In this podcast episode, Gayatri Kalyanaraman is in conversation with Shubhangi M Josiam, Digital Head APAC of Alstom about her 18+ year journey across GE and Alstom, moving from core IT and infrastructure roles to customer-facing digital transformation leadership across APAC.

Shubangi shares candid stories about career pivots, leadership programs, Lean Six Sigma, building IT from scratch post-acquisition, and navigating cross-cultural teams—ending with powerful advice for women professionals to be bold and go for roles before feeling “fully ready”.

00:00 – 01:50 — Introduction to Shubangi’s APAC digital leadership role and IT’s shift from backend to customer-facing solutions.

01:52 – 04:41 — Early inspiration for engineering, switching from electronics to information science driven by a love for programming.

04:42 – 07:56 — Entering GE through walk-ins, starting in captive IT, and learning end-to-end infrastructure fundamentals.

08:20 – 11:49 — Discovering GE’s leadership culture and choosing Lean Six Sigma for outcome-driven career growth.

12:06 – 14:28 — Leading a consumer experience transformation project and early exposure to Agile and product thinking.

14:29 – 16:08 — Managing ERP operations and learning real-world supply chain complexity during system transitions.

16:08 – 18:09 — Navigating acquisitions, making tough career exits, and prioritising personal sustainability.

18:46 – 23:51 — Joining Alstom during post-acquisition chaos and helping build IT systems from the ground up.

23:51 – 25:50 — Building digital and analytics platforms, hiring data scientists, and scaling analytics maturity.

25:51 – 27:47 — Transitioning into regional IT leadership and driving large-scale digital change during COVID.

27:48 – 29:37 — Moving into customer-facing digital rail solutions across APAC and continuous learning from the market.

30:00 – 32:19 — Managing APAC time zones through clusters while maintaining work–life balance.

32:20 – 36:45 — Leading across cultures by balancing company values with local working styles.

46:46 – 48:36 — Building trust through direct feedback, transparency, and authentic leadership.

48:38 – 50:43 — Final advice: be bold, apply even if you’re not “ready,” and trust yourself to figure it out.

“If you want to do something, go for it. Help will come—and you will figure it out.”

“Men apply saying, ‘I’ll figure it out.’ Women apply saying, ‘I meet only five out of ten requirements.’ That’s what stops us.”

“I didn’t tick all the boxes, but I figured it out.”

“Worst case, you fail. Big deal. You learn. It’s not the end of the world.”

“IT is no longer a backend engine—it’s delivering real digital solutions to customers.”

Shubangi can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shubhangi-mj/

As we step into 2026, a heartfelt thank you to all our listeners for your time, trust, and continued support. Your engagement, feedback, and encouragement mean a lot to us and inspire us to keep creating meaningful conversations and content.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy New Year 2026—may it bring good health, fresh opportunities, and continued learning. Looking forward to growing and learning together in the year ahead!

Here is the link to the AI story mentioned in the podcast

https://youtu.be/wjgbCiZmbEE

Hope you enjoy!!

In this episode, Hasan Siddiqui, a veteran in the IT industry, recounts his extensive and diverse career in the software and technology industry, offering valuable insights and advice along the way.

He starts with his academic beginnings, influenced by the late Professor V Rajaraman, and traces his journey through various pivotal roles at companies like Burroughs, Unisys, and TCS. He discusses his work on significant international projects, his tenure at CBS, his experiences with matrix organizations, corporate politics, and his eventual transition into academic roles and consulting.

Hasan also emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning, maintaining professional relationships, and staying optimistic and adaptable in the ever-evolving tech landscape.

00:00 Technical Difficulties and Introductions

00:52 Early Career and Influential Mentors

02:43 First Major Projects and Overseas Assignments

05:32 Learning and Adapting in France

08:43 Transition to Account Management and Return to India

12:03 Building a Career in Bangalore and Pune

18:31 Navigating Corporate Politics and Final Career Moves

32:03 Introduction to Can Bay and HSBC

32:37 Challenges and Responsibilities at GDC

35:27 Transition to Academia

37:55 Return to Industry and Career Lessons

40:40 Retirement and New Ventures

41:55 Continuous Learning and Technology Trends

45:45 Managing Large Teams and Client Relations

51:51 Networking and Building Relationships

54:09 Retirement Philosophy and Personal Practices

01:00:40 Final Thoughts and Advice

The timestamps are approximate and do not include the time for the intro. Add about 90 seconds to locate the section.

Hasan Siddiqui is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and an accomplished technology and business education leader in the international IT industry spanning corporate strategy, business development, GDC/ODC set up and operations, talent management and academics.

He has played senior management roles at Cap Gemini, Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, Covansys and Symbiosis university.

He may be reached at: it.career.lighthouse@gmail.com