned while interacting with world-class leaders was the importance of recalibrating one’s leadership style to align with the needs of multi-cultural teams spread across locations. Navigating cultural sensitivities, and creating relationships of trust are key, she says.
“Over the years, I’ve realised that it is important to be adaptive with your leadership styles in order to be a well-rounded leader,” she notes.
Read more about Padmanabhan’s inspiring story here.
Tirumalareddy, Kota, and Padmanabhan are just three of the many women across Salesforce India who are doing incredible work in their respective roles, while also reminding us to dream big, stay the course, and crush those business goals. A big shout out to all of them this International Women’s Day.
Equality remains a core value at Salesforce, and we work hard to create a culture of diversity and inclusivity where everyone—including women—can live out their full potential. As Melanne Verveer, the former first U.S. Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues, once said, “When women make progress, all of society makes progress.”
