“STAY AGILE, REINVENT AND ALWAYS PUT PEOPLE BEFORE BUSINESS”

The role of women is evolving across sectors, but there is still a long way to go and plenty to figure out. In conversation with the first woman to lead a German tech conglomerate,Sindhu Gangadharan, the SVP & MD of SAP Labs India and Head of SAP User Enablement, where she discusses everything right from her journey to becoming the first woman to lead SAP to the secret of building a culture and gender-inclusive workforce, enabling the upcoming workforce of tomorrow and the journey as a leader during pandemic and more. Excerpts…

- Anvita Pillai

Let’s start from the early days. What prompted you into the field of technology, especially in a time when technology was in its nascent stage in India?

I guess a lot of it has to do with my upbringing in Bangalore. I was raised in Bangalore at a time when the city was on the cusp of a technology revolution in India. During my final years in school, we saw the charming neighbourhoods of Bangalore fast transform into the Silicon Valley of India. While these developments impacted how I saw my career shaping up, I was always more inclined towards technology and its incredible possibilities. As a child, I started reading more about technology and the immense potential to help society and the world in general.

I am very fortunate to have been raised by my strong working parents, who always encouraged me to pursue a highly rewarding career. I grew up with my two brothers. And I have to say, growing up, my parents had the same expectations from me as they had from my two brothers. We were treated alike – we were provided with equal opportunities, equal encouragement, and an equal voice. I was never told “not to dream” or “not to have career ambitions”. My parents were working professionals who encouraged me to be fiercely independent and pursue a rewarding career. This further motivated me to take up software engineering and explore the opportunities in the industry.