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Neelima
🇺🇸🇨🇦From a #SmallTown in #India to the bustling #TechHubs of #NorthAmerica🇺🇸🇨🇦
👩💼 Neelima is a seasoned tech executive - a leading voice in the tech industry, a passionate advocate for Women in Tech | MIT SLOAN CIO | Forbes Council | #EWTA Founder | Ex: Chief - Global Head of Technology, Product Management, Delivery Management | Podcast Host - GenAI360Express, The Power of Women in the world of Tech | 25+ years of diverse experience in IT spanning the East and West Coasts, Silicon Valley, and Canada. She holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Fairfield, Iowa, USA. Neelima is also an author of "Climb, Lead, Succeed – Supercharging Women’s Careers with Actionable Strategies and Triumphs," featured in the Forbes Executive Library.
She has held significant roles at prominent organizations in USA and Canada within SaaS startups and Fortune 500 companies, including Apple Inc. (Cupertino), AT&T (Atlanta), Wells Fargo (San Francisco), Scotiabank (Toronto), ADP (Canada), Indegene/Exeevo (Toronto), and Nutcache (Quebec) as the Chief - Global Head of Delivery Management heading Technology Engineering, Delivery and Product Management for Nutcache Org wide globally North America, Brazil.
👩💼 As a first-generation immigrant, Neelima's journey from a small Indian town to the bustling tech hubs of North America mirrors the evolving landscape of global technology and business services leadership. Her passion for using technology to address real-world challenges is evident in her roles as a Tech Evangelist,
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MIT SLOAN CIO Community member
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Forbes Technology Council Executive member,
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WomenTech - Chief in Tech and Executive Council member
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LinkedIn Top Artificial Intelligence and Agile Methodoligies Voice
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Liftery Circle Tech Lead, leading Liftery Technical Moms in empowering the careers of 10 million women in North America.
👩💼 Neelima is a dedicated advocate for Women in Technology (WIT) and an acclaimed keynote speaker. Her achievements include being a WomenTech Global Ambassador, a member of the Forbes Tech Council's 2023 Thought Leadership Exchange Top 20, and recognition as one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Tech in 2022. She is a 2023 "Scrum Board Member-Nominee" and has received numerous Women In Technology (WIT) Awards, including Women of Inspiration and Women Authentic Leader awards.
👩💼Neelima is known for building high-performing teams, driving innovation through technology for complex applications, managing large-scale delivery projects, and facilitating business model adoption. She is passionate about building and connecting technology to solve real-world problems, as well as growing a supportive community for women in tech. Curiosity is what drives her the most. This curiosity allows her to lead cutting-edge enterprise technology solutions. She has helped businesses drive innovation with technology which processed multi billion dollars of transactions at Apple Inc. Cupertino, California and adopt sustainable and accessible business models.
👩💼 Neelima's influential contributions span various industries, where she is recognized for building high-performing teams, driving innovation, and facilitating business model adoption. She has excelled in leadership positions within SaaS startups and Fortune 500 companies, showcasing expertise in E2E Delivery Management, Agile Project Management, Quality Engineering, Product Management, Go To Market Strategy, Technology, Customer Success, Marketing, and significant contributions to the North American Financial, Retail, Banking, Telecom, Health Care, Life Sciences, CRM, and Payments industries. In her leadership roles, she has taken charge of massive technology rollouts, overseeing the entire process from pilot planning to full-scale deployment. Neelima's expertise extends to leading thousands of rollouts for complex applications, ensuring seamless implementation and providing post-implementation support.
👩💼As the host of the podcast "The Power of Women in the World of Tech," Neelima aims to promote Women’s Empowerment by fostering self-confidence, and leadership skills, and overcoming challenges in the corporate world. Neelima's inspiring journey continues to empower women in the tech industry. Founded by Neelima Mangal and launched on International Women's Day in 2021, "The Power of Women in the World of Tech" podcast is a valuable resource for professionals breaking barriers, young women exploring tech careers, and advocates of gender equality. The podcast is focused on sharing the stories and insights of women who are driving innovation and making an impact.
👩💼Explore the world of Generative AI with Neelima on GenAI360 Express - A 360 degreee view of cutting edge technology. Serving as the podcast's host, Neelima provides swift, in-depth insights into the most recent AI advancements.
👩💼 As an author, Neelima has penned "Climb, Lead, Succeed," featured in Forbes Council's 'Executive Library' 2023, offering valuable insights and strategies for women seeking career success. Her international impact extends through her roles as a WomenTech Global Ambassador and keynote speaker at prestigious events.
Inside, you'll discover a treasure trove of insights and inspiration that will empower you to ascend the ladder of success, embrace leadership roles, and ultimately achieve your most cherished goals. The essence of this book can be distilled into three #key #pillars:
📚#Climb (Career Growth), 📚#Lead (Positive Impact), 📚#Succeed (Personalized Success)
👩💼 Beyond her professional achievements, Neelima is a dedicated community builder, serving in public, non-profit, and private sectors. She brings passion and vision to every organization she engages with, mentoring hundreds of women and co-founder of Spectrum North, Founder of EWTA (The Empower Women in Tech Alliance - EWTA, is a global non-profit organization championing gender equality and the advancement of women in technology sectors and advocating for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Neelima enjoys meeting new people, learning new things, culture.
🌍 EWTA is a global platform with a presence in 20 countries and a vibrant community. Our mission is to inspire, empower, and connect ambitious women and allies to drive gender equality in STEAM and create a significant impact through six key pillars -
Empower 💪Engage 🤝Elevate 🚀Equity ⚖️Educate 📚Eliminate Barriers 🚫. Rooted in our core values and driven by a deep commitment, our platform uplifts and inspires women and girls in the tech sector at every stage, from the classroom to the boardroom. We take great pride in our work and the positive impact we're creating.
She has championed numerous professionals and students globally through her platform, #EWTA - Empower Women in Tech Alliance, serving as a role model for professionals worldwide, including immigrants, allies, and women of colour, inspiring them to pursue careers in technology.
In a nutshell - Neelima, a tech executive, an entrepreneur, an author, and community builder, has achieved notable recognition, including being nominated for the Forbes Tech Council 2023 Thought Leadership Exchange-Top20 published Member, Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Tech 2022 from the Tech Inclusion Committee in the USA. She hosts 'The Power of Women in the World of Tech' podcast, holds a nomination for Scrum Board Member, Linkedin 2023 Top AI Voice badge and has earned accolades like WOI22-Authentic Leader award and Women of Inspiration. Neelima's influence extends internationally as a WomenTech Global Ambassador and a keynote speaker at various prestigious events.
👩💼 Neelima, a working mother and first-generation immigrant, exemplifies a shifting leadership demography in the fields of global technology, delivery, and business services.
Every acknowledgment is motivation to keep going. Honoured & humbled to be recognized as:
💜 ACCOLADES, KeyNote Speaker, Recognitions
✅ Forbes Technology Council Member Nomination by Forbes Council, USA - 2023🇺🇸
✅ Forbes Councils Thought Leadership Exchange - Top 20 Published Member, USA - 2023🇺🇸
✅ MIT Sloan CIO Community Member, USA - 2023🇺🇸
✅ WomenTech Chief in Tech Executive Council Member - 2023🇺🇸
✅ Author of Climb,Lead,Succeed featured on Forbes Councils "Executive Library" - 2023🇺🇸
✅ LinkedIn Top Artificial Intelligence and Agile Voice 🇺🇸🇨🇦
✅ Host of 'The Power of Women in the World of Tech' Podcast - Accolodes, Praise, Gallery.
✅ Host of 'GenAI360 Express' Podcast - A 360 degreee view of cutting edge technology
✅ Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Tech Award and Recognition by Tech Inclusion Commitee, USA - 2022🇺🇸
✅ 2024 Toronto's Trailblazing Women in Tech by Women Tech Network.
✅ 2024 Liftery - Things I Wish I’d Known When I Started My Career
✅ 2024 WomenTechNetwork Chief in Tech Speaker - "Journey from a Small Town to Engineer to Leadership: Career Insights & Lessons Learned"
✅ WIT 2023 Imapctful Ideas Stage Judge and the Speaker.
✅ WIT CANADA 2023JudgingPanel🤵♀️🇨🇦 elected as a "Juree" for the #WomeninITCanadaAwards - Canada Edition 🇨🇦
✅ 2023 Official WomenTech Network Council Membership (Chief in Tech Council).
✅ 2023 Nomination for the Scrum Certified Member #SCM #Board Director. The world's leading provider of research, education, certifications, and conferences, for agile and scrum development
✅ WOI22-Authentic Leader Award, Raise the Bar winner, Canada - 2022🇨🇦
✅ Women of Inspiration 2022 Award, Canada - 2022🇨🇦
✅ WomenTechGlobalAmbassador, WomenTech Network USA - 2022🇺🇸
✅ WomenTech Rising Star of the Year Nomination, USA - 2022 🇺🇸
✅ 2023 ExtraOrdinary Women in Tech - Speaker, Author, Mentor and Special Participant - SFO
✅ Brazil University Keynote Speaker - Represented Nutcache Brazil as a Keynote Speaker at one of the prestigious Portuguese and Pernambuco's biggest universities UNICAP College of Engineering and Business to draw tech Talent, Brazil - 2022🇧🇷
✅ Mentor and judge at 1st international programming marathon, Hackathon- Recife, Brazil - 2022🇧🇷
✅ 2022 Hackathon Brazil - Press Release 🇧🇷
✅ 2023 'Chief in Tech' Summit Keynote Speaker Recognition, WomenTechNetwork 🇺🇸
✅ 2023 'Chief in Tech' Summit Speaker 🇺🇸🇨🇦
✅ Moderated "Key tactics that Product Executives may adopt in 2023 to encourage a User Centric culture within their Product Development, #ChiefinTech 2023 Conf.
✅ Woman’s Equality Day - NYSE, Fearless Girl, Charging Bull - 2022 🇺🇸
Neelima has earned respect as an advocate for women in technology and as a role model for many young, coloured women who are inspired to pursue careers in technology.
🤵♀️ Neelima has served as a mentor and coach to hundreds of young women.
🤵♀️ Neelima has been invited to speak as an advocate on numerous technology and diversity panels. She’s a regular speaker at industry events and conferences.
🤵♀️ As an active member, Neelima has published 35+ Articles, Expert Panel discussions featured on Forbes as of July, 2023.
🤵♀️ Neelima is leading "Liftery' - Moms in Technical Roles North America" to Lift Up Careers of 10 million Women with enthusiastic professionals in North America - 2023
🤵♀️ Neelima has grown many women from junior roles to many technology leadership roles in the past decade.
🤵♀️ Neelima is also a Co-Founder of Spectrum North (Non-Profit) and a passionate advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) supporting enthusiastic professionals, many Immigrants In the pursuit of their true purpose.
SN Move NORD - For ambitious women, great talents, Immigrants who are stalled with USCIS denials, H1b Layoffs, Visa Expiry in USA, Neelima wants to emphasize the OptionB route for the great talents peacefully.
Neelima’s Podcast 'The Power of Women in the world of Tech' features thoughtful discussions about Women in Tech and Women Empowerment. As part of this series, she aims to promote Women Empowerment by fostering self confidence, leadership skills and motivate women to overcome the real life challenges they face within the corporate world today.
GenAI360Express Podcast - A 360 Second View, your quick guide to the latest advancements in artificial intelligence! Tune in daily to explore the world of GenAI in just a few minutes per episode.
Neelima and her Son Neerav also host the Curious Neerav’s Podcast’ where they talk about interesting, fun and educational STEM topics - a platform dedicated to nurturing young minds in STEM, and inspiring a love for learning among passionate kids.
There is no limit to what we, as Women, can accomplish. Believe in yourself and you will be unstoppable. Believe in your strengths, most importantly love yourself.
Live life fully, laugh often, and love deeply. The words that guide her life both in and out of her profession.
Outside of her Corporate profession, Neelima is a proud mom . She loves to spend time with her Family, enjoy Gardening, listening to music, an adventurous girl who didn’t dare to SkyDive in Hollister-California, Swimming with Dolphins in Hawaii, Traveling - exploring new places, Cooking, Baking, Interior Designing, Biking, Volunteering, Driving, and playing Basketball.
2022 Recognitions and Moments to Cherish
2022 has been truly special to me on the various nominations with so many prestigious and influential leaders across North America. These visuals will be forever etched in my heart and mind - Neelima
SMALL TOWN BIG DREAMS - My Journey
Small Town Big Dreams
I was born and raised in a small town Mandsaur. Mandsaur is a town in the Malwa region and district of Madhya Pradesh state of central India. My father is a businessman and my mother, a homemaker. My parents have taught me the values of education, respect for others, hard work, doing the right thing, and learning from others. I have tried to live my life by them.
Like the other Indian kid growing up in a small town in the '90's, being raised in a male dominating society, going to an English Medium school used to be a big deal. My Father didn' t care of the Society, the surroundings and no matter what I have done in my life, my father has always been my biggest cheerleader and my pillar of strength. I grew up in a traditional home, in a male dominated society that was India in the 1990’s. Even though I grew up in a traditional home, my parents had the same expectations for me, my sisters and my brother. I have made my journey with the values my parents taught me; education, respect for others, hard work, doing the right thing, and learning from others.
Neelima claims, these years she has seen a lot of change. The majority have improved things. Some things haven't changed. I had no idea where life would lead me when I was pursuing my MS in Computer Science (A class of 2 women, with all male colleagues) and going through the adventure. Like most others, I just wanted to "make it." We didn't intend for us to "thrive." All we wanted was to "survive."
My First assignment in North America
2 decades ago, I boarded a flight to the United States, and all the experiences it held. I was scared, and excited.
"A suitcase in hand and one big dream that’s all I had when I came here 2 decades ago."
I remember the day my plane landed. I looked out of the arrivals area with a sense of hope. I recalled the hours spent staring at the scenery outside the train on my way to and from school dreaming of this moment and being grateful for the sacrifices made by my family. The fact I was on my own in a new country didn’t phase me. I was confident I could draw on my past experiences to get me through the challenges that would arise. I was determined to succeed.
I landed in Atlanta, Georgia USA for my first assignment. Every day was challenging without friends, and family. I had a new culture to adjust to. I persisted, and have made this continent my home working three different jobs in Atlanta, San Jose, California, and San Francisco California where I had multiple awards of proficiency. I lived in fear of being sent home. My passion for my work kept me going.
Chasing my dream wasn’t easy, and I struggled. It made me sweat, it made my cry, it made me lose, it made me weak and it made me feel low. But I kept working hard and pushed boundaries that I never thought would cross. Life got easier and I got stronger and I felt high of hope.
I just never thought I would stay in North America for so long. Throughout these turmoils I kept working hard , kept faith and pushed myself to boundaries that I never thought would cross.
Life at Silicon Valley
I married my husband in 2008 and joined him in San Francisco. My husbands support and encouragement reassured me that with hard work and determination, I could achieve my dreams, and make my to-do list into a book of colourful memories. We had a great life in Silicon Valley. This included an exciting job with Apple, that I loved. California is a wonderful place and me and my family took full advantage of that. Road trips, and tons of interactions with brilliant people in tech made California the best place for us.
My Silicon Valley job search had some highs and dream come true. Working at Apple in Cupertino California was my dream job. I got to work with the smartest people on the toughest problems. Life was great. My husband and I built some amazing friendships. In the end however we decided the indefinite wait was not for us. And we started thinking about our next play. Since the whole point of this move was to get more freedom and some peace of mind, nothing short of permanent residency would do.
Visa Journey
Extending my visa was a constant, stressful fight. I have worked on probably all the various visas in the United States – L1, L2, H1, EAD, T1, Business Visa, not sure if there were any that I had not worked on.
Our MOVE from VALLÉE to NORD
Our biggest move was from Silicon Valley to Toronto, Canada without any family or friends. We landed in Canada with a Permanent Residency (PR). We were both fortunate to continue working remotely in Canada. I still worked for Apple, Cupertino California while my husband worked with eBay San Jose California. We did not quite know what to expect but we were ready for a new adventure. We knew that Canada has an inclusive culture with friendly people.
And it has lived up to its reputation and more. We’ve fallen in love with this place for its incredibly diverse landscapes, and its acceptance of other cultures. Canada has consistently scored high on numerous surveys and has the highest quality of life. Even when I got an offer at Apple to move back to California we decided to stay here. Canada is a political stable country, with a parliamentary system modelled on the British Parliament, and a good education system. The Toronto-Waterloo tech corridor is an area known to have the largest tech cluster outside of Silicon Valley.
North America truly has been the continent of dreams and opportunities for me. I took my Citizenship oath in 2016, and voted in elections in 2019 for the first time in my life. It was one of the best decisions of our life to move to such a great country. I haven’t forgotten my roots. In my free time I have supported an orphanage in my hometown, providing education, clothing, and food supplies with my parents’ support.
Discovering Toronto and Planning the Move
When I first decided to come to North America, Canada did not ever factor into my life plans. We Indians tend to stay away from very cold places. Silicon Valley always loomed large above everything else as the world’s technology centre. In the valley talk of moving to Seattle or Portland is pretty common, moving to a different country, less so. I think in the end Canada has a really great brand and that convinced me to take that chance.
We decided to move in the fall, that way we would get to enjoy the Californian summer and get there before winter. I guess we were a little busy enjoying the summer since we didn’t get to move related tasks until two months before we left. I can’t say this part was fun. In the end, all we had to was catch a flight to Toronto.
💕🤗हर ख्वाइश पूरी हो ये ज़रूरी तो नहीं फिर भी सपनो की आदत बुरी तो नहीं 💕🤗
<"It is not necessary that every wish is fulfilled, yet the habit of dreams is not bad.">
➡️ Small Town Big Dreams - A little girl from a small town with a suitcase and one big dream, all I had when I boarded a flight to the United States. At that moment, my emotions were an overwhelming blend of excitement, nervousness, and curiosity. I challenged ahead with no family or friends, boosted by unwavering trust in the limitless possibilities ahead.
➡️ My Visa Journey - Extending my visa to the US was a constant, stressful fight. I have worked on all the various keys in the United States – L1, L2, H1, EAD, TN, and Business Visa; I am unsure if there were any I had not worked on. Taking my citizenship oath in 2016 and casting my first vote in the 2019 elections filled me with immense pride. #OnceAnIndianAlwaysAnIndian, #PhirBhiDilHainHindustani. North America, indeed has been the continent of dreams and opportunities for me. #Gratitude
More can be referenced via My Publication.
➡️ Women in Tech - A little girl with No experience outside of her small town when she started her college studies three decades ago. Visiting a major metropolitan metropolis in India, such as Mumbai or Delhi, was a distant dream filled with expectations back then. But what a remarkable journey from those humble beginnings! I've embarked on an extraordinary adventure, travelling across continents - from traversing the landscapes of Asia-Pacific to the vibrant streets of South America, the rich cultures of Europe, and the vast horizons of North America and beyond. It's a journey that has been etched with countless emotions and unforgettable experiences.
➡️ Adventorous Girl - A little girl who had not seen any beaches until she was in Grade12 to be swimming with Dolphins in Hawaii, exploring beaches in the Bahamas, Skydive, Brazil and all the Great Lakes in North America - I consider myself to be blessed. I cannot be more thankful to the almighty.
➡️ My Mum Dad , my Inspiration - They never had a remarkable career, sat in the C-suite, drove fancy cars, or made tons of money. But I still look up to them. Why? Because they have always put their family first because, without the sacrifices they made, I would not have had the opportunity to have the career and life I have had.
➡️ My Family - #MySmallWorld, #MyStrengthMySupportMyCheerLeaders - Ravi and Neerav, you've been my pillars of strength. I'm reminded of the amazing family behind me, supporting me with every word I type.
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Ravi, my hubby - your endless support, encouragement, and love have always been my guiding light.
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Neerav, my world and a little ray of sunshine - your encouragement, countless drawings of superheroes, and inspiring messages have adorned my writing space.
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Fluffy - my pet, my love, my WFH buddy.
What’s a risk you took when you were a girl, and what did you learn from it? I’ve been “passionate” since I was a little kid.
"There is no limit to what we, as Women, can accomplish."
Believe in yourself and you will be unstoppable.
Believe in your strengths, most importantly love yourself.
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AHA MOMENTS
