“Truly believe in ourselves and move forward"- Srividya Kannan, Avaali Solutions

In a candid interaction for DQ Channel's exclusive segment Women Power, Srividya Kannan, Founder, Director, Avaali Solutions Pvt Ltd shared her journey in the IT ecosystem. 

The challenge of being a women executive in a top role

It does indeed feel lonely sometimes. Irrespective of gender, when the buck stops with you, when the responsibilities are so high, there is obviously pressure to ensure that we’re performing well. But that is a part of the job and something that I signed up for anyway. I’ve learned to deal with him over a period of time.

Educational background

I completed my MBA after my Bachelor’s in Commerce. I majored in finance and also completed my cost accounting from the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants.

Family Background

My husband Kannan, my daughter, my father and my pet golden retriever comprise my family now. I have two siblings both in the US and extended families.

Working in a male-dominated field

It’s not an issue. There are many things to focus on rather than being worried about working in a male-dominated world. I strongly believe that when I keep my focus on my priorities and believe in myself, there is no scope for any external factors to dampen my spirit, make me feel weak or inferior.

Does the glass ceiling exist

A lot of progress has happened over the decade. Family-friendly workplace policies including flexibility to work from home based on need, an opportunity to work remotely, etc. have been introduced by many companies. The earnings gap still exists though in many industries. I believe that women have immense power to drive the right outcomes based on what we truly want. We do tend to get distracted due to past beliefs and notions. If we break this barrier, truly believe in ourselves and move forward with confidence, there is a lot that can be achieved.

Hobbies

I love cooking. It gives me a sense of peace and focus. It is almost like meditation. I also like reading books, largely non-fiction.

Future Plan

I want to see Avaali Solutions scale to its true potential. There are several initiatives and new solutions we’re launching and I plan to focus on seeing it scale and grow significantly. On the personal front, I’d like to read much more than what I’m currently doing and visit many places. I plan to give more attention to my body – to take care of it via eating right, working out and doing meditation.

By: Divya Bishi- DQ Channels