My Tech Idol by Sarayu Sridhar

This edition of My Tech Idol features Sarayu Sridhar, Lead Technical Architect, Digital Experience. Sarayu leads the strategy, development, and execution of digital product roadmaps for the HGS Digital team. She collaborates closely with cross-functional teams to elevate user experience and deliver industry-leading products to users. Let’s find out who inspires her when it comes to all things tech.

My Tech Idol is:

Reshma Saujani

Reshma Saujani is known for:

Being the Founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, a non-profit organization aimed at closing the gender gap in technology and changing the image of what a programmer looks like. She’s also known for her TED talk ‘Teach girls bravery, not perfection’ and her powerful commencement speech at Smith College.

My first memory of Reshma Saujani:

It was back in 2016, when she delivered a TED Talk titled ‘Teach girls bravery, not perfection’, where she advocates for a change in the way we educate and socialize girls, promoting a mindset of bravery over perfection.

Three ways Reshma Saujani has inspired me:

•Advocacy for Bravery over perfectionAlexander Graham Bell's visionary thinking and commitment to improving communication technology, which significantly changed the way people communicate, have inspired me to think beyond the status quo and envision innovative solutions.

• Challenging imposter syndrome She gave an exceptionally impactful commencement speech at Smith College, centering on the notion that imposter syndrome serves merely as a diversion preventing women from realizing their full potential. Her message holds a profound resonance in the tech realm, where over 50% of women grapple with imposter syndrome.

• Female EmpowermentReshma Saujani’s leadership in creating a platform that has empowered thousands of girls to explore careers in tech is especially inspiring to me as a female leader in tech.

One question I would ask Reshma Saujani at a dinner party and why:

“If you could get a sneak peek into the year 2050’s tech world, what’s the first thing you’d look up?” It’s possible she has the inside scoop on emergent tech that we’re not aware of yet.