Leaders

Can you share about your educational journey and how your time at JNTU shaped your personal and professional growth?

My educational journey started with a bachelor’s degree at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), which gave me a fresh perspective on the industry. Proactively engaging in various events, seminars and presentations during this time helped me discover my potential, and my internship experiences allowed me to connect with seasoned professionals, gaining valuable insights from their approaches. JNTU played a key role in shaping my career path. During my master’s & doctorate degree, I took an active role in mentoring and teaching bachelor’s students. This opportunity persuaded me to think innovatively, understanding human needs from a growth perspective, and helping others navigate challenges. My doctorate in Green Technology further instilled in me the values of patience, long-term dedication, creativity, innovation, and risk management, all of which I now apply to my professional development.

Can you give us an overview of your extensive professional journey as a business leader and highlight the key areas of expertise you have developed over the years?

My professional journey started with conducting research & development activities, mentoring people, designing new strategies for process standardization, developing university-level courses, training people and organizing events, which helped me build expertise in all these areas. Working as an Auditor in ISO 9001:2015, Quality Management Systems, I stepped into the quality domain which became an integral part of my work. As my entrepreneurial journey unfolded, I had versatile responsibilities from standardizing and managing different functions like Accreditations, Operations Support, Vendor Management, Human Resource, overseeing company finances, planning company’s growth areas and so on. This has also helped me to evolve as an entrepreneur.

What inspired you to Co-found QRC Assurance And Solutions? Could you share the core idea behind the venture and highlight its key areas of expertise?

QRC Assurance And Solutions is a comprehensive global information security GRC (Governance, Risk & Compliance) provider, offering top-tier services and integrated solutions in the data security and privacy space. It was founded with the vision of becoming the go-to service provider, supporting clients in achieving their security and privacy objectives. Key areas of expertise include Enterprise Level Information Security Services, Certification services, Security testing, Compliance assessments and Training Services.

As Co-founder and Head of Internal Affairs at QRC Assurance And Solutions, what are your key responsibilities and main focus areas for driving the company's growth?

At QRC Assurance And Solutions, my key responsibilities include managing various functions including Accreditations, Operations, Operation Support, Trainings, Human Resource, and Administration, and overseeing Accounts and Finances. I also handle planning and developing global expansion strategies, introducing and deploying new service lines, standardizing processes, and monitoring key performance areas. Additionally, I coordinate with all key stakeholders regarding company affairs and expansion.

What do you consider to be the most critical challenges you face as a business leader, and what strategies do you use to address these obstacles?

Staying current with the latest technological advancements within the niche domain and keeping up to the expectations from all the stakeholders and improving employee growth and engagement are among the major challenges faced by any organization. Recognizing that employees are the most valuable asset; we focus on their development as key to organizational growth. We offer unwavering support to our employees to handle any situations whether at a personal level or professional level. We promote continuous professional development through internal and external training; to keep our team updated on the latest trends and technologies we give them the opportunity to participate in various industry events, conferences and other knowledge sessions.

By doing all the above, we are trying to create a competent team. With a competent team, we deliver exceptional services, which will help us to satisfy all our stakeholders.

Can you shed light on the most important milestones in your professional journey? What has been your approach to achieving success over the years?

I view the progression of my career as a significant milestone, and I’m thankful for the experiences and lessons learned along the way. Few of the key milestones include transition to a professor, development into a business enabler across various roles, management of business growth and strategies, publishing papers in esteemed national and international journals, and serving as a principal investigator for numerous graduate student projects. As for a success mantra, I believe there is still much for me to learn and achieve. However, I think it's important for everyone to embrace their uniqueness and con fidently use their strengths and perspectives to make an impact.

Dr Deepti Somayajula, Co-Founder & Head Of Internal Affairs, QRC Assurance And Solutions

Dr Deepti Somayajula is a seasoned professional with 15 years of experience in Research & Development, Operations Management, Accreditations, Trainings, and People Enabler. She is a Lead Auditor specializing in Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001:2015) and Information Security Management Systems (ISO/IEC 27001:2022).