Nithya Subramanian is a Global Leader in Data & Analytics, who comes with 21 years of rich industry experience. She has enabled business excellence for organizations through analytics & digital transformation to drive operational efficiencies, cost optimization, expansion of revenue streams and improved customer satisfaction. She has successfully executed progressive strategies towards building scalable & sustainable AI & Analytics solutions for empowering business teams with data driven decisions and has propagated data literacy, data culture and open innovation across organizations.
Recently, in an exclusive interview with Digital First Magazine, Nithya shared her professional trajectory, insights on diversity and inclusion in tech, the secret mantra behind her success, future plans, words of wisdom, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
Hi Nithya. Can you share your professional journey and what sparked your passion for your field?
I’ve always been driven by a deep curiosity about how technology can transform businesses and impact people’s lives. My journey began with a strong foundation in engineering, which gave me the technical skills and problem-solving mindset needed to navigate the complex landscape of enterprise systems, data and analytics. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working across various industries, where I honed my expertise in digital transformation, process engineering, data-driven decision-making, strategic leadership, and innovation.
What truly sparked my passion was witnessing firsthand how Data and AI can unlock new possibilities and smarter business strategies — whether it’s towards improving operational efficiency, enhancing revenue growth, increasing brand value or driving customer delight. This realization fueled my commitment to staying at the cutting edge of my field, continuously learning, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
Today, I’m passionate about leading teams and projects that harness the power of technology to create tangible value for our business and our customers. The ever-evolving nature of this field keeps me inspired and excited about the future.
What are the most rewarding parts of your job, and why?
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is the ability to make a tangible impact through digital transformation and data-driven insights. It’s incredibly satisfying to see how data and technology can transform complex challenges into actionable strategies that drive business growth and innovation to shape the future of my organization and the industry at large.
Another fulfilling part of my role is leading and mentoring teams. Watching team members grow, develop new skills, and achieve their goals is immensely gratifying. Collaboration and learning from each other are key to our success, and I find great joy in fostering an environment where everyone can thrive.
Lastly, the continuous learning and innovation in this field keeps me engaged and motivated. The challenges are always evolving, and so are the solutions. Being at the forefront of this dynamic landscape, exploring new technologies, and new possibilities make my job not just a career, but a passion.
How do you see AI evolving in the next 3-5 years, and what emerging trends or technologies are you most excited about?
Over the next 3-5 years, AI will become increasingly embedded in our daily lives and business operations, driving deeper automation and enhancing decision-making processes. One of the most exciting developments will be the evolution of generative AI, which has the potential to transform content creation, product design, and even complex problem-solving by generating new ideas and solutions that were previously unimaginable in areas like Environment, Green Energy, Agriculture, Public Health & Safety, Pharma, Cybersecurity, Space Tech etc.
I’m also enthusiastic about the advancements in AI-driven personalization. As AI becomes more sophisticated, businesses will be able to offer hyper-personalized experiences at scale, tailoring products, services, and interactions to individual customer needs in ways that significantly boost engagement and loyalty. This would revolutionize industries like Retail & E-Comm, Healthcare, Telecom, Media & Entertainment, Education, Insurance etc.
Another crucial trend will be the growing emphasis on ethical AI. As AI technologies become more powerful and pervasive, ensuring they are developed and used responsibly will be paramount. We’ll likely see the emergence of new frameworks and regulations focused on transparency, fairness, and the societal impact of AI, which will guide its deployment in a way that benefits everyone.
Overall, the next few years will be pivotal for AI, with advancements that could reshape industries, enhance customer experiences, and address some of the most pressing challenges in technology and society.
What skills and expertise do you believe are essential for AI professionals to develop in the next 2-3 years, and how are you investing in talent development within your organization?
Over the next 2-3 years, AI professionals need to focus on developing both technical and soft skills. Critical technical skills include deep learning, natural language processing, image, audio & video processing, and machine learning, with a strong emphasis on scalable and ethical AI. Additionally, proficiency in cloud computing, data engineering, data science, MLOps, big data, edge computing, infra and security are becoming increasingly vital.
The proliferation of Generative AI brings a bag of associated skills to be learnt and honed on the application side including advanced AI algorithms & frameworks, model training, prompt engineering, fine tuning, synthetic data generation, storage & compute optimization, cybersecurity, LLMOps etc..
On the soft skills side, critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication are crucial, especially when working across different functions. Understanding AI ethics and its societal impact will also be essential.
To support talent development, our organization invests in continuous learning through advanced training programs and certifications. We also promote a culture of innovation and collaboration, with mentorship programs and cross-functional projects to develop well-rounded professionals capable of leading AI initiatives ethically and effectively.
How do you stay current with emerging trends and technologies in data and analytics, such as AI, machine learning, and cloud computing?
To stay current with emerging trends and technologies in data and analytics, I prioritize continuous learning and active engagement with the tech community. I regularly participate in industry conferences, webinars, and workshops to gain insights from experts and stay updated on the latest advancements. I also follow leading publications, blogs, and research papers to keep abreast of new developments in AI, machine learning, and cloud computing.
Networking is another key aspect—I connect with peers and thought leaders through professional groups and online forums to exchange ideas and discuss innovations. Additionally, I invest time in hands-on experimentation, applying new tools and techniques in real-world projects to deepen my understanding.
Within my organization, I encourage a culture of learning by promoting knowledge-sharing sessions and supporting ongoing education for my team. This approach ensures that we remain at the forefront of the rapidly evolving data and analytics landscape.
What are your thoughts on diversity and inclusion? How important is it to have authentic conversations with leaders, professionals, and changemakers to create more acceptance across the globe?
Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to creating a thriving, innovative, and equitable workplace and society. Embracing diverse perspectives and backgrounds fosters creativity and drives better decision-making, as it brings a variety of viewpoints and experiences to the table.
Authentic conversations with leaders, professionals, and changemakers are crucial in advancing these values. Open and honest dialogues help to address biases, challenge stereotypes, and build a culture of mutual respect and understanding. They also play a key role in developing inclusive practices and policies that promote acceptance and equal opportunities for everyone.
By engaging in these conversations, we can better understand and address the challenges faced by different groups, and work collaboratively towards solutions that enhance inclusivity on a global scale. This approach not only supports a more equitable environment but also enriches our collective potential to drive positive change.
You were recently recognized as one of the Top AI Leaders of 2024. Our readers would love to know the secret mantra behind your success.
The key to my success lies in a combination of continuous learning, adaptability, and a strong focus on collaboration.
Staying at the forefront of AI requires a commitment to lifelong learning and keeping up with emerging trends and technologies. I prioritize staying informed through industry research, networking with experts, and applying new knowledge to real-world challenges.
Adaptability is also crucial. The AI landscape is ever evolving and being flexible and open to change allows me to leverage new opportunities and overcome obstacles effectively.
Finally, collaboration is central to driving innovation. Building strong teams, fostering open communication, and working closely with diverse stakeholders helps to generate creative solutions and achieve impactful results.
By integrating these elements—ongoing education, adaptability, and collaboration—I’ve been able to navigate the complexities of AI and lead successful initiatives in this dynamic field.
What’s a leadership lesson that you’ve learnt that’s unique to being a female leader?
One unique leadership lesson I’ve learned is the importance of embracing and leveraging empathy. As a female leader, I’ve found that empathy is not just a personal strength but a powerful leadership tool. It allows me to connect deeply with my team, understand their diverse perspectives, and address their needs and concerns more effectively.
Empathy helps in creating a supportive and inclusive work environment, fostering collaboration, and driving engagement. It also encourages open communication and builds trust, which are essential for effective leadership. By valuing and incorporating empathy into my leadership style, I’ve been able to cultivate stronger relationships, inspire my team, and achieve better outcomes.
Additionally, embracing authenticity and vulnerability has been crucial. Being open about my experiences and challenges as a female leader has not only strengthened my credibility but also empowered others to share their own stories and contribute to a more inclusive and supportive workplace.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
In the next 5 years, I envision contributing significantly towards driving industry-wide innovation and transformation by riding on the powerful technology wave. My focus would be on leveraging advanced technologies to develop and implement cutting-edge strategies that deliver significant business impact and competitive advantage for the enterprise.
I aim to influence organizational vision and direction in order to build capabilities and systems that not only enhance business excellence and sustainable growth but also create tremendous value for consumers and customers. Additionally, I would strive to be a key advocate for integrating environmentally friendly and ethical practices in the organizational and functional strategies. I will continue my efforts towards promoting diversity and inclusion as I see some significant work still to be done in this space.
My goal is to shape the future direction of the organization and industry, ensuring we remain at the forefront of harnessing technological advancements while fostering a culture of innovation, excellence, and inclusivity.
What advice would you give to anyone starting out on their career in your industry?
I feel excited for the youngsters who are starting their careers now. Because they will have access to such powerful technologies with which they can solve many super exciting problems that are impactful and meaningful. While automation can take care of the routine repetitive tasks like coding, testing & documentation.
My advice to them would be to have an open and receptive mind. Staying curious and continuous learning would define how far and strong they can go. The industry evolves quickly, so they must keep up with the latest trends and technologies by regularly engaging in learning through courses, certifications, experimentation and industry news.
These would be apart from building a strong foundation by focusing on mastering the basics of technologies like AI or Block Chain or Quantum Computing or Biochemistry or Green Energy etc. For e.g. talking of AI – data analysis, statistics, and programming as core skills will be essential to understand the building blocks of AI, be able to enhance AI and even control it.
Additionally, strong communication and problem-solving abilities are crucial. Being able to clearly present ideas, solutions, insights and collaborate effectively will make a big difference.
Also, seeking mentors who can offer guidance and open doors to new opportunities would provide valuable insights.
Lastly, being courageous and embracing challenging roles or assignments or tasks offers significant learning opportunities and can accelerate career growth.