I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Monica Bajaj, VP of Engineering at Okta, for my podcast, From a Woman to a Leader.
Monica shared her incredible journey of moving from India to Silicon Valley and reaching an executive role as a woman of color in technology. Her story exemplifies determination, courage, and wisdom.
In this blog, I’ll recap Monica’s background, her motivation for immigrating, key career advice, and what fuels her today.
Monica’s Early Years in India
Monica grew up in the northern state of Rajasthan, known for its deserts and sand dunes. She credits her mother and grandfather, a teacher, for instilling a love of education and English literature. They also stressed the importance of independence in her formative years.
This foundation gave Monica the tools to excel in her undergrad studies and pursue a Master’s degree at one of India’s most prestigious technology institutes.
Taking a Leap of Faith to America
Like many students, Monica set her sights on America for greater opportunities. But as a single woman leaving family behind, she braved uncertainty and fear about an unfamiliar culture.
She recalls questioning herself: “What if it doesn’t work? What will I do?” But her family’s unwavering support and self-reliance gave her the boost she needed.
Overcoming Doubts as a Woman of Color
Upon arriving in the U.S., Monica quickly learned the challenges of being both a woman and a minority in tech. She was advised by some to conform and fit in. But she realized, “I’m losing my identity…I need to be who I am.”
Unfortunately, many early managers criticized her identity rather than nurture her talents. But the trying experiences taught Monica how NOT to lead and mentor others. She is now deeply attuned to supporting women and people of color.
Key Career Advice for Aspiring Leaders
Throughout Monica’s climb to VP at a leading software company, she learned critical lessons for leadership and work-life balance:
- Family comes first, then work. Jobs will transition, but family is irreplaceable.
- Consistently invest in yourself amidst other priorities. Carve out small amounts of “me time” for hobbies, learning, and self-care.
- Don’t hesitate to ask for help both at work and at home. Create interdependence amongst partners and team members.
- Learn how to say “no” while communicating your priorities and offering alternatives that work.
The Power of Community and Mentorship
Today, Monica finds tremendous energy and purpose from mentoring others on their career journeys. She never imagined being the advice giver from her early years absorbing as much information as possible.
She also believes community creates a “sense of pack” and that “together we stand.” Connecting with those on similar paths offers creativity, resilience, and impact.
Closing Thoughts
Monica Bajaj’s story demonstrates courage, patience, and wisdom. She shows that playing the long game in your career can lead to amazing personal and professional growth. Her balanced approach encourages sustainable success while staying grounded in self and family.
What stood out to you most from Monica’s story? What lessons resonated for your own path? Let me know in the comments below!
About Monica
Monica Bajaj, an accomplished technology executive with over 20 years of industry experience, brings in deep expertise in scaling and global expansion of products, technology, and teams with high trust and tight customer focus. She has a diverse technology background in consumer and enterprise spaces, including infrastructure, Business Intelligence, DevOps, and Security. She is currently VP of Engineering at Okta, where she leads the Developer Experience portfolio, building identity solutions at scale for Customer Identity Cloud.
Before Okta, she led senior Engg leadership roles at Workday, UKG, Perforce, and Netapp. She holds an MS in Computer Science from IIT Mumbai, India. Outside work, she is an active speaker in Silicon Valley, a supporter of diversity in STEM, and a mentor to several men, women, and girls. She was recently awarded the Women in Tech ERG Leader for 2023 and has won several accolades and awards for her transformative impact across the board.
She also serves as an advisor for the Skydeck incubator program and an Industry advisor for UCSD. She is now on the board of SheTO, the largest private network of women transforming engineering leadership focused on promoting Women in Engg leadership. Additionally, Monica holds the role of Executive Sponsor of Women at Okta. She is a Board Member focusing on Technology and Compliance at Women in Localization, where she also serves as the Chief Compliance Officer.
Fun fact about Monica: She is an artist ( loves to paint) along with being an engineer and loves to hike and explore various cuisines around the world.
To connect with Monica Bajaj and learn more about her work and journey, you can find her on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobajaj/.
