Rituparna Mandal is General Manager of MediaTek Bangalore, and its Director of Advanced Technology. With nearly 25 years’ experience in the industry, she frequently shares her experiences within MediaTek's Women in Tek (WIT) initiative. As the first female engineer of her family pursing a career in tech, she humbly gives credit to her open-mined parents that encouraged her to follow her passions in math and science. Below, Ritu shares some inspirational ideas for everyone seeking self-advancement.
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I enjoyed studying mathematics and science since I was a child. Math and physics were always my favorite subjects throughout my years at school, and I found genuine joy in solving a complex mathematical equation or a physics problem. Additionally, my parents come from very humble backgrounds, as they were both first-generation graduates. My father was the first engineering graduate from his village, and it was all uphill from there. I think my inspiration to pursue a career in technology was drawn from him, as well as my mother’s desire to see her daughter become the first female engineer in the family. That, combined with my own interest in science and math, is what drove me and helped me choose electronic engineering as a field I would build my career on.
I attribute a lot of credit to my parents for the way they raised me – never teaching me to believe that I was any different or any less capable because I was a woman. It is this mindset that built my self-confidence to the point where I could conquer anything that I set my mind to.
From my experience, I have “ten commandments” for women interested in taking a similar path in technology:
- Never stop learning
- Invest in friendships and build connections
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions
- Forget about work-life balance, and choose your priorities
- Find your own groove, and just be yourself
- Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone
- Be sure to save, you may need it for a rainy day
- Work hard, but also play hard
- Be grateful
- Stay motivated by continuously rediscovering excitement in your career
