Enterprises must have sufficient data strategy, management, and governance if they are to maximize value and gain a competitive edge from the massive amounts of data they are collecting and keeping. Today's approach to data management differs significantly from what it was in the initial years of the internet. There are several sub-disciplines and functions within data management, including data quality, data security, data architecture, and metadata management. Data governance is a key function that connects all of these sub disciplines and activities. Data management and IT expert –Shradha Samantray thinks that a transformational data approach may create real and measurable impact, accelerate innovation, increase operational efficiency and give major prospects for increased revenue and value proposition.

Shradha has spent most of her career in the IT industry in India and overseas, she is an expert in the data management and analytics fields. Shradha is a well-recognized leader when it comes to establishing data analytics strategies for prestigious businesses and she also directed several large-scale data transformation initiatives.

Engaging in an exclusive interaction with Women Entrepreneur magazine, Shradha spoke about her professional journey so far and her contribution as the Director of IIRIS Labs - Informa.

Take us through the prior industry experience that you bring to the table.

For the last 16 years, I've worked in information technology in India, US and UAE and I've seen data and technology ecosystem shift radically. My career has spanned many different technological arenas and I have witnessed data evolve from Data to Big Data to Smart Data. There is no denying that today's technology is much smarter than it was merely a few years ago, owing to developments like Machine Learning, Human Imitated Intelligence, and Artificial Intelligence. After completing my graduation, I began working for Cognizant.

After working there for six years, I relocated to Dubai and went on to work with Emirates - a company that is state-of-the-art in terms of technology. Because I went from a service-based sector to one that owns and operates its products, the transition was quite a shift in perspective for me. Emirates also had an IT Division called “Mercator” where we developed solutions for Emirates and then made them accessible to other major airlines. After working with “Mercator” for seven years, I made the switch to Informa. As a Data Solutions Architect, I found myself drawn to Informa's approach to data and technology.

Give us a brief overview of Informa.

Informa is a leading international events, digital services and academic knowledge group working in two main markets: in Academic Markets, where we serve and support researchers and institutions worldwide, and in Business-to-Business Markets, where we champion businesses and professionals working in a number of different sectors. You can see that at Informa, we're connecting b2b businesses with our products today and data is what makes it all possible since we have optimized the whole experience. To realize the data driven vision, Informa set up an operating unit called “IIRIS” which is Informa's centralized data and analytics engine for all its B2B Markets customer data to capture opportunities from using data to enhance our existing products and develop new digital demand generation services. I was subsequently transferred to this division. Within Informa – IIRIS, I served as the Director of Customer Insights. Then I was assigned a new task, which is what I do now; a new structure was established inside the architectural innovation function, known as the IIRIS Labs.

“IIRIS labs is a catalyst to drive technology driven change across the organization by accelerating the speed of innovation with impactful projects”

Currently, I'm the Director of IIRIS Labs, which catalyst to drive technology-driven change across the organisation. We are responsible to accelerate the speed of innovation across our B2B businesses by delivering and positioning high-profile and impactful proof-of concepts, pilots and minimum-viable products that allow us prove hypothesis, solve business problems, and increase the value of our data assets. We are constantly looking at new developments and shift in market trends that have the potential to change the way we do business.

What are your primary areas of focus while leading the data-related initiatives at the company?

In the IIRIS Labs, we emphasize solving challenges in specific niches. The question we majorly focus on is, how can we introduce new ideas, innovate and pursue better, more cost-effective and streamlined ways to acquire data, enrich, combine and monetize our data assets. One of our current project is a Smart Data initiative to build an intelligent audience product. We are processing a huge volume of streaming signals to understand and infer what is our audience’s intention and goals.

Drawing from your experience as a successful business leader, what would your advice be to young women and girls who also aspire to become business leaders and entrepreneurs in the future?

Indian women have an invisible barrier that can't always be passed. We have a stereotype following us. Even with job challenges, professional progress, and other changes, we may need to let go of our restrictions. Who or where you come from doesn't matter? We need to believe in our abilities and reiterate to ourself that we can run a successful professional and family life. Be a lifelong learner to keep up with the world's constant changes. Even if you work in a particular technology, seek ways to expand your skills and stay abreast.

Shradha Samantray, Director, IIRIS Labs, Informa

Shradha graduated from Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology with a B. Tech in Information Technology and a Post-Graduation in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Throughout her career so far, Shradha has held positions of increasing responsibility at firms such as Cognizant Technology Solution and Emirates. She presently serves as the Director of Informa's IIRIS Labs.