17: Standards, Startups and Spousal support

Continuing on our theme of conversations with women in IT, in this episode, Vandana Malaiya, whose career has seen roles in hardware, embedded systems, setting up team and organization level processes and setting up a venture and to a social venture and some senior leadership roles in the corporate environment,in conversation with Sivaguru,shares her perspectives on -The need to and opportunities to keep on learning -Adopting standards and consistent adherence for outcomes -How economic and governmental ecosystems can help or hinder startup aspirations -Balancing career and family aspirations with support from her husband -Physical and emotional challenges for women after 50 -Supporting girls and women become successful -Some typical challenges faced by all startups -Need for men also to develop empathy Vandana Malaiya is an IT professional with over 30 years of experience in the industry. She has worked with companies IBM, Verifone, DCM Data Systems and her own start-up EximSoft. She now works with the social sector primarily in the area of education of girl child and women empowerment. She is passionate about advancement of women at the work place and has worked extensively on programs for women leadership. She continues to keep her connect with the IT industry through consulting and mentoring. She is a BE(Hons) in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from BITS Pilani and an Executive MBA from IIM Bangalore. She has worked in India and US. She loves travel and all forms of art. She can be reached via - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/vandanamalaiya); [Twitter](http://@vandanamalaiya) and her [Blog Page](http://vandanamalaiya.com/)