A real natural with Arundathi Rao

Host: Chitra Gurjar4 decades and counting, always energized to do something, work is my DNAFrom post and telegraph to giving tuitions to creating her own agency to studyAn advocate for herself, nurturing her desire to serveTurning away “assured” job offers to join Defence Labs as a Scientist at CABSMoved onto a “lesser assurance” to join HPPeople and culture at the heart of her 3+decade stay at HPChallenging status quo, try and fail, Innovation has to be a part of one’s daily lifeStay focused on problems that you are solving and layer tools and technology to solve your problemFocus on incremental delivery of valueHolding a people vision through the course of her workStrong belief that “AI will improve the quality of jobs”Learning is a constant - continue to build Apply training and learning programs intentionallyWorking on a market analysis - next gen quoterStrong belief on impact of AI on Healthcare and EducationBelieving that coaching is something everyone should learn, enable people as answers lie within each oneWorking with a non-profit Daksham skills and Dreams DesignsArundathi has been working in technology and leadership related roles for the last 40+ years. Shestarted her career as a Scientist at Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, India.While at DRDO, she was involved in development of Radar transmitter and controller systems.Arundathi joined Hewlett Packard in 1996 and during her 27+ year career in HP and HPE, she hasworked in multiple roles across various business units. Under her leadership, HP rolled out multiplemarket leading internet services related products on HPUX. She was on one of the key leaderresponsible for setting up Global IT teams offshore centre in India in 2004. She has managed a teamof 3000+ technologists delivering for IT, across multiple technologies and multiple business areasenabling HP(E)’s business. She has successfully lead and delivered multiple IT transformationprojects. She has also lead the people transformation to move towards digital technologies inalignment with the market trends and business needs. She has had a short stint of 2 years at EY asthe Engineering leader for India, in Client Technology, building on Product engineering and deliverycapability. In the recent past she was the Global Program Manager for HPE’s industry leading NextGeneration IT transformation program. She leads the Global Delivery Services organisation, which isthe internal the delivery engine for GIT. She is also the India leader for HPE’s Global IT.Arundathi has led several initiatives in people transformation towards digital transformation,customer centricity and employee engagement. She is passionate about building teams and leaderswho are future proof and future safe. She has a strong passion towards building women leaders intechnology and mentored and coached many women through focussed initiatives. She has also hada stint as the chairperson at HP for Prevention of Sexual Harassment at workplace.Arundathi has as Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical and Electronics from GovernmentCollege of Technology, Coimbatore and Master of Technology from Indian Institute of Technology,Madras (IITM). She is a certified coach.During her free time, Arundathi loves to teach, coach, travel and read.