In the ever-evolving world of technology, managing and scaling IT teams is delicate, especially as the people behind the technology often feel the burden of high-pressure work environments. Vaishali Bhaurao Nagpure, a leader in IT infrastructure and project management, has steered large teams through complex projects. Her experiences can provide a blueprint and a motivation for leaders to manage teams of scaling projects.
While leading a cross-functional team of over 50 engineers, she directed the implementation of core banking solutions for the Bank of Maharashtra. This initiative involved the seamless integration of over 500 branches. She also played an important role in designing a data centre network supporting Aadhaar-linked services, impacting millions of users.
Vaishali asserts that the growth of IT teams isn’t solely about increasing numbers but also about creating a space where workers can flourish. Under her leadership, team productivity has seen a 30% uprise, thanks to the introduction of smooth workflow processes and the creation of an atmosphere conducive to ceaseless learning and advancement. She has also put in place Key Performance Indicators and other evaluation parameters, aiming for accountability and cultivating a culture of performance.
Her keen drive to elevate an expert workforce for organizational development becomes clear through her initiation and implementation of skill-building programs. These programs have endowed engineers with knowledge of networking protocols like MPLS, BGP, and QoS. A figure exceeding 200 engineers has derived advantages from these programs; 85% among them have secured certifications such as CCNA and CCNP. This education has equipped them to fulfil designated roles within their respective organisations.
One advantage Vaishali possesses is her ability to lead and drive large projects while upholding the utmost standards of operational effectiveness. She played an important role in the management of a major security initiative for the Southern Command, ensuring accurate delivery timelines for secure communication networks. She led a team to establish WAN and VOIP systems across more than 150 branches, securing optimised bandwidth usage and protected communication.
In the course of her work, she also had to consider multiple factors. Addressing the struggle of filling skill gaps in crucial projects is among her memories. Her strategies comprised of arranging internal training sessions and promoting a spirit of sharing knowledge, this move enabled her team to escalate their proficiency by a significant 50%. Likewise, when geographical distance caused communication roadblocks, she incorporated collaboration tools and regular virtual updates which led to a decrease in delays by 25%.
While working with Southern Command, engineers were reluctant to embrace novel work methods. She provided transparent benefits of amending processes and engaged her team in decision-making, which resulted in a 100% adoption rate of the new workflows. Additionally, to maintain equal distribution of workload during sizeable projects, she introduced effective task management tools.
She recognizes that an IT project’s success is as much about people as it is about technology. By prioritizing work-life balance and providing a supportive environment, she achieved a 90% retention rate, cultivating a high-performance culture grounded in an environment which takes care of the mental well-being of individuals.
Looking at the current trends, Vaishali envisions an approach where tools like AI-driven resource allocation and task management platforms will play an important role in streamlining the scaling of teams. However, she also emphasizes that just relying on AI might not be so effective, as scaling requires a mix of technical expertise, emotional intelligence, and strategic vision, aka, human involvement. She also underscores that in the current environment of hybrid and remote working environments, demands leaders who can foster trust and communication across geographic boundaries.
Vaishali’s guiding principles in leadership underscore the importance of constant learning, flexibility, and the welfare of the human element undertaking the activities.
