Robotic process automation, artificial intelligence, conferencing and collaborative applications, IT service management and digital commerce applications are hot growth areas for the IT solutions and services sector. Indian enterprises have been continuing their digital transformation initiatives with a clear focus on scalable, secure and agile frameworks. This is the playing field where Merce Technologies is a strong player. Merce Technologies executes turnkey projects with Java, PHP, JavaScript, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, Git version control, non-SQL databases, full-text searchable databases, and payment gateway integration.

Merce has a trained team of developers, testers, tech leads, Bas, PMs, account managers, Members of Technical Staff. They also outsource resources as per the requirement of clients in order to build software systems for them. Women Entrepreneur India Magazine engages in a conversation with ShraddhaThanawala, CEO of Merce Technologies, in order to know more about their IT services and the core philosophies it is governed by.

Give Us A Brief Overview Of Merce Technologies. Also What Are The Important Features About Your Expertise As A Business Leader That You Want To Share?

Merce Technologies is in the area of IT services. We work mainly with large BFSI companies on large turnkey projects and on software which requires scale, security and robustness. These three become very critical when we are being awarded any project. Now, having said that, we also work with new age fintech companies. Occasionally, we have also worked with non-financial companies. We work on customized software requirement of our clients.

As a business leader, in my prior experience serving the SME sector, I learnt a lot about technology, looked into the requirements of the clients and the mechanisms by which our projects need to be delivered. The delivery of the projects is always the prime concern as it is key to bringing value to our clients. And I also work very closely with my teams, where I guide them in a particular direction. This allows me to have better equations with my clients and my team members.

Tell Us About Your Early Educational Journey And Prior Industry Experience That You Bring To The Table And Also How Does Your Prior Experience Aid You In Leading Merce Technologies Today?

I have a background in accounts & finance. I decided to drop my preparations for the CA exam halfway. Much later, I completed the Stanford Seed Entrepreneur course in India, conducted by the Graduate Business School of Stanford University. Although my background is mainly in finance, I have always a knack for managerial expertise. Before Merce, I used to work in various chartered accountant consulting firms, handling consulting assignments, starting from creating business and financial plans for mid-sized organizations, whether it is franchisee based model or manufacturing organizations.

"The delivery of the projects is always the prime concern as it is functional in bringing value to our clients."

This earlier professional experiences taught me the attitude of addressing the core issue in order to solve it and most importantly the ability to modulate myself according to the nature of professional challenges and improvise my potential with due course of time. These valuable lessons helps me tackle my role as CEO even today.

What Have Been Some Of The Most Significant Milestones That We Have Achieved So Far In Your Professional Journey?

We undertook projects from the National Securities Depository Ltd, Stock Exchanges, Konkan Railway Corporation, the Uttar Pradesh State Government and Johnson & Johnson and multiple other renowned organizations. In addition to it, we built a goal-based advisory system for Edelweiss regarding investments in capital markets.

The project for the Uttar Pradesh state govt was done jointly with Ernst and Young. We learned many difficult lessons about satisfying a very fast-moving govt organisation which was itself buffeted by political pressures and changing priorities. We also learned about the challenges of partnering with a Big Four consulting firm. The project for Konkan Railways taught us how to deploy a small crack team of engineers who would then provide flawless support to 74 railway stations and three major data centres stretching along the Konkan coast of India. Working with the National Securities Depository and the top two stock exchanges of India taught us about the strict process compliance and IT audit culture there, something which only the largest IT services firms are geared to adhere to.

As A Successful Business Leader, What Would Your Advice Be To Young Women And Girls Aspiring To Become Business Leaders And Entrepreneurs In The Future?

Women who aspire to entrepreneurship in their respective fields need to understand that they require to overcome the mental barriers to their goals. In a city like Bombay, barriers are largely internal, not physical. They have to rise above their dilemmas, the resistance and the never-ending internal battles they fight within. It might seem challenging in the beginning but everything gets easier when they start believing in their potential. The entire environment encompassing them gradually becomes supportive in their path to success. As a woman, you may have to be much better than the men around you in order to get the same recognition. So, be willing to work harder.

Learn to rapidly identify those who are willing to help you, and get the maximum guidance and help from them. Help them wherever they need help, so that the relationships stay strong. As women, you may not be able to socialise and build networks in the same way as men do, therefore it’s important to build strong relationships with key people who can help and guide you. Women are often weak in building their networks, and hesitant in seeking help. One needs support networks in both professional spheres and personal life. Don’t hold grudges – move fast, and move on. Bitterness only slows you down.

Shraddha Thanawala CEO, Merce Technologies

Shraddha has been associated with Merce since 2001. At Merce, she heads the entire P&L of a growth stage software projects company. Her career has been a journey starting with accounts, finance and taxation, taken her through several years of sales and business development for technology products, go-tomarket strategy for the business, and now to her current role of CEO and MD.