In 2021, the proportion of women in senior management roles globally grew to 31%, the highest number ever recorded. Women's senior leadership roles are also shifting; with more women entering STEM careers, we can see more women in technical leadership roles. Having female leadership in any organization leads to a more positive environment all around. Rajbir Kaur, Chief Technology Officer at 1GEN, is an experienced technical leader with a passion for driving and leading change. 1GEN is a social innovation startup committed to developing digital solutions that drive business growth and enable stories of hope.

Certified in blockchain and skilled in software engineering, Rajbir Kaur envisions playing the role of a catalyst and accelerator in the organization and making positive change possible. Rajbir Kaur engages in an exclusive interaction with the Women Entrepreneur Magazine.

Tell us about the expertise as a technocrat that you bring to your current role as CTO.

I'm committed to creating a meaningful impact through my work and knowledge. I perceive myself as an empathic technical leader, leading multiple high-performance DevOps teams. Over the years, I have gained a sense of perspective, which helps me increase my team's efficiency. Over the years, I have developed hands-on production experience in various technologies and domains like telecommunication, the Internet of Things, education, finance, health, and so on.

What are the various responsibilities you shoulder as the CTO of 1GEN? What are your current focus areas in the said role?

As architects of a sustainable future, we support multiple mission-driven organizations to achieve their business goals by providing them with the required digital expertise to scale their impact. So being a CTO, I am an intrinsic part of managing success or failure. I have to be an innovator, a risk taker, and a true technology leader, be alert to new trends, and quickly build cutting-edge and doable solutions. Talking about my current focus, as we are expanding now, my primary focus, along with innovation, is to hire, build, and develop high-performing technical teams and leaders to create a more positive impact.

Throw light on some of the most critical challenges you face as a technical leader. What steps do you take to overcome the roadblocks that you face?

A technical leader needs to have an architectural view of the business and its technology rather than focusing on the tiny minute. So that means the focus shifts from what I can do to what I can inspire others to do is required. As a result, empowering the team is needed rather than doing everything myself, which was the biggest challenge I faced when I transitioned from an individual contributor to a technical leader. I have come up with various techniques to overcome this challenge and learned the skill of delegating while I continue to have my support system with me. This means I cannot continue to sit behind the keyboard anymore. I have to focus on the bigger picture, in the process of which I have come to understand my strengths and weaknesses and dive deeper into my team's skills and challenges, which helps me maximize my team's efficiency.

In your opinion, what are some of the most significant milestones you have achieved throughout your professional journey? What has been the driving force behind your success as a professional?

I believe that small actions taken with bold intentions are capable of bringing positive change; everything we do is a small step towards solving the most pressing challenges that our planet is facing. Since childhood, I have seen my parents contributing back to society and encouraging me to do the same, deeply rooting it in my heart. When I met Paul Singh, CEO of Manchin, I immediately resonated with his vision to address intricate social problems such as climate change, access to education, poverty, hunger, technology, and storytelling. So I feel that now I am on a mission to contribute to building a culture where technical people can thrive, be empathic, and bring positive change to the world, along with creating their own careers. I would also like to acknowledge my husband's support for my success throughout my journey, as he has been my strength in balancing my professional and personal life and sharing the parental responsibilities of a child.

“Dreams transform into thoughts, and thoughts result in action. Dare to dream big, and be passionate about achieving your goals. Learn from your failures and be prepared to stand up each time you fall”

How do you foresee the Indian technology landscape evolving in the near future? Which industry trends will create the most significant impact in the said market?

The Indian technological landscape is evolving rapidly. Multiple trends, such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and blockchain, can create a significant impact. Artificial Intelligence is an extensive term that includes machine learning, image recognition, deep learning, and many other technologies. It has led to innovations like chatbots and predictive modeling, helping us cater to many projects, from climate change to healthcare to education. Along with AI, we are investing parallelly and working in cybersecurity and blockchain technologies to build advanced solutions.

Rajbir Kaur, CTO, 1GEN

Rajbir Kaur has done her B.Sc and Masters in Computer Applications from Punjab University, Chandigarh, after which she completed her executive education, specializing in blockchain technology and its applications, from the University of California, Berkeley. She began her career as a software developer in the Edison group, now known as Capgemini, and is currently working as CTO for 1GEN