TechWomen100: What happened next for Neha Rajesh

Knowing that technology has the power to create a better and more inclusive world for every human is what gets me out of bed every morning.

I work at Google, and my goal is to help small and large businesses in EMEA unleash the power of cloud technology through Chrome Enterprise. I entered the world of technology marketing 10 years ago with a ‘non-technical’ background, and within months, I was running our marketing efforts in niche technology areas such as Semantic Modelling, Insurance Telematics and Robotic Process Automation. In my previous role at Temenos, a banking software company, I was responsible for growth marketing and driving adoption of cloud-native and AI-driven software that makes banking better for over a Billion people worldwide.

Born in India and immigrating to the UK at the age of 20, I realized the value of having strong mentors and coaches in life who can unlock opportunities for young women in technology. I launched my own organization, WonderWoman to connect girls with women mentors in the tech space to support each other on their journeys in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. I am a regular speaker at schools around the UK for Year 12 to 14 students, to empower and inspire the next generation of female leaders. I am also an ambassador for ‘I Can Be’ and run school visits for girls aged 7–8 from underprivileged backgrounds to introduce them to the world of work. My mission is to open as many doors as possible for women and I take every opportunity within my sphere of work or in a personal capacity to drive this change.

How did you feel when it was announced that you’d won a TechWomen100 award?

I was absolutely honoured and humbled to be announced as a winner. The women on this list are just phenomenal and true superheroes! Getting to know them and their stories over the TechWomen100 journey instils confidence in me that if we can all shout loud enough and push for change, we can foster inclusivity in tech. Each one of these women has shared a personal story on breaking down barriers across their childhood and careers. I think we are on a mission to drive representation in the tech sector and I am thrilled to be on this journey with fellow Changemakers!

Please tell us what has happened in your career since winning the TechWomen100 award?

The award was great validation that I am on the right path and doing the right things to support women in my network. I am doing more and more school and college talks to encourage future women leaders to pursue a career in technology. I have grown my mentoring platform, WonderWoman, and have had the chance to build an awesome network of like-minded women. This award has also boosted my profile and I have been recognised across other platforms like the ‘Woman who Achieves’ program. The highlight of my year so far is that I won the Platinum Champion Award in honour of Her Majesty The Queen and her 70 years of service. The awards were launched by the Royal Voluntary Service together with HRH The Duchess of Cornwall to recognise volunteers across Great Britain. I was also inspired to look at other DEI forums and became a member of Forbes The Culture whose mission is to create equitable pathways for leaders of colour who are impacting culture globally to connect, collaborate and change.

More than anything, I look forward to amplifying the TechWomen100 initiative that really brings together the most amazing female talent, and I will be nominating some superstars for an award this year.

What advice would you give to someone else going through the award’s process? 

Ultimately it’s not about winning or losing. I am so grateful to be shortlisted for awards, but I don’t pursue the trophy (although the TechWomen100 trophy is a stunning one 🤩). I pursue the opportunity – the opportunity of meeting like-minded women, bonding over our common goals, discovering career and growth opportunities just over coffee chats!

Just be relaxed, be yourself and do it because you care about the mission and legacy you want to leave behind.

What tips would you give to our other members to enhance their careers?

Find a mentor! The most priceless career moves I’ve had are due to relationships I’ve built with mentors and champions over my career. Find your cheerleader who is going to push you forward but also be brutally honest with you, and cherish that relationship! Some mentors are for life 🙂