Management & Thought leadership Professional Interview

Emerging technologies will not only help improve profitability of businesses but also generate a positive impact on our environmental footprint.

Monika Mahto, our next pathbreaker, Research Leader at Deloitte, works on global research campaigns on advanced technologies (Additive Manufacturing, IoT, Industry 4.0 etc) by collaborating with fellow thought leaders, industry executives, and academicians.

Monika talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about being drawn to the real world applications of disruptive technologies such as IoT and 3D printing and how they will revolutionise the future of work !

For students, you have an unprecedented opportunity to lead the way as thought leaders on innovative solutions to business, climate and sustainability challenges!

The views expressed here are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of her current, former, or future employers or any organization with which she is associated.

Monika,can you share your background with our young readers?

I spent my formative years in central India within a family of doctors and academicians, an environment where opinions thrived, and lively debates were a staple of our family gatherings. These intellectual exchanges were not just tolerated but actively encouraged during our shared meals. As a child, I became an avid observer of these discussions, noting how the elders skillfully navigated differing opinions. I also observed that everyone listened when somebody was talking, even if it was the youngest person on the table. This environment taught me to be a better listener and be more accommodating to differing views.

What did you do for graduation/post graduation?

Numbers and logical reasoning always intrigued me. So, I pursued my graduation and post-graduation with a business management degree and specialization in finance.

What were some of the key influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional career in DeepTech Consulting?

At home, my father played a pivotal role-he imparted the essential principles of financial planning to me from a young age. His teachings emphasized the irreplaceable value of hard work, stressing that patience and perseverance are the catalysts for achieving results over time. These enduring values instilled by my father remain a profound source of inspiration for me to this day.

My first job was as an office manager of a renowned Vedic mathematics academy. During this time, I had the unique opportunity to closely observe and learn from a Vedic mathematics teacher. His unwavering commitment to work and clarity of thought left a lasting impression on me.

Following my stint at the Vedic mathematics academy, I applied for my MBA degree with specialization in Finance. After completing my MBA, I joined Deloitte as a research analyst in 2008. Ironically, this coincided with the onset of the great recession. In hindsight, navigating the challenges posed by the economic downturn became a pivotal experience that defined my career. It demanded delivering superior client service amid the constraints of a challenging macroeconomic landscape.

During my tenure at Deloitte, I've had the privilege of working across various office locations in the US and India. In this capacity, I've overseen high-performing teams spread across different geographical locations, focusing on delivering market intelligence, research, and thought leadership.

Even though I finished my formal education more than 15 years ago, I see myself as a lifelong learner. I'm always looking for opportunities to get into a classroom (physical location or virtual) and brush up on my subject matter expertise and leadership skills.

In my core research, I learn by collaborating with fellow researchers and academicians. During a typical day at office, I learn a lot from my peers who are often also my best critiques.

How did you plan the steps to get into the career you wanted? Or how did you make a transition to a new career? Tell us about your career path

My career journey, choices, and paths have stayed fluid all through. In the last 17 years, I stayed open to opportunities, took challenges, and also suffered some setbacks.

I started doing research for a select set of clients.

Gradually, the focus of my research shifted from industry and sector drivers to more overarching themes.

I was always drawn to the real-life applications of emerging tech, so I naturally gravitated to topics such as IoT and 3D printing and their impact on business operations.

Throughout my work experience, I tried to stay clear of self-destructive thoughts - self-destructive thoughts such as:

"Should I have acted differently" - a decision and action taken once cannot be reversed and it's futile to reverse engineer it. Life is better served by how we can improvise and be stronger in the future than ruminating in the shadow of the past.

How did you get your first break?

I feel "getting that one break" is a myth. Success is a culmination of mini steps and incremental progresses.

Where do you work now? What problems do you solve?

I lead Deloitte's Center for Integrated Research center at Deloitte US-India Offices. The center focuses on research and thought leadership development of cross-industry, and cross-functional issues.

I love getting to research topics that sit at the intersection of technology and talent - how emerging technologies can help improve our talent experience and work environment. I draw inspiration by collaborating with fellow thought leaders, industry executives, and academicians.

How does your work benefit society?

I love researching topics that uncover the role of emerging technologies to improve how we run our businesses and how we live our lives. We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. Some shared responsibilities, such as climate, personal health, and equitable and respectful access to work opportunities, transcend geographical boundaries. Emerging technologies provide means to achieve these imperatives and I'm grateful for the opportunities to research and publish my findings for discussion and deliberation in the public domain.

Your advice to students based on your experience?

Life is the best teacher providing invaluable lessons. There are two pieces of advice I'd like to share, specifically:

More often than not, we feel that if we can't do it perfectly, there's no point in trying. It took me time to accept that someone can improve and enhance what I have worked on, be it a research report I wrote or a financial plan I created. Take pride and joy in the fact that you've taken something to the point of a critical mass, then seek help to improve it.

Secondly, we try to bottle things inside and hesitate to seek help, thinking we can handle everything on our own. One who seeks help is strong, and not weak, to do so. Remember people around you can help you only when they know what's on your mind. Speaking up and seeking external perspectives can help you get a better understanding and turn complex issues into solvable challenges.

Future Plans?

I am bullish about the skills and capabilities of new talent joining the workforce and look forward to developing high-performance teams.