WomenWise

Navigating Failure and Figuring It Out as You Go

WomenWise

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0:00 | 42:39

In this episode, Kalina Tomova, Founder of WomenWise, sits down with Shraddha Nayak, Head of Engineering, who quite literally planned her tech career at 10 years old.

Shraddha and Kalina talk about how a shy girl in an all-girls engineering college became the kind of leader who runs global teams, shapes engineering strategy, and still leads with heart, curiosity and intention. She shares honestly about the times she didn’t get leadership right, what she learned from failing in front of her team, and how she shifted from command-and-control to seeing herself as a coach.

We also get into:

  • what it really means to build a career in tech on purpose
  • how all-girls education gave her a voice and planted the first seeds of leadership
  • the difference between mentorship, coaching and sponsorship (and why all three matter for women in tech)
  • her take on diversity quotas, inclusion, and what actually helps women progress
  • how self-advocacy isn’t optional and how she’s still practising it now

If you’re a woman in tech stepping into leadership (or you manage women who are), this conversation will give you both reassurance that you’re not alone and a nudge to be a bit bolder, more intentional, and kinder to yourself on the way up.


Part of The IN Group Communities, WomenWise is a community dedicated to increasing visibility, representation, and opportunity for women across all industries.

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