The purpose we aim to serve is greater than any challenge we face

As an Enterprise Architect, Deepal formulates IT strategy in alignment with the customers’ business goals and organizational vision. She creates technology roadmaps and strategic plans, analyzes technology fitment and designs IT architectures that bridge the gap between business needs and technology. She ensures compliance with industry standards while establishing governance and oversees project implementation while collaborating closely with development and delivery teams, external vendors, and business stakeholders. She says, “I feel a sense of fulfillment when a design I created goes live in production and I see the positive impact it has on the day-to-day lives of our end customers.” The dedication and hard work put in seems to have been worth it!

In this account, Deepal shares her career journey, specifying the experiences and the challenges she faced while striving to balance work and life, all while pursuing professional growth.

Overcoming prejudices and proving my worth and trustworthiness

I entered the IT industry as a software developer at Wipro Technologies after completing my engineering degree. Over the course of 15 years, I have been fortunate enough to gain significant experience in IT projects across diverse companies, domains, and technologies. The journey has not been simple as I had to make substantial efforts to overcome various kinds of biases to establish myself as a credible resource capable of excelling in the IT workspace.

While in college, some initial biases I faced were doubts over my ability as a girl to understand algorithms or coding and people even questioned my interest in emerging fields like robotics. From college to the workplace, I have faced judgement over my choice of clothes or the way I carry myself. As women, many times we are even judged for taking maternity leave and these biases impact our performance ratings also. Despite these, I believe it is important to keep moving forward and maintain the same zeal and enthusiasm for our work always. The support I have received from my superiors and colleagues have, of course, helped. Also, company support, like the on-site daycare facility with live streaming provided by Tietoevry gave me a lot of mental peace and allowed me to focus on work, without having to worry about the safety and well-being of my child while I was away.

I believe that my passion for the purpose I aim to serve is greater than any challenge, and that alone has kept me going so far. I have gone through testing times, but I have learned a lot from overcoming the challenges, and have emerged as a better, stronger version of myself. I have learned to live by the saying: “It’s not about how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit and still keep moving forward.”

Having a strong support system both personally and professionally helped me achieve my goals and aim higher

Though attaining equality is an ongoing journey, I have observed positive changes in the IT workplace and remain hopeful to see more. Support at home, particularly from a spouse is important. I consider myself fortunate to have a supportive mother and an encouraging spouse who have helped me achieve and aim higher.

I view our workplace as a second home, as we spend a considerable amount of our time there. I have personally witnessed that diversity and inclusion are fundamental aspects of our workplace policy.

Having one’s voice heard is a fundamental, yet very often, a rare privilege in companies. However, Tietoevry follows a flat hierarchical structure where openness is not only encouraged but also embraced. I have felt encouraged to share my opinions always and my seniors have demonstrated trust in my decisions and actions.

In the male-dominated tech world, women encounter gender bias in their careers. Adapting to constant change is crucial and staying updated on emerging tech trends is essential for relevance. Fortunately, I have met this challenge over the past 6 years through continuous learning and development courses.

I have been fortunate to have consistent guidance from role models and mentors as I navigated my career in the industry. In instances requiring me to take on more responsibilities, I sometimes hesitated, wondering about my readiness. However, supportive mentors and colleagues who believed in my abilities played a crucial role in facilitating a smooth transition.

Tietoevry’s networking opportunities through various programs and initiatives like hackathons, Ideathon, fireside chats, and tech meetups have greatly contributed to building a strong and proficient professional network allowing me to expand my knowledge, access new opportunities, and establish meaningful connections within and beyond the organisation.

If we must carry a sense of guilt, let’s ensure it’s for a worthwhile cause

Over the years, I have observed that women employees bring a distinctive and essential outlook to the workplace demonstrating a keen eye for detail and an exceptional ability to balance multiple roles. Their presence brings empathy to the forefront, leading to better team dynamics and nurturing professional relationships.

Despite the common perception that the IT field is purely technical, I believe it demands a significant amount of creativity in aspects like designing user interfaces or architectural layouts, where many women excel organically. In my experience, I have come across many women colleagues who exhibit passion for their work, make substantial contributions to decision-making, and display resilience when faced with challenges.

We have to acknowledge persistent societal and cultural biases, and know that change won’t happen overnight, but we will evolve over time. To the younger generation in IT, I would say: ‘In one way or another, if we must carry a sense of guilt, let’s ensure it’s for a worthwhile cause.’ As Sheryl Sandberg aptly says, let’s “Lean In and learn to sit at the table”.

I urge all women not to shy away from failures but instead confront them head-on and extract valuable lessons from them. While short-lived failures may make you vulnerable, never lose sight of the long-term aspirations you hold. Let’s be mindful that the choices we make today will establish a precedent for the next generation of women in IT. Together, let’s embody the change we aspire to see.