MY STORY
I am a Data Analytics leader, and I am on a mission to help people build successful careers in Tech. I am WOMAN in Tech, and I have worked for the biggest Tech Giants like Amazon, and Google. I come from a middle-class family in India, and my journey to the United States is the epitome of my perseverance and hard work. At Google, I help organizations meet their goals through the power of cloud computing, mentor engineers, and participate in or lead events focused on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.🤩
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THe IMMIGRANt LIFE
After completing my Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering, I took up a corporate job. I not only hated the work I was doing but was getting paid peanuts. I wanted to work in the Data Analytics domain, solve large-scale issues, and of course land my dream role in FAANG. So I decided to pursue a master’s degree to upskill myself and decided to move to the USA in 2014. After landing in the USA, I experienced culture shock, and homesickness because I lived far away from my family since being born. I went from being a carefree daughter who never paid a single bill to a “responsible” adult who pays rent, bills on time, manages an on-campus job, feeds herself, and studies as well. Can you guess what the first grade I got during my master’s? I got a B grade. The girl who was a topper all her life suddenly got a B grade in her first semester, and I was simply shattered, and heartbroken. Quitting was NOT an option because my parents had taken a huge loan to sponsor my education. So I decided to suck it up, not let one bad grade affect the energy I put into my day-to-day, and give my best every single day. The day my mantra changed to “Smile and accept the lemons your life throws at you and turn it into Lemonade”, my life changed. After getting thousands of rejections, I eventually landed an internship at Infor, and landed my first full time at Amazon (my dream company).
going from an Imposter to a BADASS
I started working as Software Engineer at Amazon for the Forecasting team. I was basically one of the people responsible for ensuring items are “In Stock” when you browse the amazon website. I was surrounded by the smartest individuals and often felt like an imposter, and felt like I did not belong in the room. I navigated toxic teammates, cutthroat deadlines, and intense on-call rotations with the help of my mentors, and my resilience. I eventually got promoted and realized the importance of speaking up, networking, and having the right mentors in your life.
I wanted to move away from coding, and Tech Sales felt like a very different domain. I decided to take a risk and change my role and field completely. I became a Solutions Architect, and it is the BEST risk I took in my life. I went from a quiet engineer confined to the desk to a confident technical expert who went and pitched products to CxOs. I worked hard on my communication skills, became a thought leader, and received the award for “Impact of the Quarter Award”. I mentored 10+ engineers and founded the affinity group for “Women @Solutions Architecture” to help women to succeed in the Solutions Architect role.
After 5 years of being at Amazon, I decided to change the company to gain experience with other technologies and different work cultures. Cloud and Data Analytics were at the heart of what I wanted to do so Google was my most obvious choice. I moved to Google cloud and now help customers build robust data platforms in the cloud.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED WITH ME SAY…
“Sonakshi has been a tremendous part of my entry into the tech world by helping me through my apprenticeship over the past year as one of my mentors. Thanks to Sonakshi, I was able to begin pursuing cloud learning topics, include her in feedback for my career growth and goals, have a complete change of LinkedIn and portfolio presence and gain perspective from someone having experience across many tech backgrounds. ”
“Sonakshi was excellent at helping a few of my clients get confident about applying to FAANG companies. They felt like it was very hard but she spoke to them and answered all the questions regarding how they can apply and succeed in BIG TECH!”
“It definitely elevated my clients’ interview preparation and boosted their confidence. Sonakshi is a gem. She is present, she is intentional and she puts her heart in mentorship meetings. Thank you Sonakshi for everything you do.”
“Sonakshi was excellent at helping a few of my clients get confident about applying to FAANG companies. They felt like it was very hard but she spoke to them and answered all the questions regarding how they can apply and succeed in BIG TECH!”
“One of the most impactful moments in our mentorship was when she encouraged me to take on a challenging opportunity (AWS Tech U) that I was initially hesitant about. Her faith in my abilities and guidance throughout the process led to a significant shift in my confidence and skill set, which has continued to benefit me in my career.
I would wholeheartedly recommend Sonakshi’s mentorship to others seeking guidance and support in their professional journeys. Her expertise, patience, and dedication to helping me grow have made a lasting impact on my career and personal development.”
2600+ folks are learning and growing their careers
