Mirrors: Gauri Nigam, Masters Student at the University of Washington
The AdaMarie Mirrors reflect back to us the many roads (often winding, never smooth) to success! Real stories of real women to see yourself reflected in. At first, you’ll see Gauri in this mirror, but eventually, we hope you’ll see yourself.
Welcome, Gauri Nigam!
Currently pursuing her masters degree in Information Management at the University of Washington, Gauri is also working as a Product Analyst and Management Intern at both GEN and AdaMarie! It's so important to remember that your "dream job" may not ultimately be your forever dream!
Getting to Know You:
Field of Work: Information Technology
Your STEM letter: T
Expertise In: Product Management, Cloud Identity Management, Business Intelligence
Current Company: University of Washington
Job Title: Student, Teacher’s Assistant for Sara Sanford in Product Management and Information Systems
One-liner about what you’re working on: Learning all there is to know about world of product.
Currently geeking out over: DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and trending choreographies (I love dancing)!
STEM hero (alive or dead!): Indra Nooyi
Tell us about your professional journey – how did you get where you are now?
My life has always revolved around remarkably academic individuals, which invariably made me strive for the best. My grandfather was a cardiologist, and my father was an engineer by skill but a businessman by profession. And my mom, well, she had her masters in science, but she loved fashion designing. Growing up, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Maths were always subjects guided by the expertise of my father and grandfather.
And so, when my grandfather told me in 10th grade that girls are better suited to be doctors (citing the ability to manage an individual practice and a household simultaneously), my mind did a backflip. I was equally good in biology and maths; what does my gender have to do with my profession?
My teenage brain went with her gut and rebellious spirit to begin her journey in computers. I qualified into the top 10% of a staggering 1.3 million students who take one of the country's most significant engineering entrance examinations (IIT-JEE). Studying computer science, I fell in love with it. In the end, getting into my dream company, Microsoft, was years of perseverance and hard work being realized. However, there was something still missing. I wanted to learn more, and what's a better place than the one where it all started, where technology was born, the United States of America. Two years in, I decided to quit a great job and a life of stability and fly halfway across the world to be a student again - this time to be in the world of Product.
We’re also curious to know your personal story and upbringing. What has made you “you”?
Numerous factors, situations created, and people around me have collectively shaped my identity. I experienced a very loving yet often strict upbringing. With gigantic families on both sides, I have been fortunate enough to be conditioned in a caring environment. There was also an influential presence of accomplished women in my life. Growing up, my grandfather and father had a massive impact on my life, and so was losing them both at the onset of my adult life. It was a phase of tremendous grief and constant effort to figure out what the next leg of life would look like as a family. It was also a phase where I dove headfirst into work, and it gave me a lot to learn, which helped me later crack Microsoft.
What made me "me" was the responsibility and empathy of being the eldest daughter and a sister, the ambition to dream bigger and achieve more, and the perseverance and faith to wait for the results.
My story, which a friend once pointed out as my "Origin Story," started with this phase of life that tested all the values, morals, teachings, and learnings to drive motivation and strength. I draw a lot of strength from my mother, who now runs the same family business back home, and my sister, who is conquering the world in her way one day at a time. It also comes with me realizing the dream for both my parents. Being a sportsperson all my life taught me a never-give-up attitude, which comes in pretty handy in life. I have always been curious, often trying out multiple new things. Be it dancing for the team, organizing events, debating an extempore, or following any other interest. I often believe myself to be an eclectic blend of my mother's dreams and my father's wit.
We know that real life isn’t a smooth and linear journey. What was your initiating moment that led you to your calling - can you tell us about that moment, what helped you move forward, what you learned/discovered?
Throughout the past eight years, as I've been actively exploring different facets of life, I can't claim to have my calling wholly figured out. To say I do would imply a premature sense of knowing it all. However, my experiences working in various tech industry sectors, through internships and other endeavors over the past few years, have allowed me to discern certain activities I genuinely enjoy and excel at. I loved to code and had a fantastic time working at a startup early on; however, a natural pivot to cloud and customer centricity while working at Microsoft made me realize other things. I found a knack for handling technical client interaction. I developed a genuine passion for assisting customers, whether related to cloud products and services or areas beyond my domain knowledge.
Furthermore, I excelled at identifying key pain points and collaborating with the right teams to facilitate efficient solutions. This realization sparked my interest in product management, particularly technical product management. I was still determining what I wanted, but I had my scope narrowed down to what it was three years ago.
As humans, our curiosity drives us to seek knowledge continually, and our areas of interest evolve as we learn.
In the past year, I have also grown heavily invested in the space of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Consulting. To answer the question, what's my calling - I might have a much more definitive answer 20 years ahead. However, working on products that create impact and deliver value that does tangible good in the world is my calling right now. I want to work on projects and products I am passionate about, missions aligning with my values, and people challenging me to do better.
You’re a working woman in a performance-driven industry. Where do you find balance?
At this early stage in my career, my balance revolves around finding areas to prove myself and figuring out places of excellence while also trying to find time for family and friends around. My peace of mind and happiness will always be a priority. It has been an exciting journey so far, which will get more challenging as the years go by. Full-time masters with part-time work can be stressful, requiring a solid need for time management; however, going to the gym, cooking food, reading, and spending time with friends helps keep the balance. Maintaining faith and belief in our core skills and what we bring to the table brings uniqueness to every human - and so it does to me.
If you were a scientific phenomenon, what would you be?
As a scientific phenomenon, I resonate most with the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. The enchanting display of lights in the sky results from charged particles interacting with the Earth's magnetic field, crafting beautiful, unique patterns that captivate observers. I find parallels in how humans celebrate our individuality and embrace the distinctive qualities that define us, much like the aurora borealis stands out in the night sky. The dynamic colors and patterns of the aurora borealis remind me of life's journey. As the lights shift and dance, we experience personal growth and adapt to changes. And embracing these changes is a chance for self-discovery, much like the enchanting display in the northern sky.
We’d love to feature your work! How can we spread the word about what you’re doing?
My website features the work I have been doing and I try to keep it as updated as I can - https://gauri-nigam.github.io/