Through a compelling blend of technical acumen and visionary leadership, Namratha Peddisetty has carved a unique niche in the dynamic realms of business development and technology. With a robust 11+ year career and diverse experience, she stands as a leading figure in product management, process reengineering, and digital solutions, consistently championing remarkable outcomes for both organizations and their end users.
Career highlights
Namratha’s journey began at the well-regarded TATA Consultancy Services as a sharp-eyed Business Analyst. This role was only the beginning, as her potential fast-tracked her to work at other industry giants like Cognizant and Dell Technologies. Starting as a Business Analyst and later advancing to Product Owner at TATA Consultancy Services, she went on to hold various roles at Cognizant and Dell Technologies, including Product Owner, Project Manager, and Product Manager, while also serving as a Change Manager.
Throughout her career, Namratha has expertly led large-scale projects across digital domains such as e-commerce, mobile applications, and MarTech. Her ability to orchestrate cross-functional teams in high-stakes, complex environments has been consistently recognized across all her roles. “My career is defined by implementing digital products, managing cross-functional teams, and steering complex projects, leveraging both Agile and Waterfall methodologies,” she shares. Early in her career, she learned the importance of keeping the customer at the center of all solutions, even when direct interaction wasn’t possible, using extensive research and data analysis to address their needs.
One of her early career-defining projects was the e-commerce platform TataCliq.com, where she adapted to the true Agile model in a fast-paced environment, focusing on rapid delivery and customer satisfaction. She recalls this project as her turning point, after which she shares, “There has been no looking back. This experience opened the doors to understanding how the IT world operates and taught me valuable lessons about time commitment and managing complex, multi-scaled projects. It was a project on the scale of Amazon, where we spent almost 12–14 hours a day ensuring the platform was successfully implemented and launched on time for the public, but we had the most fun as well.”
After several successful implementations and various roles at TCS and Cognizant, Namratha moved to Dell, where she worked on many impactful projects involving cross-dependences and new technologies. Some of her notable roles at Dell included implementing a companywide centralized intranet platform and a global event management system, which she describes as “the north star solution,” showcasing her expertise in change management and the integration of marketing technology tools.
Process reengineering has been a cornerstone of Namratha’s career. More recently, she was tasked with implementing work management software for a few teams, which enabled integrated and automated workflows and standardized and streamlined reporting across teams, allowing the decommissioning of redundant tools. Her approach was systematic: she began by mapping existing workflows to identify inefficiencies, then collaborated closely with stakeholders and other workstream leads within her team to design processes that aligned with the organization’s needs. Namratha’s experience in this project underscored the importance of involving all stakeholders early and maintaining a focus on continuous improvement to sustain productivity gains. She attributes her career growth to a commitment to making end users’ lives easier and a drive to deliver consistent, impactful results.
Impact of diverse industry experience
Experience across digital, e-commerce, mobile apps, in-store products, and MarTech has significantly shaped Namratha’s approach to product management. She credits this diversity for enhancing her adaptability and innovation, allowing her to respond swiftly to new challenges and opportunities while maintaining a focus on efficiency. With frequent project transitions every 1–2 years, she has developed the agility needed to reset her approach as market demands evolve.
Central to her strategy is a strong emphasis on the customer, a perspective that she has carried throughout her career. “A consistent focus on the customer is central to my work, regardless of the domain,” she explains, always aiming to improve user experiences. This customer-centric mindset, paired with a reliance on data-driven insights to make informed decisions and identify growth opportunities, enables her to drive success across various projects. Her broad industry exposure has ultimately provided her with a comprehensive understanding of both product management and process improvement, allowing her to deliver impactful results.
Key success factors in project delivery
Namratha attributes her success in consistently delivering complex projects to a combination of mentorship, adaptability, and collaboration. “Working with effective mentors and leaders has been pivotal,” she notes, as their guidance has helped her navigate challenges and stay focused on long-term goals. Embracing change is another cornerstone of her approach, allowing her to adapt quickly to new environments and seek continuous feedback to refine her skills.
Collaboration and clear communication are central to her project management style. She emphasizes the importance of engaging with diverse stakeholders and cross-functional teams, ensuring that everyone is aligned and committed to the project’s success. Her proficiency in both Agile and Waterfall methodologies allows her to tailor project management approaches based on the unique needs of each initiative, optimizing outcomes. Additionally, her proactive approach to identifying risks and implementing mitigation strategies helps keep projects on track, ensuring they are delivered on time and within budget.
Applying agile and waterfall methodologies
Navigating complex projects has taught Namratha the value of both Agile and Waterfall methodologies, and often, a blend of the two proves most effective. “I use Waterfall to define an end-to-end flow and establish a basic roadmap,” she explains, creating a solid structure and vision for the project. However, when it comes to execution, she turns to Agile for flexibility, quicker feedback loops, and continuous improvements, allowing for adaptability as the project progresses.
Her experience ranges from using Waterfall’s structured approach for an in-house product development project with clear requirements, to leveraging Agile for iterative development, as seen in a challenging e-commerce application project. Reflecting on these experiences, she highlights the lessons learned: “Agile’s flexibility and focus on continuous improvement helped manage complex challenges, while Waterfall underscored the importance of thorough planning and documentation.” By adapting her approach to each project’s needs, she has consistently achieved successful outcomes, demonstrating that a tailored blend of methodologies can provide both structure and flexibility.
Leveraging technology for success
Harnessing technology has been central to Namratha’s approach to product management, allowing her to streamline project delivery and achieve business goals. She relies on tools like Jira, TFS, and Asana for project management, using them to create and manage user stories and requirements, ensuring her team stays organized and aligned. For collaboration and documentation, she emphasizes how Microsoft Suite facilitates seamless interaction among team members and stakeholders, making sure everyone is working towards the same goals. Miro and Visio have also become key tools in her process, helping her chart flow diagrams that clarify complex concepts for her team.
Namratha integrates data visualization tools like Power BI, which are vital for analyzing project data, tracking key performance indicators, and making informed decisions. She notes, “The main objective is maintaining clear and effective communication and transparency,” keeping all stakeholders aligned throughout the project lifecycle. This strategic use of technology has consistently enabled her to improve collaboration, streamline processes, and achieve successful project outcomes.
Future goals and continued innovation
Looking ahead, Namratha is focused on driving innovation and growth within product management. She is eager to take on more leadership roles. “I am aiming to mentor others in my field and promote a culture of learning and growth,” she shares. As a newly appointed IEEE senior member and a judge for various hackathons and award programs, she is committed to leading by example, embracing new challenges, and inspiring others to adopt innovative practices.
Namratha plans to leverage her extensive experience to tackle even more complex projects, with a strong emphasis on embracing emerging technologies that can drive positive change for end users and support broader developmental goals. By focusing on strategic process improvements, she aims to contribute significantly to organizational growth, ensuring that her work continues to make a lasting impact on both her field and the industry at large. She is also eager to work in various domains to expand her expertise and leverage cross-domain knowledge in her projects.
Positioned for future challenges, Namratha is set on taking on leadership roles, emphasizing mentorship and strategic process improvements. With a focus on integrating emerging technologies, her path forward is laid out with clarity and purpose, bridging the gap between technological advancement and strategic foresight.
