Leaders

The evolving demand dynamics of digital marketers for managing digital content are opening up novel channels for global content management software (CMS). New op­portunities are emerging in the industry due to the inte­gration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into content management platforms. As internet users and publishers increase, CMSs’ will become more user-friendly and less code reliant. Addi­tionally, the market for content management will witness a rise in exponentially growing data requirements and an increase in cloud platforms. An optimist and inspiring leader, Auromita Bhadra, Vice President of Product Management at CoreMedia, is steering the company toward success. Helping global brands to become iconic since 1996, CoreMedia is committed to forging high-touch collab­orations with leaders across all industries – fashion, finance, me­dia, manufacturing, and more.

Auromita has more than 16 years of experience in the soft­ware industry that spans e-commerce, cybersecurity, production management, financial solutions, and critical strategic initiatives. Starting her career as a software programmer at Fidelity Invest­ments and Adobe, she served in various product leadership roles at Cobalt, Wayfair, PSI AG, and Adobe, leading key initiatives for customer self-service, e-commerce operations, international ex­pansion, integrated e-Learning solutions respectively. She holds a Masters' degree in Computer Applications from Bangalore Univer­sity, India, and an MBA from Krannert School of Business, Purdue University, USA.

Auromita Bhadra engages in one-on-one interaction with the Women Entrepreneur Magazine.

What are your responsibilities as the organization's Vice President of Product Management? What are your current focus areas in the said role?

As the VP of Product Management at CoreMedia, my responsibilities include creating a vision for the product and steering the team towards achieving it. My biggest and primary job is to enable my team to do the best they can and support them with the right guidance and motivation.

I am also quite hands-on, and I look into bringing the company to solve some critical customer problems that need attention. My focus is to bring best practices from the industry in terms of building and designing products and releasing them optimally in the market.

Throw some light on the most critical challenges you face in your current role. What steps do you take to overcome the roadblocks that you face?

The critical challenge is differentiating our product or highlighting our USP amidst a highly competitive space. As data is the new oil, one needs to know how to leverage it to bring the best-optimized experience for our customers.

The DXP space is a very exciting and dynamic segment and there are a lot of new things happening and a lot more to explore. To remain relevant and be the leader in this market, we must upgrade ourselves according to the changing environment and constantly reinvent ourselves. We are not a big company, so we must be smart about every investment we make. Our customers are market leaders and we have to be nothing but the best to meet their demands.

We apply the core principles of design thinking to building new features and products, invest in understanding the pain points of our users and learn quickly through experiments and then iteratively improve our product.

What are some of the most significant milestones you have achieved throughout your professional journey?

I started my career at Fidelity investments right after university and I was working on big B2B projects from day 1. After my stint there I found my way to one of my dream companies, Adobe. I released 3 major versions of the product and managed a project with SAP Germany. I left Adobe to go back to business school to get my second master's and then landed in Germany.

In Germany working with PSI, I successfully launched their products in international markets like China, the USA, the UK, Eastern Europe, and more. As each market has different cultural and business aspects, setting up shop in a foreign country and building products that fit in the eco-system there was a tough challenge. I felt accomplished when I could do this. It was a significant milestone and played a huge factor in my career later.

I joined Wayfair in 2017 to build their internal tooling systems that helped manage the global e-commerce catalog. Some of the products I built served as the basis for many add-on products eventually.

After Wayfair, I worked with a Silicon Valley startup (Cobalt.io) in the AppSec industry on the self-service of the platform before joining CoreMedia.

I bring my diverse experience across industries and countries to my work in product management.

 "Even when you are facing tough and complex times, don't give up, just push yourself harder"

Tell us about the various facets of your personality beyond your profession. What are some activities and hobbies that you like?

I love to explore new places, so traveling is one of my favorite hobbies, and in pre-pandemic times, I have been on different journeys. Learning about different cultures, their histories and their people is always intriguing. In my spare time, I also enjoy teaching and mentoring, especially in product management. Another hobby I like to indulge in is writing; in 2020, I also published my first children's book, 'The Dino who liked to sing'.

What would your advice be to young women and girls aspiring to become business leaders and en­trepreneurs in the future?

I am lucky to be born into a forward-thinking family. My parents have been a constant source of courage and inspiration for me. They always encourage me to pursue my goals and never to give up. Not many girls, especial­ly in India, get the same kind of environment.

Across the world, women fall out of their careers because of family and societal pressure. At work, they get stuck due to the glass ceiling and have to constantly fight for a seat at the table. Don’t let these roadblocks make you deviate from your goals. In life, you meet two sets of people, one encouraging you toward your goals and the other who tells you that your goal is unrealistic. Pay no heed to the second group.

Sometimes you feel stuck, and sometimes your progress is too slow to be seen, but don’t ever stop trying. Focus not on the barriers that you come across but on how you can maneuver through those barriers toward your goal.

Auromita Bhadra, Vice President Of Product Management, Coremedia

Auromita had an idyllic childhood, growing up at the university of North Bengal where her parents taught, surrounded by nature, books, and the gorgeous Himalayan mountains. Auromita got great learnings from her family, who gave her the best education and inspired her at every moment of her life to forge ahead. With her strong mindset and aware soul, she knows how to drive the business on the path to success.