SheLeads: Interview with Tanya Jain, Director of Delivery Leadership

Tanya Jain is our global Director of Delivery Leadership, working from Exadel’s office in Seattle, USA. With her vast experience in both consulting and industry, she provides exceptional expertise in what it means to manage a team. Have a read about her insights on essential leadership qualities, the importance of work-life balance, and gender equality in the IT world.

What are your responsibilities at Exadel?

As a Director in the Delivery Leadership practice, my primary responsibility is to ensure the best possible alignment of our Consultants with client opportunities. This involves seeking a full understanding of our consultants, clients, and work delivery needs.

Beyond my role as a “business matchmaker,” I serve as the hiring manager for the Delivery Leadership department, interviewing our future consultants. I also serve as a general people manager, overseeing my team’s work, onboarding, bench processes, and several operational initiatives.

What are the most essential qualities of a leadership role?

Empathy is a core belief of mine. Connecting with my team is of the utmost importance. In the current fast-paced and competitive consulting and technology environments, where the focus on mental health is more important than ever, fostering meaningful connections and relationships is crucial. I strongly believe in safeguarding my team’s emotional well-being, and as a leader, I aim to provide support and motivation.

Effective communication, when clear and timely, is another vital leadership quality.

Do you struggle with work-life balance? How do you manage to overcome this in your professional life?

Sometimes, I struggle with work-life balance, but not because others are imposing expectations on me – it’s more about the nature of my daily work and my genuine care and consideration for those around me. I work alongside fantastic people in Exadel and my desire to continually support them can sometimes even keep me awake at night!

That said, we are fortunate that life commitments are enormously respected in my unit and throughout the company. Many amazing moms, step-moms, aunts, and other caretakers are committed to their families.

Do you think that the IT world can ‘already’ be considered a gender-equal place?

Are there things you’ve observed that could be improved?

Historically, the industry has struggled with challenges related to the underrepresentation of women in technical roles, gender bias, and unequal opportunities. At this moment, substantial strides are continually being made to address these issues and promote gender equality.

At Exadel, I take great pride in our progress in this direction. At a 2021 holiday event, several of us casually gathered for a photo in our photo booth. What stood out was that every woman in that image held a leadership role. This moment was a source of pride for me and a great representation of Exadel’s commitment to elevating women in the technology field.