If you learn and lead, support systems around you will grow

By Amita Mirajkar

Like many high school students at the time, I was at a career crossroads – should I pursue medicine (family being in the field) or computers (popular among girls). Today I’m glad I went with my gut feel. The career in the world of software engineering continues to excite me even today. My formative years while working in Pune, inspired me to value good company culture and the impact of technology on businesses. Later, while working in the US, I realised the value of great work ethic, taking pride in one’s work, and mutual respect among co-workers.

Adversity can be an opportunity in disguiseDuring the 2008 economic turbulence, while working in the education sector, channeling online learning opportunities for working adults was a turning point for all of us who went on to become co-founders of Clairvoyant. We experienced first-hand how one could wield technology to uplift communities by enabling them to upskill and reskill. With four dear colleagues as partners leading from the US, my husband and I returned to India to start the India office. Through rough terrains and green pastures, Clairvoyant expanded its global footprint, empowering enterprises across diverse industries at the confluence of data, cloud, and AI. Our team’s undaunted support and relentless hard work culminated in a significant milestone – a successful merger with EXL in 2021. It stood testimony to our collective vision of advancing human potential by creating data-driven ecosystems.

Women need encouragement
No amount of effort is ever enough to encourage more women to take up STEM. Being recognised as one of the ‘NASSCOM Indomitable Women in Tech’ was a moment that was both exhilarating and humbling for me. I was wrong in my early years to think that women do not need extra support. Over time, I realised that because of societal baggage, women do need deliberate encouragement. Some are born with great support systems, but most are not. We can take responsibility to fill the gap – all we need to do as seniors in the industry is to encourage women in STEM, create a level playing field, provide mentorship, and ensure diversity is valued. Let’s not forget, it’s also a two-way-street. Young women need to hold themselves up to high standards and not leave any stone unturned to learn, grow, create value, and lead. Once this is done, you’ll notice the support system around you grows, as a virtuous circle.

Amita Mirajkar is co-founder & CEO of Clairvoyant India