An educated mind, irrespective of its bearer, is often unstoppable. Education not only gives the mind knowledge, novel perspectives, and precious wisdom, but it also equips it to implement the knowledge gained into practical realities of life, aiding the individual to progress through the maze of the present and shape her future.
Human brains, irrespective of their bearer’s gender, always possessed their own virtual realities of mind, equal in innate curiosities, hunger for knowledge, and an infinite appetite for learning, acquiring wisdom, and continuing on their progressive march. The field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is the perfect example of this fact. Traditionally perceived wrongly to be masculine, it took resolute-minded women like
*Anandibai Joshi (1865-1887), the first Indian woman physician to graduate with a degree in Western Medicine from Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania of the United States,
*Janaki Ammal (1897 – 1984), the first Indian Padma Shri Awardee (1977) scientist and the first woman director-general of the Botanical Survey of India,
*Kamala Sohonie (1912 – 1998), the first female student of Prof. CV Raman and the first PhD holder in a scientific discipline,
*Asima Chatterjee (1917 – 2006), the first Indian woman chemist notable for her research on vinca alkaloids and anti-epileptic and anti-malarial drugs’ development,
*Rajeshwari Chatterjee (1922 – 2010), Karnataka’s first female engineer, a Master’s Degree holder from the University of Michigan (1946), and IISc’s Department of Electrical Communication Engineering’s Faculty Member who jointly set up a microwave research laboratory,
*Kalpana Chawla (1962 – 2003), the first Indian Origin Astronaut with a Double Master and PhD in Aerospace Engineering, and Space Shuttle Columbia’s (1997) mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator,
*Dr Aditi Pant (1943 to present), Indian Geology and Oceanography study’s 1983 expedition’s first Indian woman to visit Antarctica,
and numerous more to break through immense barriers, in whose league and legacy is advancing Saumya Singh, the Software Engineer, Educator and Influencer at Red Hat.
The Child Prodigy
Saumya was a bookworm from the childhood. Calling her a child prodigy won’t be an exaggeration. She also got 1st Rank in all the exams and was a Gold Medalist. When you are good in Math and Physics, Indian Society starts seeing a successful and rich Software Engineer in you. The same happened to her.
Saumya didn’t realize when she became so passionate about Coding, Developing Mobile Apps, Teaching, and Creating Content. “I love all of this, all of Technology and Personal Branding,” she says. She has explored many domains while in university, so she clearly understood her passion at the right time. She adds, “My passion for tech and teaching makes me love this profession.”
Moreover, Saumya wants others to achieve the same great heights. Thus, she guides and helps people monetize their presence on the internet. Personal Brand can be leveraged to generate multiple sources of income. The secret is to start at the right time and with the right guidance.
The Lioness of Engineering
Saumya has emerged as one of the world’s best women engineers. Sharing the guiding philosophy that propelled her unstoppable success, she says that in the realm of engineering, where challenges are constant and innovation is the key, the guiding philosophy that drove her success is a combination of passion, perseverance, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
“My philosophy as a successful woman engineer is grounded in passion, perseverance, continuous learning, collaborative innovation, and a deep commitment to making a positive impact.” The engineering landscape is vast and ever-changing, but with the right mindset, every challenge becomes an opportunity for growth and achievement.
The entrepreneurial landscape is continually evolving. To ensure that her initiatives remain adaptable and ahead of industry trends, providing innovative solutions to her clients is Saumya’s priority. She believes that the Internet is about trends shifting and algorithms changing. If you don’t adapt, you sink. In a world full of voices, cutting through the noise and making yours distinct sometimes gets exhausting. “But I think if you keep yourself up to date with the latest news and put in consistent efforts, achieving success is not even so tough.”
The Queen of Quintessential Quantum
Saumya’s leadership style is often recognized as an inspirational force behind her achievements. Highlighting her approach to leadership and team building, she explains that leadership qualities are needed not only for a successful team but for individuals as well. “To push myself to get work done, I have to behave like a leader to myself as well. It sounds unbelievable, but it works best for me. I emphasize the importance of having a compelling vision that inspires me and the entire team.” A shared vision creates a sense of purpose and direction, aligning everyone towards common goals. Clear and consistent communication is key in ensuring that every team member understands their role in contributing to this vision.
The essence of success in modern times lies in bringing innovation and advancements by disrupting norms. Saumya says that keeping up with new ideas and what people want is significant for success, leading her enterprise to strike a balance between advancing trends and user demands. “It’s like trying to stay on the cool side of technology while ensuring we’re building things that our users need.”
She pays attention to what’s happening in the tech world – new gadgets, software, and ideas. “Networking with fellow industry experts helps us spot the latest trends and decide which ones might be useful.”
But it’s not just about following trends. Saumya really cares about what her company’s users want. “I ask them questions, read their feedback, and examine how they use our stuff. This helps us figure out what problems they’re facing and what improvements they’d like to see.”
In a nutshell, she balances keeping up with what’s new and exciting in tech by making sure she’s building things that her users find useful and easy to use. It’s about listening, learning, and working together to make her firm’s products better all the time. “If I make an app not needed in the market, that doesn’t make sense, right?” So, it is all about users and their needs.
The Mistress of the Digital Age
Saumya has achieved remarkable success. She highlights it through a transformative initiative in her career: “The initiatives of the early days that gave the confidence to keep going despite slow progress hold a special space in my heart.”
During COVID-19, when CamScanner was banned in India, Saumya and her friend developed an app similar to CamScaner, and it gained much popularity. “Since then, I have not looked back.” It is all about finding the right time to launch the right product.
In the realm of entrepreneurship, technology plays a pivotal role in enhancing efficiency. Saumya, too, believes that leveraging technology isn’t just a choice; it’s necessary to stay ahead in today’s digital age. In the world of business, technology is a game-changer when it comes to making things work better.
Ensuring Her Team Remains Smarter
First, she ensures they use the latest and greatest tools in their everyday operations. Whether it’s project management software, communication platforms, or cutting-edge development tools, staying up-to-date helps her and her team work smarter and more efficiently.
“Automation is a big part of our strategy.” She identifies repetitive tasks that can be done faster and with fewer machine errors. This saves time and allows her and her team to focus on more creative and complex aspects of their work.
“Innovation is in our DNA. We actively explore emerging technologies to see how they can give us an edge.” Whether it’s machine learning, blockchain, or any other breakthrough, Saumya and her team are curious and ready to adapt if they can improve what they offer.
“Continuous learning is part of our culture.” Technology evolves rapidly, and she encourages her team to stay on top of industry trends through training, workshops, and educational resources. “This keeps us nimble and ready for whatever comes next.”
“In short, we embrace technology as a core part of our strategy.” By staying tech-savvy, automating routine tasks, harnessing the power of data, fostering innovation, prioritizing security, promoting collaboration, and nurturing a culture of continuous learning, they optimise their services and position the company as leaders in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
Conquering the Storms
The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped industries globally. When asked how she navigated these unprecedented times and adapted her strategies to ensure business continuity, Saumya recalls that the times presented unprecedented challenges for industries worldwide, and navigating through them required resilience, adaptability, and strategic thinking.
“One of the first steps we took was to prioritize the safety and well-being of all. We swiftly transitioned to remote work, leveraging technology to ensure seamless communication and collaboration despite physical distance. This move prioritized the teams’ health and demonstrated our commitment to maintaining business continuity.”
She furthers that adapting their strategies to the changing landscape became crucial. “We revisited our plans, identifying areas that needed adjustment in light of the pandemic’s impact.” This involved assessing market demands, revising timelines, and, where necessary, reallocating resources to meet the evolving needs of their clients and users.
In the face of economic uncertainty, they focused on financial stability. This included revisiting budgets, optimizing expenditures, and exploring new revenue streams. By making informed financial decisions, they aimed to secure the long-term sustainability of their business.
The pandemic underscored the importance of innovation. They accelerated digital transformation initiatives, recognizing that technology could be pivotal in addressing new challenges. This involved the development of digital solutions, online collaboration tools, and enhancements to their existing products to better serve their users’ changing needs.
Furthermore, they acknowledged the broader impact of the pandemic on their communities. “We initiated social responsibility programs, contributing to relief efforts and supporting causes that aligned with our values,” says Saumya, adding that this not only reinforced their commitment to corporate social responsibility but also contributed to the collective efforts to overcome the challenges brought about by the pandemic.
Techno-Pragmatism of the Spirited Leadership
Saumya agrees that in today’s business landscape, the digital realm is no longer an option but a necessity. Recognizing the significance of digital transformation, constant consumer engagement, and virtual user experience is integral to staying relevant and competitive.
First and foremost, she ensures they embrace digital transformation as a fundamental part of their business strategy. This involves adopting the latest technologies to streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and deliver innovative solutions. Whether leveraging cloud computing, implementing automation or incorporating data analytics, Saumya ensures that their technology stack aligns with the evolving needs of the digital age.
“Virtual user experience is a key focus in our service offerings. We invest in creating intuitive and seamless digital interfaces that enhance user satisfaction.” This includes user-friendly design, responsive websites, and applications optimized for various devices.
Additionally, Saumya and her team explore emerging technologies like augmented reality to elevate the user experience to new heights.
Fostering a Future of Feminine Force
Divulging her plans, she says, “As I look towards the future, my vision for my career is deeply rooted in fostering positive change, particularly within the global landscape of women’s entrepreneurial leadership. I am committed to significantly empowering and inspiring women to take on leadership roles in the technology and business sectors.
I aspire to continue breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes that may hinder women’s progress in these fields. I want to create opportunities for mentorship and networking to support aspiring women leaders, providing them with the guidance and resources needed to navigate their careers successfully.
I aim to amplify the visibility of women in technology and leadership through various platforms, leveraging my influence to highlight their achievements and contributions. By sharing success stories, I aim to inspire the next generation of women to pursue their passions fearlessly and envision leadership roles for themselves.
Education is a key pillar of my vision. I aspire to contribute to programs and initiatives encouraging everyone to pursue STEM careers (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Promoting education and skill development can pave the way for more women to enter and excel in traditionally male-dominated fields.”
Through mentorship, advocacy, education, and collaboration, Saumya aspires to leave a lasting impact.
Women World India congratulates Saumya Singh for being at the top of the Unstoppable Global Women Leaders list and wishes her all the best in all her future endeavours.
