Precisely Women in Technology: Meet Prachi

Diversity is a driver of innovation, creativity, and overall business success, and at Precisely, building and maintaining a diverse workplace is a top priority. To achieve this, Precisely prioritizes programs that support diverse groups. One of the groups is the Precisely Women in Technology (PWIT) network, which brings women in different areas of the organization together to learn from and support one another in various ways. Every month, a woman from the program is invited to share her professional experience as a woman in technology in this blog. Continue reading to learn more about Prachi Mujumdar, Technology Architect, and her experience over the last 18 years.

Why did you choose to pursue a career in technology?

Growing up, I had two career choices: medicine or engineering. I never liked Biology, especially the part of dissecting anything. So, I chose engineering and I pursued my bachelor’s degree in computer engineering. After that, I joined as a trainee at software company, Mastek Ltd., and began my career in technology. During my training days I fell in love with programming and within six months, I had the opportunity to work onsite at Oxford for two years based on my technical assessment and the domain knowledge I gained on my first project. This really boosted my confidence and made me realize that I have the skills to be a technical lead. On top of this, it reaffirmed to me that I’m skilled in understanding a challenge and the requirements and then designing solutions to fit those needs. Now, it’s been 18 years in the technology industry and I’m still loving every bit of it.

Who has been your greatest professional mentor? What’s one thing you have learned from them?

I always thank my lucky stars to have had the opportunity to work with supportive and encouraging leads and managers. My lead in my first company was a great support and helped me a lot in climbing the ladder of success. He always gave me challenging work which helped me grow technically. One thing I learned from him is to always think about and present a solution that covers all the aspects such as features, benefits, quality, and security.

What’s the biggest risk you took in your career? What was the reward?

I worked at my first company for 12 years before deciding to join Pitney Bowes, then Precisely via acquisition. 12 years is a long time to spend in one company, but I was in my comfort zone and felt an emotional connection with it being where I started my career. Looking back, I’m so glad I took that step because along with my personal growth, I’ve also had the opportunity to work with so many talented people at Precisely.

As a woman, what challenges have you faced in the technology industry? How have you overcome them?

I hadn’t faced any big challenges until I became a mother, and then I learned the real meaning of work-life balance. I returned from my maternity leave just as COVID-19 hit, so I’ve been working from home since then. It’s been a blessing since I saw each and every one of my son’s milestones, but like any first-time mother, I had to manage my work and time between temper tantrums, sleep deprivation, and exhaustion. Luckily, everyone I work with at Precisely has been so understanding and helpful. Now, my son is five years-old and things are much better – and so is my art of juggling.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? How do you apply it to your personal and professional life?

Always play by your strengths and keep adding strengths with every new experience.

Whenever I’m working on a new project, I make it a point to learn new technology. My experience in Precisely really helps me with this as my job involves connecting with different teams to understand their requirements and provide them with a solution, while simultaneously learning about the solutions they’ve already implemented.

What’s one piece of advice you’d offer to younger women entering the industry?

Believe in yourself and never give up. Don’t be hard on yourself if you make mistakes, learn from them. Stay curious, learn new things, and embrace new opportunities.

As a successful woman in technology, what’s one thing you do to pay it forward and advocate for other women in the field?

I advocate for other women by being a cheerleader that celebrates their success and encouraging them along the way. I think it’s important that I also be there for them whenever they need me.

Learn more about us on our Careers and Culture page.