WomenIAM: Deepika Reddy – A Modern Working Woman in Tech
Welcome to our April edition of WomenIAM, where we shine a spotlight on the many incredible women working in the tech industry. This month, we are joined by Deepika Reddy, an established Technical Principal Consultant in the cybersecurity business.
Throughout this interview, Deepika demonstrates that it’s certainly possible to be a highly successful and respected working professional, and a dedicated mother, all while carving out a path for other women to succeed in the industry. She offers fellow working women some heartfelt advice on how to balance the two, as well as how you can’t always get the balance exactly right, and that’s okay.
Deepika’s successful career in tech came about for two key reasons; a genuine love for Physics and Maths in school, recalling how she ‘wanted to keep close to those subjects’, and wise words of encouragement from her mother.
‘It’s something that was nurtured within me from my mum - to always take charge and make sure you define what you want for yourself and work towards it.’
I wanted to know what a successful person like Deepika finds pride in, in terms of her work. She answers thoughtfully, ‘With every single project, there is something new to learn. It could be managing client expectations, managing teams or learning a technology or a product that you haven’t worked on before. Every project is a new learning experience in that way.’ It is obvious that the ever-changing and developing tech industry keeps Deepika and others actively learning and challenged in the best way.
‘It’s something that was nurtured within me from my mum - to always take charge and make sure you define what you want for yourself and work towards it.’
I wanted to know what a successful person like Deepika finds pride in, in terms of her work. She answers thoughtfully, ‘With every single project, there is something new to learn. It could be managing client expectations, managing teams or learning a technology or a product that you haven’t worked on before. Every project is a new learning experience in that way.’ It is obvious that the ever-changing and developing tech industry keeps Deepika and others actively learning and challenged in the best way.
Deepika goes on to credit all the pioneers in the tech industry for where she is today, and more specifically – ‘all the women that have broken the glass ceiling. The ones that now take up roles that were not originally occupied by women.’
Yet, nothing worth having comes easy, and Deepika’s professional and personal success is a testament to her resilience. She recounts her early years in motherhood as a point of extreme growth, ‘Things got slightly difficult’ recalls Deepika. ‘I have two children, aged six, and almost two. Somewhere along the way it became difficult to manage personal priorities with work priorities.’
Now she uses hindsight as a gift, and Deepika offers some advice to any women going through that same imbalance – ‘To the women going through that journey right now – it’s easy to get overwhelmed with it all – keep doing what you are doing. It’s only going to get better - you are mastering a new kind of leadership. Very soon you will see the fruits of all the hard work both at home and at work.’
When asked how she found and continues to find that balance between work life and personal life, Deepika is quick to spotlight her organisation for creating an environment where working mothers can not only exist but thrive. ‘I would say the organisation that I’m working in plays a huge part in being able to balance the two. Supportive leadership, respecting boundaries, measuring success by impact and results and not by hours spent at a desk, as well as the hybrid working model helps me keep that balance.’
It’s great to see organisations alongside CyberIAM, championing flexibility and creating supportive spaces to empower working mothers. This allows women like Deepika to thrive in both their careers and their family life – because no one should have to choose between the two.
When asked how she found and continues to find that balance between work life and personal life, Deepika is quick to spotlight her organisation for creating an environment where working mothers can not only exist but thrive. ‘I would say the organisation that I’m working in plays a huge part in being able to balance the two. Supportive leadership, respecting boundaries, measuring success by impact and results and not by hours spent at a desk, as well as the hybrid working model helps me keep that balance.’
It’s great to see organisations alongside CyberIAM, championing flexibility and creating supportive spaces to empower working mothers. This allows women like Deepika to thrive in both their careers and their family life – because no one should have to choose between the two.
There is a clear level of groundedness that I admire in Deepika when talking about how she spends her free time away from technical work and responsibilities. Deepika’s wide range of hobbies that include travelling, keeping fit with cycling, and cooking new cuisine, aren’t just about personal enjoyment, they’re also deeply connected to her journey as a mother. She finds inspiration through her children, and the ability to see the world through their eyes.
‘Right now, I’m learning from the hobbies that my kids are taking, for example I’ve developed an interest in musical instruments - my oldest is going to guitar classes, so in the process of helping him come up to speed, there are lots of things that I have been learning and trying on the guitar.’
Deepika perfectly articulates and reflects on embracing an inner-child mentality through choosing hobbies as an adult – and the message is clear - growth, learning and, somewhat most importantly – fun, shouldn’t have to end in adulthood. Evolving and shifting your interests is all part of the journey, as Deepika reassures nicely, ‘It's important to not put pressure on yourself to find one hobby and stick to it.’
When we talk about role models, we often think of iconic figures. Yet, for Deepika, it’s not necessarily the famous faces she looks up to, but the familiar ones, and makes sure not to overlook the influence of the men who supported her journey. ‘A lot of inspiration can be taken from my past male and female managers, as both have been directly responsible for the position I am in today.’ She goes on to state that ‘The encouragement and knowledge that I have gained is due to them.’
Deepika reflects on the lessons she takes from all her female peers – navigating challenging assignments or circumstances with such grace, setting an incredible example for everyone around them.
‘The women I see and work with every day who are flourishing and occupying senior leadership roles with ease are an inspiration to me. They’ve just shown that it is possible and all it takes is a little bit of perseverance and hard work.’
She finishes by saying ‘it’s all the women that I come across on a daily basis – inspiration can be taken from them all. We are not only breaking barriers but continue to raise the bar.’
One of the most powerful things we can do as women in our careers is surround ourselves with people who are open to discovering new ways of working – people who are supportive and eager to grow alongside you. This naturally becomes even more important when you’re a woman in an industry like tech or cybersecurity, where we still don’t see enough women in senior roles.
‘That’s something I’d really like to see change over the next 5-10 years. I’d like to see the future women have more.’ Her response to how she would encourage the women of today to support each other and continue growing for the people who come after, is ‘find a mentor, learn from other people in a similar line of work, attend events and use the endless access we have to the internet to your advantage.’
Deepika is a prime example of a woman who supports other women, knowing the importance in doing so in order for us all to flourish. Thank you, Deepika, for inspiring working mothers to not give up, and to continue to occupy space in the professional world.
Come back next month for May’s edition of WomenIAM, where I will be interviewing Michele Jackson, established People Director, on her leadership style, her incredible experience in dealing with big clients, and the ‘direct’ communication style, paired with endless empathy that makes her a successful figurehead.
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