Episode Details

In this deeply personal and inspiring episode of Software People Stories, Gayatri speaks with Dr. Vaijayanthi Srinivasaraghavan (Viji) — a seasoned technology leader, Senior Director at UPS, and a resilient voice for women navigating complex careers and life transitions.

From learning C++ through shared manuals in the early 90s to leading global logistics technology at massive scale, Viji shares a journey shaped by grit, reinvention, and purpose. The conversation explores her early career struggles, health challenges, and defining leadership moments — including navigating motherhood, rebuilding her career, and evolving across roles at IBM before helping build UPS’s Global Capability Center in Chennai.

Viji reflects on how technology, AI, and analytics are transforming supply chain ecosystems while emphasizing that leadership today requires curiosity, empathy, and continuous learning. More than a career story, this episode becomes a powerful reflection on resilience — rewriting oneself after setbacks, embracing change without guilt, and building ecosystems that help women thrive.

Recorded as part of the Women’s Day special series, this conversation blends technology, humanity, and lived experience — reminding listeners that growth is rarely linear, but always meaningful.

Key Highlights from the Conversation

• Early career beginnings as an electrical engineer learning software development in the 90s.
• Overcoming autoimmune health challenges and redefining career paths.
• Transformational leadership lessons from early mentors and global work experiences.
• Career evolution through startups, IBM’s long tenure, and transition to UPS.
• Building and scaling a Global Capability Center with a startup mindset.
• The role of AI, analytics, and logistics technology in moving millions of packages daily.
• Continuous learning culture — embracing AI as a hands-on skill across generations.
• Personal reflections on resilience, single motherhood, cancer survival, and reinvention.
• Women’s Day message centered on self-worth, removing guilt, and prioritizing wellbeing.

Quotable Quotes

• “Belong — don’t blur. You are here because you deserve to be here.”
• “AI is here to stay. Don’t stand on the fence — start embracing it.”
• “Do not feel guilty for choosing yourself. Put the oxygen mask on first.”
• “Rewrite yourself. Life will throw curveballs — and that’s okay.”
• “Leadership is not just about technology; it’s about listening and empathy.”
• “Only if you are okay, the people around you will be okay.”

Dr. Vaijayanthi Srinivasaraghavan (Viji)

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