A real natural with Arundathi Rao

A real natural with Arundathi Rao

Author: PM Power Consulting April 18, 2026 Duration: 52:41

Host: Chitra Gurjar


  • 4 decades and counting, always energized to do something, work is my DNA
  • From post and telegraph to giving tuitions to creating her own agency to study
  • An advocate for herself, nurturing her desire to serve
  • Turning away “assured” job offers to join Defence Labs as a Scientist at CABS
  • Moved onto a “lesser assurance” to join HP
  • People and culture at the heart of her 3+decade stay at HP
  • Challenging status quo, try and fail, Innovation has to be a part of one’s daily life
  • Stay focused on problems that you are solving and layer tools and technology to solve your problem
  • Focus on incremental delivery of value
  • Holding a people vision through the course of her work
  • Strong belief that “AI will improve the quality of jobs”
  • Learning is a constant - continue to build 
  • Apply training and learning programs intentionally
  • Working on a market analysis - next gen quoter
  • Strong belief on impact of AI on Healthcare and Education
  • Believing that coaching is something everyone should learn, enable people as answers lie within each one
  • Working with a non-profit Daksham skills and Dreams Designs



Arundathi has been working in technology and leadership related roles for the last 40+ years. She

started her career as a Scientist at Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, India.

While at DRDO, she was involved in development of Radar transmitter and controller systems.

Arundathi joined Hewlett Packard in 1996 and during her 27+ year career in HP and HPE, she has

worked in multiple roles across various business units. Under her leadership, HP rolled out multiple

market leading internet services related products on HPUX. She was on one of the key leader

responsible for setting up Global IT teams offshore centre in India in 2004. She has managed a team

of 3000+ technologists delivering for IT, across multiple technologies and multiple business areas

enabling HP(E)’s business. She has successfully lead and delivered multiple IT transformation

projects. She has also lead the people transformation to move towards digital technologies in

alignment with the market trends and business needs. She has had a short stint of 2 years at EY as

the Engineering leader for India, in Client Technology, building on Product engineering and delivery

capability. In the recent past she was the Global Program Manager for HPE’s industry leading Next

Generation IT transformation program. She leads the Global Delivery Services organisation, which is

the internal the delivery engine for GIT. She is also the India leader for HPE’s Global IT.

Arundathi has led several initiatives in people transformation towards digital transformation,

customer centricity and employee engagement. She is passionate about building teams and leaders

who are future proof and future safe. She has a strong passion towards building women leaders in

technology and mentored and coached many women through focussed initiatives. She has also had

a stint as the chairperson at HP for Prevention of Sexual Harassment at workplace.

Arundathi has as Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical and Electronics from Government

College of Technology, Coimbatore and Master of Technology from Indian Institute of Technology,

Madras (IITM). She is a certified coach.

During her free time, Arundathi loves to teach, coach, travel and read.


Behind every line of code, there's a person with a story. Software People Stories, from PM Power Consulting, moves beyond abstract theory and polished case studies to explore the real, human experience of building technology. This isn't about hypotheticals; it's a collection of candid conversations with the practitioners themselves-developers, designers, product managers, and architects-who share firsthand accounts from the trenches. They talk about the paths that led to success and, just as importantly, the unexpected detours and failures that provided the most valuable lessons. Each episode delves into the nuanced journey of discovering what users need, designing elegant systems, navigating complex development, and ultimately delivering solutions that matter. By focusing on these personal narratives, the podcast reveals the core of software creation: a blend of technical skill, creative problem-solving, and team dynamics. Listeners gain practical wisdom and relatable perspectives on the challenges and triumphs inherent in the tech industry. Tune in for an honest look at the craft, where the stories of people are just as crucial as the software they build. You'll find this podcast a refreshing source of insight for anyone involved in or curious about the technology and business landscapes, offering career lessons learned the hard way.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Software People Stories
Podcast Episodes
From Banking to Boardrooms with Rupam Tandon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:35
Gayatri Kalyanaraman is in conversation with Rupam Tandon, Financial Executive with 30 years of experience across banking, asset management, and insurance. She’s also a certified Independent Director (IoD), ESG specialis…
Bridging Engineering and Marketing with Mike Maynard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:10
In this episode, Shiv is in conversation with Mike Maynard, the Managing Director/CEO of the Napier Group, a PR firm.Mike shares his unconventional career journey from electronics engineering to marketing and recounts hi…
Exploring Science and Technology Synergy with Prasad Chodavarapu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:08
In this episode, Shiv is in conversation with Prasad Chodavarapu, Co-Founder & Managing Director at Aganitha.aiIn this conversation, Prasad, a tech veteran turned bio-pharma enthusiast, discusses his unique career trajec…
Celebrating Seven Years: Reflections and Future Aspirations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:52
In this special episode celebrating seven years of the 'Software People Stories podcast, hosts Anita Shiva, Shiv, Gayatri, and Chitra reflect on their journey. Theydiscuss the origins, challenges, milestones, and persona…
Full Stack Leadership with Dr. Krishna Prasad [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:24
In this special episode of 'Software People Stories,' , our guest is Dr. Krishna Prasad, known more popularly as KP from the 'Full Stack Leadership Cast.' KP shares his journey into podcasting, inspired by the host's lon…
Achieving Excellence with Naresh Choudhary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:51
In this episode, Shiv is in conversation with Naresh Choudhary, Senior Vice President, Quality & Productivity, Infosys Ltd.Naresh shares his career journey starting from humble beginnings in Mumbai, studying engineering…
Adapting to Innovation with George Mundassery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:05
In this episode, Shiv is in conversation with George Mundassery, former SVP and Global head, AI and Automation with Tech Mahindra.George shares his extensive journey in the IT industry, starting from his early days with…
Navigating Tech Waves with Michael Ferranti [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:41
My guest today is Michael Ferranti, VP of Marketing at Unleash. In this conversation Michael recounts his journey from the banking sector to the tech world starting during the 2008 financial crisis. He explains how the l…
Building Bridges Between Startups and Enterprises with Sunil David [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:54
Gayatri Kalyanaraman is in conversation with Sunil David, Digital Technology Consultant |Ex-Regional Director(IOT)- AT&T we discuss What does it take to evolve from installing multiplexers in the 90s to becoming one of I…
Exploring Cybersecurity Innovation with Jasson Casey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:54
In this episode Shiv is in conversation with Jason Casey, CEO and co-founder of Beyond Identity. Jason talks about his early fascination with technology, his career trajectory, and how he entered cybersecurity. He descri…