Shikha’s BIO
Shikha is a Product lead for Productivity features such as Reminders on Google Assistant. Previously, she helped build the first-ever Google Assistant-powered Smart Displays and was at the forefront of innovating for this new device type. She has a Bachelors and Masters in Computer Science from IIT Delhi and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business
WITH GROUPS CREATING PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE FEMALES TO CONSIDER STEM, WHAT IS THE BIGGEST BARRIER TO ENTRY THAT IS STILL PREVALENT TODAY?
Sponsorship- We need more allies who don't just serve as role models for and mentor young women, but also open doors to the right opportunities for them.
WHAT OR WHO INSPIRES YOU?
My grandmom- She came to India as a refugee after India and Pakistan's partition. She didn't just care for her whole family at this tough time but also setup one of the first high schools in my city and went door to door encouraging people to send their children to school. She was responsible for educating an entire generation of residents in the city and showing them the power of education. I grew up around her and she had a big role in shaping my value system. So I knew that independent of the profession I take up I wanted to work on leaving the world a better place than I found it.
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT/ACCOMPLISHMENT?
I think that with voice assistants and conversational AI, we are experiencing a paradigm shift in how people interact with technology. I am blessed to have had the opportunity to play a role in defining what that shift looks like, right from its very formative years.