Women’s Leader at the helm of Global DigiTech
Born at a time when digital technology was at a nascent stage and ‘diversity’ completely unheard of, Aparna Krishna Bhat’s parents broke decades of gender conditioning when they gifted their young daughter a video game for her birthday in small town India.
This marked Aparna’s introduction to the rudiments of the computing world. She was captivated by the gadget as well as hasty technological advancements around her, and developed a fascination for the programming, logic, and infrastructure that enabled such innovations. Unbeknown to her, she would one day conquer the field as a Global Leader in Digital Technology.
Fueled by her passion, Aparna completed a Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications Engineering from BNMIT Bangalore affiliated to Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU); a Master’s degree in Computer Science specializing in AI and Databases from the University of Texas at Arlington; and received an Honorary Doctorate of Advanced Studies in Computer Science from the University of Azteca, Mexico.
After fruitful stints through global conglomerates across India and USA such as Bitla Software, Dunst Consulting LLC, Mahindra First Choice Wheels Ltd among others, Aparna joined EY (Ernst & Young) in Texas, USA as Senior Analyst – Wealth and Asset Management Financial Services.
In her current role, she provides comprehensive support to her clients across backend, frontend, and data engineering domains. She has worked with several major financial institutions, including insurers, on critical initiatives in areas such as payments, fraud detection, and customer experience. She has tackled some of the most challenging problems these organizations have faced, consistently delivering fruitful results. Her solutions weren’t just technically sound; they demonstrably improved efficiency and productivity, earning her well-deserved recognition within these companies.
Aparna’s unique strengths comprise strong decision-making skills, openness to feedback, and open communication. However one of her most defining qualities is her versatility across a broad spectrum of technologies and sectors. For more than a decade now, she has continually pushed the boundaries of what is possible in full-stack development, machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI). Her expertise encompasses all phases of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) including Analysis, Design, Development, Documentation, Testing, Deployment, Version Control, and Production Support.
Blessed with a strong foresight and sharp skill set, Aparna has developed software products that are both scalable and reliable, especially sophisticated fraud detection models and AI-powered applications that have transformed business operations and enhanced decision-making processes. For instance, she has developed scalable RESTful web services using the Java Spring Boot Framework, integrated with MS SQL as the RDS. She has leveraged her skills in Python and Java Spring Boot to create scalable digital solutions that support some of the largest financial institutions in the country.
Her impressive track record is further bolstered by a string of awards – a testament to her exceptional skills and innovative thinking:
● Titan Business Awards Gold winner 2024 – Information Technology category, AI subcategory.
● Global Recognition Awards (GRA) 2024 winner for Technology Consulting.
● Best Research Paper Award – IOASD 2024.
● Young Researcher – IOASD 2024.
● Distinguished Researcher of the Year in Information Technology 2024 by the Asian African Economic Forum and the Confederation of International Accreditation Commission (CIAC)
Fast emerging as an Industry Thought Leader, Aparna is also an editorial member and reviewer for prestigious journals like the ESP Journal of Engineering and Technology Advancements (ESP-JETA). She’s a Senior Member of IEEE, Royal Fellow for International Organization for Academic and Scientific Development (IOASD), and a Senior member of Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (AAIA). Additionally, she’s a jury member for Globee® Awards, Business Intelligence Group Sustainability Awards, and Technovation Girls program.
True to her values, Aparna likes to take her role as a social impact leader and mentor very seriously. Through blogging and mentorship roles, she assists and inspires hundreds of young tech enthusiasts. She also stands by other marginalized communities as a vocal advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Does it ever get difficult to balance the challenges, we ask her. “With the right company, it’s pretty simple to balance life and work. When I enjoy what I do, it doesn’t feel like a chore. Creating a structured routine that allows dedicated space for both work and personal life while maintaining healthy habits and managing stress levels is what it takes,” she says.
In the coming years, Aparna sees herself building and shaping team(s) of learners, innovators and creative thinkers. All this while following her motto of ‘Keep your morale high, in spite of setbacks’.
In an industry as dynamic as technology, Aparna feels it is essential to move forward with a growth mindset. Sharing encouraging words for those new to the field, she says, “Recognize that you are embarking on a journey of lifelong learning. The field is vast and constantly evolving, so be open to new technologies, methodologies, and challenges. Always look for opportunities to learn – improve your skills by building strong fundamentals, seek mentorship, adapt to change, and last but not the least, be a team player.”
