Having won the ‘Star Performer of the year’ award multiple times in several years from TP-Link, this time we are showcasing Dolly Lakhani, Senior Marketing Specialist at TP-Link in ‘Women in Technology’
Tell us about your leadership style and philosophy.
I believe a leader should know how to draw upon self-leadership skills to, in turn, motivate and lead others to expand their strength and ultimately better serve the goal of an organization. My strengths as a leader are effective in delegation and communication; hence, my leadership style takes advantage of those strengths. It is my continual effort to delegate tasks to whoever is best-equipped to perform that particular task well. I always try to communicate what needs to be done and why. This eliminates the need to go back-and-forth or re-do the same tasks, and also avoid mistakes. Taking more time to communicate effectively at the beginning of the project, and delegating correctly, end up saving precious time for the project in advance.
What made you choose IT as a career opportunity?
IT is in every industry, including retail, design, insurance, banking, aerospace, energy, and healthcare. It essentially provides the infrastructure and tools every organization needs to operate and grow. Technology is growing and evolving at a breakneck speed. I firmly believe that it is one of the best industries to work with, and its demand is growing exponentially by the year. Being on the marketing side of this industry, I truly feel I’m doing what I love.
How has your unique background prepared you for success in the industry?
As a Project Management Lead, my prior experience has provided me with unique technical skills that I can apply to this multi-faceted role. Working with a startup allowed me to understand the ins-and-outs of the industry at an early stage. I’m exceptionally organized, and I’m not afraid of failure as I think it is an essential part of the experimental process that drives you towards success. When solving problems, I apply logic and consider emotional aspects in equal proportion. For instance, I’m trained in SEO and understand how to use analytics to ensure a marketing campaign is successful, but I also majored in design and know-how to apply creativity to a project as well. I genuinely enjoy learning new things and taking on new challenges. I am continually seeking new learning opportunities, which significantly helps prepare me for personal and organizational success.
What was your most interesting job?
Hands down, I’d say “The one I am currently in.” This role brings numerous new learning opportunities and dynamic deliverables that I enjoy doing what I do here.
What advice would you give to women looking to break into the field of computer technology?
Break into tech with confidence. Look for new opportunities, be willing to learn, and try new things in the tech industry. Don’t be afraid to take on something you’re not proficient in, that’s how you’ll learn. As you grow in this field, more and more opportunities will open up for you. Even when times get difficult, don’t look for an easy way out, try to embrace it and learn from it. Accepting new challenges is a great way to learn about the industry and yourself!
What is the greatest transformation in technology you’ve witnessed in your career?
We all have witnessed the complete transformation in the way organizations are working, and their digital transformation amazes me. It is the profound transformation of business and organizational activities, processes, competencies and models to fully leverage the changes and opportunities of a mix of digital technologies and their accelerating impact across society in a strategic and prioritized way, factoring in the present and future shifts that is completely mind-blowing. The way our personal lives, work and society, have changed the face of business and will continue to do so is truly fascinating. This has always been the case, but the pace at which it is happening is accelerating rapidly and is now faster than ever before.
What are your thoughts on the next transformation in the tech industry?
The bolstering speed at which digital transformation seems to be moving, it’s the high-tech companies like TP-Link who are driving that change by enhancing the technology we work with every single day. No doubt, it will be an exciting year ahead. And this pace will continue to drive up in coming years as well. With emerging technologies like the IoT and the increasing adoption of cloud services, the future is smarter than we can imagine at the moment.
What’s next for you in terms of your career in the tech industry?
With my experience in strategy development, relationship management, negotiation & influence, brand marketing, and project management, I have honed the ability to demonstrate effective proactiveness and good judgment with a negligible need for supervision. I see this driving my career curve further as my role and responsibilities amplify. My knowledge in organizational buying behavior and the factors affecting it coupled with my proficiency in CRM and brand management have grown in my time with TP-Link and have proven to be instrumental for the projects I’ve worked with and continue to benefit the organization.
