Living the Global Tech dream
Salini Leela’s fearless journey from small town India to a Global Engineering Leader is a dream come true for tech enthusiasts all around the world. Salini is a Senior Engineering Professional with extensive experience in overseeing large scale engineering products operating from USA.
At a time when there was marked gender dominance in the Science based fields in India, Salini was among the few women to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering within the country. She worked in various tech companies before finding her way to the United States.
“As a child, I was inspired by my parents who worked in government sectors and this motivated me to pursue a job of my own. However, I faced the challenge of determining the right path in engineering. Despite this, I enjoyed my time in college and early career as a woman in engineering,” she shares.
To expand her horizons beyond her small town, Salini decided to pursue a job that would offer more opportunities. Like any other engineering graduate, the ultimate dream then was to work abroad. Salini was lucky enough to achieve it through HCL America and Collins Aerospace when she moved to the US in 2009 as a Project Manager.
Her interest in embedded software engineering was sparked while assisting engineering students with their internships. She now believes that it’s important to look at things from various perspectives to determine whether you truly belong in the field you want to pursue.
Salini currently work as an Engineering leader with John Deere. Over the past five years, she has gained valuable experience in leadership roles at John Deere and obtained a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of IOWA. She has also completed several leadership certifications and has strong qualifications in general management, business planning, employee relations, and development.
Today, Salini is well regarded for her proven ability to improve products, impact business success, and maximize productivity and efficiency through thought leadership and organizational cohesiveness.
Outlining the role of communication that helped her in overcoming challenges, she tells us, “I believe that challenges are opportunities to improve and set a benchmark for success. Effective communication with precise words and behavior is the key to creating magic in building relationships. Delegation, acknowledgment, and communication lead to a natural balance in both personal and professional life. I always tell my colleagues that time is under their control, and they can decide how to best use it. Effective utilization of time can find you the perfect work-life balance.”
Having achieved both success in her professional life and fulfillment in her personal, Salini feels grateful for the outstanding support she received from her family throughout her journey. She currently lives in Iowa with her husband Suresh and their two children, Gautham and Diya.
A natural progression for Salini now would be to turn entrepreneur. While she hasn’t actively plotted to become one, she does see herself as someone who can positively impact people’s lives through innovative technology. She believes that every moment presents an opportunity to achieve a beneficial outcome, and that’s how she aims to contribute to society.
Even during the pandemic, Salini was at the forefront of the new normal. Working remotely with a large team was difficult, and finding viable solutions took some time. She worked with her team to improve work options and find sustainable competitive advantages. They implemented various strategies such as team-building activities through video calls and having random volunteers lead meetings.
In this way, empowering team members forms the bedrock of Salini’s leadership style. She focuses on growing the team together by empowering each member through transformational leadership.
“It’s important to trust your team to learn from small mistakes and use effective communication to drive the direction of the team towards success. Transparency in communication can help build trust and promote a diverse coalition. Additionally, it’s important to model the way and drive excitement within the team, while convincing them that the vision towards the future is worthy of their time and support.”
Resolute and meticulous, Salini has fearlessly broken boundaries to get where she is today. She credits her many achievements to the ever evolving tech industry that keeps her focused on innovative ideas that fuel her passion.
Some of her most recent honors include:
- RED Ladder Award (Top 20 Women Leaders – HCL)
- Judging panelist – American Business Awards 2022 in Management category
- Judging panelist – American Business Awards 2022 in Organization & Achievement Awards category
- John Deere – Achieving Excellence in Organization
A thought leader in the dynamic global tech industry, Salini tells our readers how to succeed: “If you have perseverance and a willingness to learn, it can take you to your desired attainment. Be a fearless warrior and conquer the victory you are determined to achieve.”
