Hello, everyone. Thank you for joining us from across the globe today, and thank you, women in technology, for bringing us all together.My name is Manju Abraham, and I have the wonderful and accomplished Gita Srita with me today. She just had some technical difficulties while she is traveling, so she'll be back soon. So Arthur Brooks, he often writes about happiness at work through two ideas. One is earned success and service to others. And in his framing, work becomes meaningful when our effort creates real value and when we feel that our work helps someone else. Work can be a source of joy when it gives us purpose, growth, relationships, contribution, and the chance to build something that matters.

The best work is a place where we learn who we are, what we can carry, and how we can help others rise. That's such a practical way to think about impact and joy, and that's our topic today. As women in technology, we work hard. We build credibility. We earn trust. We take on larger teams and harder problems and bigger platforms, more complex decisions. We learn to carry pressure with grace. Yes. Career milestones definitely matter because they reflect our ambition, the discipline that we applied, sacrifices made, and years of becoming excellent at what we do. But impact is larger than achievement. It's not only the title, the promotion, the scope, or achievement that you've had. It is what changes we are able to make because we are there, helping someone grow. A team gains confidence.

A system becomes more fair, and someone younger sees a path because we helped make one visible. And joy, that's a steadier feeling that our work, the values that we have, our relationships and contribution, they're all aligned. And today, Geeta and I are gonna explore how to live with purpose beyond these milestones that we've always been focusing on and to move through life and leadership transitions and to build networks and communities that give us the clarity, the courage, opportunity, and meaning in this wonderful life.

For many of us, work has brought joy, not only because we achieved something, but because we were useful. We built something. We helped someone grow. We solved a hard problem with people we trusted. That's the conversation today. So how we build networks that open up opportunities and create communities that sustain us, that is a key thing as well. So and also how we design a life where impact and joy are not postponed until someday, but practice now. I'm telling you, at our age, when we step back, if we see that that's the most important. Geeta, I'm so glad to have this conversation with you. You're traveling, but you have still made time to come and talk to us here. Thank you for joining from your hotel room.

Technical diff difficulties aside, I'm so happy to see you here. Geeta, you know, would you introduce us a little oh, yeah. Introduce you to us a little bit.

Yes. Thank you, Manju. It's such a pleasure to, you know, talk to you all today, and, Manju has framed that topic so well. Right? A quick introduction about myself. I'm a operating partner in How Women Invest and How Women Invest invests solely in female founded startups. And, you know, how did I get here? Right? So I wanted to share with you my career. So I started in the corporate world. I was a stay at home mom for a few years. And then at age 56, I started my InsureTech from Darmika, and it was acquired before my sixtieth birthday, by Applied Systems, a large insurance technology vendor. And the reason I'm telling you the age is because it's so important. Don't let age define you because a lot of times, you know, LinkedIn has so much stuff about women and age.

And to me, you know, age is just a number. You know, you can do what you wanna do when you set up. And I think that's the conversation you're gonna have today. So I'm a world traveler now, adviser, mentor, living a life of joy, and, we will share some of our journey with you, Manju, and I'll share that. And, hopefully, you'll take away, some good, actionable items.

And, you know, knowing Geeta, she set such intentional goals and, actively works towards them. So to tell you a little bit about myself, I have spent my career in engineering leadership, building and scaling global teams, leading through this complexity and transformation and change across companies like Hewlett Packard Enterprise, NetApp, Delphix, and HP. And as a VP of engineering, I've had the privilege of leading large organizations, mentoring leaders, and helping people find courage in moments when they were not yet sure of their own strength. I've been through that as well. And at this stage in my career, I'm also enjoying my travel, learning more about myself. Still, there again, age doesn't stop us from doing that. Right? And over time, I've come to believe that leadership is not only about the systems we build, the products we ship, or the business outcomes that we deliver.

Those matter deeply. But leadership also asks a more human question. Did people grow under our leadership? Did they feel seen? Did they become more capable, more confident, and more willing to take the next step? Right? That's the kind of impact that turns more, work into legacy, and that's the way I want to live. And I can see how Geeta is already living that life. So, you know, your career journey of building yourself up with intention beautifully reflects the themes we are discussing today, Geeta. So tell us a bit more about it. What are the chapters of your journey that shaped how you think about impact and joy today?

Yeah. Yeah, Manju. Thank you for that. Yeah. It's really you know, I started, like, you know, in the corporate America, private corporate ladder, and I was again, I'm gonna tell my age. I was 34. I was an assistant vice president, and I had a newborn and an 18 old. And I decided out of the blue that I wanted to be a stay at home mom. And if you had told the twenty twenty four year old year old, Geeta, that I would have done that, I would laugh you off. But that's what I wanted to do, and that's what I did. Right?

And five years later, when I was ready to go back to the workforce, the only job I could get was as a supervisor. And I was really very angry with myself. Right? I ruined my career and here I was, you know, stepping down so many, you know, so many steps down the corporate ladder. And I was very disappointed in myself, but that lasted for about a month. And I said, this is so unproductive, Deepa. So I had to talk to myself and I said, this is really very unproductive. You know, I'm getting anywhere. So why don't you just do this job for six months without any complaints? Just take it. And then after six months, reevaluate your positions.

If you don't like it, you can quit. But six months, just do it. And then after six months, I realized I really like the company, and I said, okay. I have to be a VP in five years. That's the goal I set for myself. And I did accomplish that. I made it. And Partner Investments is one of the largest financial institutions. And I'll tell you one of the important things here is like because I was getting a couple of promotions, a promotion every year, my salary was not keeping pace to what I thought it should be. So those days, you know, this is, twenty five years ago almost, salary.com was relatively new. So I printed out my title, my position of salary, from, what my salary should be.

I printed that out in draft and then my accomplishments, and I took it to my boss. And and you you have to understand your corporate cycle, where it is. So you cannot wait until, you know, the promotion they're announced to go. So you have to be couple of months ahead. I knew my company cycle, so I went two months before my promotion, and I presented that to my boss. And I said, these are my accomplishments. I have to get promoted this year and my salary is very low. You really you can see that. And he just laughed. He just I still remember. And he's like, I get it, Geeta. Yes, that's fair. So my question, you know, suggestion to all of you women is, you know, we are saying even now women are getting 85% 85¢ to a dollar a man mix.

We should not be there. Right? I mean, this is you go ask Claude what your average salary should be and why you should be before. So I think I would one takeaway I would like all of you all to have is to take that and make make sure you get I mean, imagine the joy you feel when you are when you feel that you're rewarded for in the work you're doing.

Recognize. Commerce business.

Right? Would you? Yeah. Yeah. Isn't that important to be compensated fairly for the work you do? So I think that's really my biggest thing was, you know, just making sure that I was getting what I wanted to do. And then I'm doing that for my team also. Right? So Yeah. It's not always Being intentional. You that you're looking at your team. Right?

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Being very intentional, setting those goals and working towards it, and that's what I I can see in what you do. In the same here in my career growth also, but I can't say that I was that intentional. Something's happened by accident, but then staying focused on where can I make a difference? Right? That part of it also helps quite a bit. And, you know, many of us begin our careers focused on visible milestones like this, like promotions, salary, title. We are learning how to ask for those and then also about influence and credibility. At some point Mhmm. The question often shifts from how far can I go to what difference can I make also?

And I can see you've done that in some of the, the hints that you were giving already. And so how do you think women can live a life of impact, joy, and purpose beyond the career milestones also?

Right. I mean, see, there's just so many different opportunities. So to for you to get to a certain level, it is about you, and then after that, it's about your team and your company. Right? So you have to bring everybody into the picture. And so you can mentor younger women. So let's say you're on a project with multidisciplinary project. So you go to the, you know, someone who helped you with the project. You go to their boss and say this person did an incredible job. Right? Just writing that or going and talking to them now, not only are you gaining visibility for yourself with somebody else. Right? Now that person is probably gonna go talk to your boss about you. Right? So that you're building the circular ecosystem where you are talking to other people.

HR is always a good ally. So, you know, you talk to them. You talk to different groups of people. I mean, if they're I know ERGs are kind of not the thing these days, but if they are, get involved. But there's initiatives every company has. Like, I'm sure everybody has AI initiatives. Volunteer for that. You know, put yourself out there and support other people. In that way, you're you're growing and you're growing other people and your company. Right? Always support other women.

Just stepping up to take that initiative. Right? Yeah. No. I'm you know, taking that initiative, especially you mentioned the AI era. There is a need for, you know, women to step in and to lead that. It is a transformative thing, and what we can do is take a bring in the human aspect of it along with the technology, to make a difference as well. And everything that you indicate, the practicality of that is what is most important. You know? And one mistake we make is in a thinking, that impact has to be large to be legitimate. But inside organizations, impact is often very specific, like, giving someone an opportunity or providing them a stretch assignment.

Even in if you are the one looking for it, seeking that stretch assignment, right, and giving early feedback, to help, others grow and giving the support when the those capable women need encouragement when they don't feel that they belong. And, of course, trying to be a sponsor for senior women here, that's something that will change many people's lives. You may not understand it. Seen or unseen, you are making an impact in being that role model. And, you know, for women in tech, these details do matter, and careers are shaped in these moments, and that is also where joy comes in. There is a particular kind of joy in seeing someone else walk through a door and knowing you helped, keep it open for them. So to do it because it is the right thing to do as well. Right?

And your reentry story, that is very powerful because many women know some version of that experience. There's a career break. Or at this stage, there are so many layoffs that's happening. You know, remember, that's just the situation you are in now. It's just that's not about you, frankly. Right? Or it could be a caregiving chapter like your example, or it could be a restart that you want to do. Right? And a a moment where the outside world kind of reads your path as a step back even though you know the chapter has value. Even if you are in that kind of a break right now, when you step back later, you'll see that is temporary. You find your value. You take the time to get to that. Right? So you came back after five years at home with your daughters Yeah. At a a level that felt humbling.

Then you rebuilt and rose to VP in just five years' time. What helped you move from disappointment to action? And what tools or mindset helped you rebuild that momentum?

Yeah. I think it's all the stories we tell ourselves. Right? It is the we if we think that we are very confident, then we are gonna exhibit that. And if you're on this whole thing of about I'm negative. Like, I was going in initially. Right? This whole thing is I made a mistake. This is wrong. And then that reframing, you know, that reframing of what you're thinking about and being confident and intentional about that. I think those are the takeaways I want people to take. Right? Don't be negative. All these glasses look at glasses half full. Right? Yeah. And we

Accepting the reality of that situation.

Really not good. Right? Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. It happened. Right? I mean, it happens to you. Right? Sometimes things are I mean, I it was a choice I made, but others, it could you know, maybe there's other things where you need to be home. Right? That's okay. I mean, what can you do? I mean, this is life. And then now, you know, you have such a long time to live. Like, at 56, I can start startup. I mean, so age doesn't mean anything. At 65, you could still be doing something new. Right? So I think you have to take those moments, accept them. Right, Manju? What do

you think about that? Acceptance gives the power. On. Right? Yeah. It gives the power to heal and then to rebuild as well. So grab that power. I I you know, accept what your situation you are in, and remember that it is situation and just temporary. Right? Don't accept the world's integration of our ceiling. Right? Many a time, it's our family, our spouse, even a boss, or some inner voice that keeps telling you that. Instead, remember your strengths, the accomplishments that you have had because you've lived it. You tend to forget it when you are in such a, you know, transitional state or

so. Totally.

I wanted you had some wonderful, inputs on networking and community. Right? So let's talk about that a bit because your story has both networks building and then the community that you have built as well. What did those pivots you did teach you about Yeah. Building building that before you needed them? And also about finding the community that feels meaningful. Tell us more.

Yeah. And I think as women, generally, we don't attend a lot of the networking events because we're so busy with life. Right? We have family, we have kids. So but I I did do as much as I could. I did attend as many networking events. So I had a decent I wouldn't say an extraordinary. I had a decent corporate network. And when I was at Liberty Mutual, I kind of felt that I had hit the glass ceiling. Right? And I was like, okay, I'm not going anywhere because I need my promotion every two years. I'm looking for the new role. Nothing was happening. And then I'm talking to a lot of different people. Right? I'm attending now. I'm more aggressive about it, attending all these meetings, trying to figure out, okay, what what do I wanna do? What should my next chapter look like?

And it was an offhand conversation with this woman from Deloitte who said, Geeta, you'd make a really good COO. You should look at start ups because you've done all these different things. You have such a good operational background. And that was kind of an eye opener. Until then, I never thought of startups. For me, it was all day it's about climbing the corporate ladder. And then that was kind of eye opener. And that I mean, that is didn't make You didn't see me. Make this sort of happen, but it made

my Yeah.

My mind. I could start it turning. Right? My mind is turning. Now what do I do? And then now getting into the startup, that's a whole different now I have to build a whole new community. So this is where I was you know, you need to go and attend all these meetings. The first year, I was like, you know, the even maybe not the first year, the first few months, I was attending every meeting. I was like, 25 meetings. And then I started kind of tabulating. I'm like, what is the goal of this meeting? Am I gonna get this? Who are the attendees? Check them off. And maybe 25 meetings, I will have two good ideas, two good takeaways. Right? So you have to I'm an extrovert, but it was still not easy.

Just going to these meetings and putting yourself, and especially there are not too many women. You get surrounded by a sea of men, and then you're going there. And you're talking and over and over again, you know, it's it's not easy, let me tell you. But you gotta do that. The rewards are there if you stick with it is what I'm saying. Right?

So And when when you mention when you time we think Right? Yeah. Many time we think that when you go to, these events or every time you have to come back with some great revelation or a connection that immediately gets you a job, that is never really the case. So that persistence is the main point that you're making. Because we are running out of time, I wanted to go into, you know, ask you ask you and to kinda share my own thoughts around some practical action that, our women who are in this room can take away. You know, they want to have impact and joy, but this, stretched in by the career pressure, caregiving, transitions, or uncertainty. Right? What are two things, people can do in the next, thirty days or so? Let's talk about that.

Let's speak with Joy. I think I want every woman there here to look at their salary. Make sure that you're fairly compensated. I think that is really something we need to do out for ourselves. And then set goals and intentional goals of what you want to be. And intentional and kind of realistic. Right? What can you accomplish short term and long term? You always need to have, like, okay. Six months, I can do this. Long term, this is where I need to be. Set goals. And once you have the goals, you need to work towards them. So it's points about, okay, this is the things I need to do to work towards them to hit my goals.

Yeah.

Mind you, what your what are your what are your thoughts? What are your, takeaways?

Yeah. I was, in that you taking care of yourself and setting those goals and working towards it. That's important. I also want us to kind of, take the time to reflect, not just about what we are responsible for, but also what are the things that I truly care about. Right? So you have to start identifying that, and as we get older, it gets clearer also. And if impact matters, you know, it has to show up in your calendar too. So are you mentoring? Are you building community? Are you providing sponsorship? Are you learning? Are you reflecting? Right? So, you know, good intentions won't be enough. You have to set that in your calendar. And, also ask yourself, who became a little strong because of my presence and, because I helped them, gave them the clarity, the examples that you gave earlier as well.

Right? That is where you find joy, that is more becomes durable. Yeah. So thank you so much.

That, Manju. Right? You're doing so much of that. You're doing a lot of mentoring. Manju is great at that. You've been doing so much. It's been such a pleasure having this conversation with you, Manju. A pleasure.

Thank you, Geeta. And it's such a this conversation, and meeting you, it's been a strong reminder that impact and joy are not found in one perfect chapter. They are built across many chapters of our life. And, it's about, you know, earlier about proving ourselves and about then rebuilding also. Some are about opening doors or about finding the community where our experiences become service. So for all of you women in tech, my hope is that we keep both forms of ambition alive. The ambition to be excellent at work and the ambition to leave people, teams, systems, and communities better than we found them. That is a life of impact. And when that contribution is aligned with who we are, that is a life of joy.