My SWE Experience
“SWE has given me a platform where leaders outside my organization recognize me, and I feel proud to represent my organization there.”
What makes SWE special for you?
SWE has been a defining constant in my professional journey. It has provided me with a level of external visibility and recognition that I would not have achieved solely through internal organizational activities. Through SWE, I have had the opportunity to engage with leaders across industries, and I am proud that my contributions are recognized beyond my own organization. Representing my company on such a respected platform is both an honor and a source of immense pride.
Vandana Pandey
Job Title & Company: Associate Director – Site Reliability Engineer, Kyndryl Solutions Pvt Ltd.
Location: Chennai, India
Academic Background: B. Tech IT (Information Technology)
Years in SWE: Since 2015
How has SWE helped you gain visibility or recognition in your field?
SWE has been instrumental in elevating my visibility and strengthening my presence in the engineering community. Becoming a SWE Ambassador in 2016 was a turning point in my career. That year, I had the privilege of representing IBM India at the first SWE Conference in India, held in Pune—a milestone that opened doors to new networks and leadership opportunities. During the conference, I connected with leaders from various organizations, one of whom encouraged me to establish a new SWE Affiliate, since India had only one at the time. Being from Chennai, I was excited by the opportunity and, with guidance from those leaders, went on to form the SWE Chennai Affiliate in 2016.
I served as the President of the SWE Chennai Affiliate for three years and continue to contribute as a Board Member today. Over the years, I have held multiple leadership roles within SWE that further expanded my reach and impact. As a Joint Focused Coach with the Leadership Coaching Committee (LCC), I had the honor of coaching six affiliates across India—both professional and collegiate—helping them mature their programs and leadership practices.
For the past four years, I have also been part of the WE Local Bengaluru Advisory Board. I initially chaired the technical track for two consecutive years, and then I was elevated to the Executive Advisory Board as Program Director. Each of these roles has significantly amplified my professional visibility, expanded my network, and positioned me as a trusted contributor within the broader engineering community.
I currently serve as an Associate Director of Site Reliability Engineering at Kyndryl Solutions Private Limited—an independent technology services company that originated from IBM’s managed business services. Over the course of my career, I have consistently pushed the boundaries of technical excellence and leadership. I am proud to be the first woman to achieve SRE certification within Kyndryl/IBM, a milestone that reflects both my commitment to the discipline and my passion for advancing women in technology.
In addition to my SRE credentials, I have also had the honor of being part of IBM’s prestigious Academy of Technology (AoT), a global community of distinguished technical thinkers and innovators, since 2017. I previously served as a member of the Technical Experts Council India (TEC‑I), where I collaborated with other senior technologists to influence technical strategy and best practices.
These experiences have shaped not only my professional growth but also my dedication to mentoring, representation, and elevating technical excellence across the industry.
What specific skills or knowledge have you gained from SWE?
SWE has significantly contributed to my professional growth by strengthening both my leadership capabilities and my interpersonal effectiveness. One of the most impactful resources has been the Leadership Competency Model (LCM), offered as part of my role as a SWE Ambassador. Through LCM, I gained structured opportunities for self‑assessment and targeted development in critical leadership areas such as conflict resolution, negotiation, influence, and decision‑making. These competencies are essential for any leader, and SWE helped me intentionally build and refine them.
Beyond leadership development, SWE greatly enhanced my soft skills, which have become indispensable in my day‑to‑day work:
Communication: I learned how to convey messages with clarity and precision, especially when working with senior leaders across organizations. SWE’s programs helped me understand how to use the right language at the right time to drive alignment and impact.
Collaboration: SWE provided a platform to work with leaders from diverse organizations. Through professional development initiatives and collegiate engagements, I learned to collaborate across cultures, functions, and geographies.
Presentation skills: My involvement in multiple SWE Annual Conferences—including being selected as a speaker and later as a Trainer at WE23—sharpened my ability to present confidently to large, global audiences. Training LCC coaches worldwide was a particularly enriching experience that strengthened my facilitation and coaching skills. The lasting feedback and continued connections from those sessions speak to the effectiveness of these skills.
SWE also instilled in me the mindset of continuous learning. Staying relevant in today’s rapidly evolving landscape means actively upskilling, especially in emerging areas such as AI, Agentic AI, and GenAI. SWE’s culture of learning and its community support have encouraged me to consistently explore new trends, seek resources, ask for guidance, and keep moving forward in my professional journey.
What advice would you give university students in STEM who are wondering whether SWE would be valuable to them?
My advice to university students in STEM is simple: SWE is absolutely worth it—especially for the stage you are in right now. One of the biggest advantages SWE offers students is access to high‑quality learning resources. The Advance Learning Center is a great place to start. It has a wide range of content—podcasts, webinars, workshops, and skill‑building modules—that you can explore based on your interests and career goals.
SWE also offers structured development tracks such as self‑management, advocacy and outreach, and DEIB. If you are working on initiatives within your university and want to understand how similar programs are run professionally, these resources give you that external perspective and practical guidance.
Another important piece of advice: you do not have to navigate this journey alone. SWE gives you access to mentors—professionals who genuinely want to guide you. But mentoring works best when you take ownership. Be clear about what you want to learn and what skills you want to build. At the end of the day, you are in the driver’s seat of your career.
Invest in your growth, stay curious, and “Stay Relevant”. SWE gives you the tools—you just need to make the most of them.
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