A lady to look up at

Literally we need to look up at this lady. Sulochana Ganesan

Her tallness is a contrast to her softness. But never one who is soft when it comes to Quality. A pioneer is lot of respects.

One of the early entrants into the IT field. From what ever she has shared with me, I am literally speechless to hear about her father who thought that Computers are going to rule the world in the future and whoever hasn't had a initiation into computers are going to some kind of illiterates. No No... I am not talking about today's father - Look back at a man who thought like this in 1960s. What a man he is.....

(No wonder the daughter of a man should be a very great person.)

This person not only talked, but walked the talk by making his daughter to travel all the way to Delhi from Bihar to do a course on Autocoder programming in 1969. One of the two women in a class of 45 - . But she remarks - my course instructor was a woman. We talk about Ada, the first woman programmer , etc. Look at India, having had early woman entrants in the computer field. WOW. Amassing isnit.

But not always do we grab a golden opportunity when it is given to us. So true to this statement was Sulochana having not cashed on this great great opportunity. But not all was lost. How can it be.

So once again coming back to this field after a gap of 13 years, Sulochana went ahead and finished her Diploma in 1984 and after that there is was never a turning back for Sulochana in this industry. But for her second innings with computers, Thank God, the industry would have lost a great stalwart in Quality . I noticed that there was similarity between us - yes both of our second innings were made when we were 34. Mind you, it is a hard struggle to fit into this "young" world as a mature person. You have to work and run twice as hard as others to keep pace with their normal stride or become a laughing stock because you are supposed to wise and have had great experiences!!!

Coming back to our Expert, climbing the hard way from a programmer trainee (without pay) and retiring last year as a Senior VP in Hexaware - a journey lasting 20 years - is a journey filled with so much learnings, heart break, hard work, personal compromises, creating a new path - whatever you can think of you can fill in. Not only that, making a mark in Quality Circle - ask anybody in the Quality network - they will have a lot to say about her. that is her differentiator.

But these years haven't made her to loose out her good and soft nature. Go to her with your problems, even a look at her calm face, makes you to feel good and she literally takes time to be with you, listens (really) to you and makes you see the solution. One of the gifts that I can treasure is her Friendship.

From the horse's mouth, I reproduce "I have really enjoyed what I did and am thankful that I had the opportunity to be in the right field at the right time.

Sulochana, may you with Gods' blessings have a wonderful time with your family and at the same time give all the right guidance to us in our profession. I know how much people are going to be benefited by your consultancy. I dont want to conclude this without a special thanks to all the important Men in your life - Your father and your Husband in having stood with you in all your path of glory. For they have compromised on their personal time so that this industry gets the benefit of your work. Thank you Sirs.