Exclusive Trusted Magazine Q&A with Rathidevi Vijayaraghavan, Program Manager @ Capgemini
How could you describe your career path in few words?
My career path so far has been nonlinear with exciting and unique experiences. After completing my degree in BE Computer science, I started working as a Recruiter in IT industry for 2 years and pursued my MBA in Human resources. I wished to continue in HR but destiny had planned a different path for me. I accompanied my husband post marriage to Gujarat where he worked as Civil engineer in steel conglomerate. In Gujarat, one of the offers I got was from an engineering firm where I joined as project control engineer. I received rigorous training from my mentors in project management, project control processes, tools and frameworks in that organization to manage projects of different size and sectors, also I developed my skills via certifications like PMP from PMI, Scrum master from Safe, CSPO from Scrum Alliance which has helped me to drive my 15+ years project management career efficiently in different domains (IT, EPC, Manufacturing & EdTech) and swing the gears carefully when needed. Completed a course on Digital transformation -Platform strategies for success from MIT management executive education to provision my current and upcoming projects in IT industry.
What was your most Challenging experience and it has changed your Mindset?
Every project I worked has been unique and has given me new learnings. My stint at Jamnagar I managed a construction project (petrochemical plant) as the only woman computer science engineer at construction site working with stakeholders from Engineering, procurement, construction and operations from foundation of the plant to commissioning, taught me the art and science of project management. I have learnt that the science behind project management is Common sense and Patience, irrespective of your technical skills. Hence, I believe challenges we face creates opportunities to grow in right direction if you respond positively.
When you get surprised by an unusual or uncertain context, what do you think ?
As a project manager, I have learned to expect the unknowns and have been trained to think about What If and What Else questions to address the present situation with feasible
solutions. Howsoever we are prepared, Uncertainty like Covid 19 can make you let go of detailed plans and perfect solutions and embrace small and flexible plans, quick experiments to deal with uncertainty.
My outline to go through any uncertain context is
1. Move forward and have growth mindset
2. Be resilient
Based on your experience, what’s the key success factor for a female leader/ manager
From my experience I consider these are the key factors which have helped me to be what I am and where I am,
1. Knowing yourself (Self-doubt is normal accept it and move on) also learning to communicate your thoughts clearly.
2. Follow your curiosity even if it is nonlinear path, move ahead and make things happen.
3. Upskilling (learn to unlearn) and enhancing your business acumen regularly.
4. Counting on your support system (Family and friends support is non-negotiable, of course it will come with your little or lot of sacrifice)
