Exclusive: Value system as important as support system says Sindhu Gangadharan of SAP Labs India

Sindhu Gangadharan Interview: An inspirational spotlight on her work, the goals at SAP Labs India and growing up in a country where few women have made it to lead tech giants.

"No doubt about it," says Sindhu Gangadharan on women being on the frontier for next global economic growth. "The kind of transformation across the world and particularly in India, I can only say, what you said about women. Spot on, no question about it. We come with so many different perspectives, the way we tackle things, how we go about doing things, it's all very unique. The opportunities are immense that exist out there and now with the pandemic, things have changed, people have realised the comfort and possibilities of working from anywhere. That gives a huge leap of opportunity particularly for women in terms of going out there and doing what they believe and drive the change."

World over female leadership has been lauded for its approach to the pandemic. Has it taken COVID to recognise leadership skills of women and how they breakaway from traditional man-in-the-suit skills? "Am a strong believer of the fact that each of us lead in our individual way. It doesn't depend on your designation or your area of work or your sphere of control." 

A fiercely independent leader, Sindhu is the first woman to lead SAP Labs India. She says each leader must tap their unique skills. "We have to mould those leadership skills. It's only when you know what is that target you want to get to, you kind of drive towards that. Even in my day to day roles, when I talk to people who like, say, 'hey how do I get to the next step in my career,' I ask them, 'what's stopping you?'"

For women, often the wind beneath their wings is the support system around them. The reality of children, family and other such needs in the face of our own targets and ambitions for our career - it's all out there. Sindhu's husband is also her colleague at SAP and she says finding your support system is all about getting together and solving for these needs.

On Her Husband

"It's about teamwork. I am grateful for everything he has done that we both stay true to our chosen paths and be the best parents to both our daughters. From his point of view as well, it's his strong belief system too, and having brought by a very strong mom on his side as well, who has gone out there and changed the status quo and that has also moulded him to be the person that he is. And so being such a great partner in everything we do."

Gender Roles

We ask her if the roles written for men and women need to redefined. "It happened right in your homes, in your family systems and a lot of that work needs to happen in how your families inculcate, big boys or girls, because that shines through in the later stage of your life. Yes, you can mould certain aspects of your personality as you go out there and do your own thing but there is a lot of the foundational values that are set right in the beginning in the kind of environment you grow up in. I feel it's the support system but also the value system that has contributed to what I do."

Growing Up

Sindhu Gangadharan was raised in Bangalore. From the very beginning, she wanted to be in the field of technology. She has been with SAP for her entire career with postings in Germany and India. She has two daughters and her husband too works at SAP. 

Sindhu is on the NASSCOM Executive Council and also on the board of Titan as an Independent Director.