S3E1 – Taking Bigger, Bolder Bets with Sandhya Devanathan

What makes someone leave a 16-year career in banking for the unpredictable world of tech? In this episode of Rewrite The Rules, I’m thrilled to chat with someone I truly admire—Sandhya Devanathan, the incredible Vice President of Meta India. We dive into her personal journey, from watching her husband thrive in the startup world to taking a leap of faith into tech herself. Sandhya shares the highs, the challenges of balancing career and family, and how she’s now shaping the future of women in tech. Join me for a conversation about taking bold risks, continuous learning, and paving the way for future leaders!

Discussion Topics: Taking Bigger, Bolder Bets with Sandhya Devanathan

• Why did Sandhya take a leap of faith from banking to tech?
• A personal story behind her career switch—what sparked it?
• Unlearning everything: How tech shook up Sandhya’s career path.
• Breaking barriers: What’s it like being a woman leader in tech?
• Mentors vs. Sponsors – Which helped her rise faster?
• Family vs. career: How Sandhya made the tough call.
• Facing imposter syndrome – how Sandhya overcame self-doubt.
• What advice would Sandhya give her 21-year-old self?

Our Guest: Sandhya Devanathan

Sandhya Devanathan is the Vice President and Managing Director of Meta India, a position she has held since January 2023. She holds an MBA from FMS Delhi and has previously worked with Citibank and Standard Chartered. Devanathan joined Meta in 2016 and has held various leadership roles across Southeast Asia. Recognized for her contributions to the tech industry, she was named one of India’s most powerful women by Fortune in 2023 and 2024.

Your Host: Ritu Gupta Mehrish

Ritu Gupta Mehrish is a speaker, executive coach and author, with 20 years of corporate experience working in companies such as P&G, GE Capital and GE spin-off Genpact. In her last role, Ritu ran a multimillion-dollar business vertical with 1000 people across eight countries and five continents. Throughout her extensive career, Ritu has had the opportunity to work, coach and converse with leaders across the globe from diverse industries. Her business and leadership experience has enabled her to bring in a pragmatic approach to leadership development. Her client list of Google, PayPal, Swiss Re, JP Morgan, Applied Materials, Intel, Knight Frank, Johnson & Johnson, AIA, Medtronic, Wharton Executive Education highlights the level of expertise she brings to the leadership topic.

Rajita Saxena is a leader and people manager with over 20 years of business experience in sales, sales support, strategic operations, and learning & development. She builds strong, high-performing teams and believes in being a Level 5 leader to unleash the potential and performance of teams. She thrives in an environment that provides an opportunity to problem solve or create impact, whether it is a situation that is full of change and ambiguity or one that requires creating a strategy.