With visionary leadership that pushes the boundaries of what's possible, companies nowadays are rewriting the rules of the digital landscape. Leading a global innovation powerhouse like Adobe, Mohini Kapoor, Senior Director Customer Engineering is at the forefront of revolutionizing the power of technology.

Her unwavering dedication, forward-thinking vision, and exceptional leadership qualities have propelled Adobe to new heights of innovation and excellence. As a prominent example of women's leadership in the tech industry, Mohini Kapoor's keen insights and strategic guidance have been instrumental in driving creative brilliance to new horizons. During an insightful interview with us, Mohini Kapoor candidly shared her journey, including the challenges she faced while holding a prominent position at Adobe.

Could you share with us the formative years of your educational journey and the wealth of industry experience that you bring to the table?

As the eldest child in my family, hailing from a small town, my parents had one ambitious goal for us: to receive the best education possible. Despite our modest middle-class background, my parents worked tirelessly to ensure we could study at top institutions. Their unwavering determination fueled my motivation to excel in my studies and consistently top my classes. I never took the value of money for granted, and even before graduating, I sought opportunities to earn a living. Landing a job through campus placement, I started working full-time while still in college. With a deep passion for acquiring new skills, I pursued various avenues to broaden my horizons, which undoubtedly contributed to my climb up the professional ladder.

Please provide an overview of Adobe and share details about your role as the Senior Director Customer Engineering for the company.

When I made the transition to Adobe, it opened a whole new world of opportunities and successes for me. Every year, I had the chance to re-evaluate myself and strive to excel in my role, pushing it to new heights. This was also a time when Adobe was undergoing a significant transformation, transitioning from a traditional boxed product model to a cloudbased offering. In 2009, we launched our Creative Cloud, which was a pioneering move in the software industry. However, it wasn't without its challenges. Moving away from a standard set of operations that had been successful for over a decade meant we had to navigate through a learning curve and manage customer expectations in a different way. But it was an exciting journey, filled with valuable insights and lessons learned.

Shed some light on the key challenges you face in your current role and how you navigate through them successfully.

As a Senior Director at Adobe, I face challenges in ensuring customer success- resolving issues promptly, and helping customers be successful Customized installations for each customer and cybersecurity concerns pose persistent business challenges that require a collaborative partnership approach with our product engineering and consulting teams.

"Strive to be better each day. Focus on improving the Facets of either knowledge Or the skill sets"

Overcoming these challenges involves keeping runbooks current, ensuring software updates are implemented, and maintaining robust firewalls. This requires diligent efforts in managing thousands of customers with unique software implementations.

Share your top three professional milestones and your success mantra as a business leader.

The first milestone was overcoming challenges as the only female candidate with the least tenure. Among 35 applicants, I successfully cracked the managerial IJP, marking one of my initial proud milestones. I was also honored to receive the prestigious Founders Award at Adobe in 2013. It is based on nominations from my peers who recognized my embodiment of Adobe values, rather than just business performance.

"When things get Tough, take a pause, And reflect back On the path you've Covered so far"

I got promoted to Director in Adobe India. I was later notified that I was the first female Director for Adobe India. This additional anecdote made the achievement extra sweet. My philosophy is simple: give your best to the role that you are playing, as it is a conscious choice made by us. Every one of us is unique thus find out what motivates you. Instead of relying on external sources, let that ‘motivation’ fuel the need to excel in your endeavors.

Based on your experience, what advice or message do you have for women who aspire to be leaders or entrepreneurs?

I believe that to be successful, you need to be willing to put in the extra effort. Life may not always be easy at any stage. When things get tough, take a pause, and reflect back on the path you've covered so far. Cherish every milestone, celebrate every small victory, and be proud of what your efforts have helped you accomplish. Moreover, don't hesitate to raise your hand and ask for help. I've learned that if you don't ask for help, you'll never get it. And even though some people may say no, there's still a high chance that you'll receive the support you need. So, it's important to be willing to take that step and approach others for help.

Mohini Kapoor, Senior Director- Customer Engineering, Adobe

Mohini Kapoor's vision to foresee industry trends, dedication to delivering unparalleled support to clients, and ability to inspire and motivate her team have earned her a reputation as a true leader in the field.

Advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs:

Life may not always be easy at any stage, but when you reflect on the path you've come so far, you'll see that your hard work has not gone to waste. You are stronger, more successful, and closer to your goal. You deserve all the credit and applause for striving and thriving in life.