Shweta Mahendra
| Shweta Mahendra | |
|---|---|
| |
| Birth Place
Nationality |
Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh
Indian |
Shweta Mahendra is a multi-faceted personality with diverse interests and a transformative leader empowering women in corporate and personal spheres. She is associated with India’s largest telecom company, Reliance Jio, in a leadership role. Apart from her leadership skills in technology, she offers guidance and leverages her experiences to support working women and men. She fosters a balanced professional and family life approach, advocating for rights and justice.
Early Life and Education
Shweta Mahendra hails from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, born into a middle-class family. Her father, Satish Chandra Gupta, originally from Kashipur, Uttarakhand, settled in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh. Despite facing challenges in accessing primary education due to the absence of a proper school, Shweta's parents took on the responsibility of educating her at home before enrolling her in a local co-education college in class six. Excelling in her studies, she emerged as the top performer in her class and exhibited remarkable attention to detail. Shweta possessed exceptional oratory skills and garnered numerous debate medals, often on topics related to social issues.
Although her parents aspired for her to pursue a medical career, Shweta's passion for mathematics led her to choose engineering. She secured a place at the renowned Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee (formerly University of Roorkee/Thomso College of Engineering). Furthermore, she expanded her expertise by pursuing a product management course at ISB, Hyderabad.[1]
Personal Interests
Shweta Mahendra is deeply passionate about fashion and trends, designing clothes to this day. Growing up with a Western lifestyle, she confidently sported short hair and jeans. An unwavering athlete, she finds immense joy in mountaineering, a passion she pursues wholeheartedly. Shweta believes that fitness is crucial for maintaining productivity and positivity, dedicating herself to weight training and functional training at the gym for the past twenty-one years after the birth of her son.
A passionate and curious traveler, Shweta embarks on journeys to explore the ancient sites of Egypt, Greece, Turkey, and Jordan. She is deeply fascinated by the religious practices, cultural nuances, and social systems of historical periods. Her visits to museums are immersive experiences, perceiving these spaces as visual libraries where each artifact narrates its unique story.[2]
Career
Shweta Mahendra began her professional journey at Reliance Industries as a project manager. She transitioned to the telecom industry by joining Reliance Infocomm during its formative phase, playing a pivotal role in driving a significant telecom revolution in India. Her expertise primarily revolved around network management (OSS/BSS), and she subsequently took on the position of Head of the Software Testing division at Siemens Information Systems Limited. She returned to Reliance and made significant contributions in the IT department at Reliance Retail, focusing on the NSO (New Store Opening) rollout for infrastructure, software, and connectivity across India.
At Reliance Jio, Shweta's career showcases her exceptional expertise and strong leadership abilities. She joined the company in 2011 as the QA Head for Digital Services within the Quality division. Her responsibilities expanded to spearheading innovation and future technology initiatives in the R&D division. Shweta's profound understanding of cutting-edge technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Metaverse, virtual reality, Drones, and Robotics, has significantly impacted diverse sectors such as entertainment, healthcare, agriculture, industry 4.0, and education.[3]
Career as an Author
Shweta Mahendra is a highly skilled author, having penned two enthralling books that reflect her wide-ranging interests and expertise. One of her works delves into the complexities of past, present, and future civilizations, emphasizing technological progress. The other book is a vibrant travel diary encapsulating the spirit of three states in northeast India.
Shweta has studied Brahmi Lipi, an ancient script used during Ashoka's rule, aiming to gain profound insights into the social life of that era. Currently, she is creating a book that delves into the philosophy of love, drawing from her experiences with love stories during her time at IIT Roorkee. Her admiration for "Symposium" by Plato influences her understanding of love and philosophy.
Her captivating blog posts span various topics, delving into philosophy, societal issues, women's empowerment, technology, mythology, and religion. Krishna's philosophy of detachment profoundly influences her life and inspires her writing. Alongside her blogs, she is a skilled poet, with her work showcased in esteemed newspapers. Her poetry often carries a Greek influence, particularly when exploring her fascination with Achilles.
Personal Life
Shweta Mahendra is married to Yogesh Mahendra, a chemical engineering graduate from IIT Delhi and an MBA/CFA. Yogesh serves in a senior leadership role at Reliance Industries Limited. The couple has a son named Akshansh Mahendra, who also pursued a bachelor’s degree in technology from IIT Guwahati and is currently employed at the Deloitte US-India office. Shweta has launched a website, accessible at www.shwetamahendra.com.
Works Authored
- Many Visions Many Worlds (2023): A thought-provoking book available in Hindi and English, delving into the complexities of civilizations and technological progress.
- 3 States, I Saw Bharat in India (2024): A vibrant travel diary available in Hindi and English, capturing the essence of three states in northeast India.
Shweta has also featured her articles and blogs in esteemed publications such as the Times of India and The Daily Guardian.
Awards and Special Mentions
Shweta Mahendra is part of the Guinness World Record for her contribution to the thickest book in the world, specifically for her involvement in the book chapter "23 Positive Change Makers in the World 2023." She is recognized as an influential awareness speaker, captivating audiences with her lectures at prestigious institutions. Her discussions cover themes such as managing life in the long run, preparing for a second life, the importance of philosophy, and her admiration for Socrates and Plato.
External Links
- [Website](https://shwetamahendra.com)
- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/shweta.mahendra.3?mibextid=LQQJ4d)
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahendrashweta)
- Instagram: [@shwetamahendra_author](https://www.instagram.com/shwetamahendra_author)
- Twitter: [@ShwetaYMahendra](https://twitter.com/ShwetaYMahendra)