© All rights reserved. Powered by Techronicler
Women's History Month
In Conversation with
VAISHNAVI HODIGERE
A Techronicler interview with Vaishnavi Hodigere, Senior Director of Engineering, ABBYY
Few leaders in intelligent automation navigate the shift from “specialist” to “strategist” as decisively as Vaishnavi Hodigere. Currently the Senior Director of Engineering at ABBYY, Vaishnavi oversees complex portfolios across Cloud technologies, CRM, and Intelligent Document Processing (IDP). But her path to the top of the engineering stack was anything but a straight line.
Vaishnavi’s story is one of bold pivots and technical curiosity. From taking apart her first 486 tower desktop in India to moving to Detroit for biomedical robotics, she eventually made the high-stakes decision to transition into Computer Science to chase broader impact. Today, she is a results-oriented leader known for building high-performance solutions and fostering cultures where “fitting in” is rejected in favor of standing out.
As part of our Women’s History Month series, I spoke with Vaishnavi about why Tetris is the ultimate metaphor for career growth, the power of “trading, not caving” during negotiations, and her personal experience breaking the “broken rung” while seven months pregnant.
Techronicler: Thank you for joining us, Vaishnavi! Everyone has an origin story! What was the first piece of technology you ever broke, built, or fell in love with?
Vaishnavi Hodigere:
Growing up in India, I wasn’t able to get my hands on a PC until the late 90s. The first time I did, it was a tower-styled desktop with an Intel 486 processor, 2MB RAM, a 40MB hard drive, and a classic floppy drive. I took apart the components, trying to understand what made this machine tick, and eventually pieced them back together. Breaking down what went into this PC was a next level experience, and it really opened up a new world for me.
Techronicler: A lot of careers look like straight lines on LinkedIn. How was yours different? Was there a pivotal moment or ‘happy accident’ that actually steered you toward your current role or niche?
Vaishnavi Hodigere:
My bachelor’s degree was in medical electronics, and I initially set out to get a master’s and PhD in biomedical engineering when I moved from India to Detroit, Michigan in 2006. While working in the Detroit Medical Center and researching under a professor for robotics, I realized what a niche field this was. As much as I was fascinated by the technical challenge, this felt too narrow for me at the time. That realization pushed me to take a hard look at my future, and I decided to pivot towards computer science. Making this change wasn’t easy; it meant stepping into a broader, more competitive arena, and embracing a steep learning curve. However, it also opened up a lot of new opportunities for me, a larger job market, and the chance to work on high impact problems. Plus, it addressed the practical need to pay off my international student loans more quickly. That shift ultimately opened the door to the career I have today, and I’m grateful I had the courage to recalibrate my career path when I did.
Techronicler: Many women still find themselves as the ‘Only’ (only woman, only WOC) in the room. When that happens now, how do you use that visibility to your advantage rather than letting it be a weight?
Vaishnavi Hodigere:
Being the ‘only’ in the room happens often in my line of work, all the way back to my engineering days. This can feel isolating in some situations, but I also recognize the unique opportunity it provides. To me, this means there is room for more perspectives, learning from different experiences, and appreciating diversity.
One thing I remind myself and others is that ‘fitting in’ is not the point. Being the only woman or the only woman of color means that my visibility carries weight, and I see it as a responsibility to set the tone for inclusion. A favorite quote of mine is “Tetris taught me that if you try to fit in, you disappear.” It’s important to carve your own path, help make room for others, and build a team where everyone’s voice is heard.
Techronicler: Tell us about a time you had to make a deeply unpopular technical decision (e.g., killing a feature, swapping a tech stack) that turned out to be the right call. How did you handle the pushback?
Vaishnavi Hodigere:
One of my products didn’t align with the company’s broader tech stack. There was pressure to conform, which obviously did not come easy; we were talking about months of work and significant setbacks on business commitments. Being a tech leader is always about balance, and in this particular case, I had to simply decline this work. Although it initially felt like I was pushing back against a direct executive request, I chose not to over-explain or over-justify. Over time, the team and leadership saw that it was the right call, and the decision ultimately preserved focus on high priority outcomes. The experience reinforced the importance of thoughtful, transparent, decision-making, and built a deeper trust within myself and my team.
Techronicler: If you were given $10M to start a company today in a niche outside of your current field, what problem would you solve?
Vaishnavi Hodigere:
With $10M I’d create a platform that lets people experiment with careers outside their comfort zone for short periods. In today’s world, many stick rigidly to what we know, avoiding risks and new experiences. This company would give individuals the chance to learn, explore, and gain meaningful insights from trying different roles. In turn helping them grow personally and professionally while discovering what truly excited them.
Techronicler: From your seat, how do you see the rise of AI tools changing the trajectory for women entering engineering today?
Vaishnavi Hodigere:
Engineering and AI are here to stay! AI tools are definitely accelerating learning, amplifying voices, and enhancing productivity. AI-powered tools are also breaking down learning barriers for women. For example, platforms that use AI for personalized learning can help bridge knowledge gaps or engineering fundamentals. Also, collaborative tools streamline project work and encourage diverse perspectives. A powerful combination of women in engineering and AI will result in a wonderful impact in tech no doubt.
Techronicler: What is the single best piece of advice you’ve ever received about negotiating—whether for salary, headcount, or project timelines?
Vaishnavi Hodigere:
The best negotiating advice I have ever received is “Trade, don’t cave”.
Every negotiation should be an exchange of value, not a surrender. Do your due diligence on all the negotiating signals and keep all options open. You will not receive what you don’t ask for, so be clear, confident, and make sure every concession moves the conversation forward.
Techronicler: What is a piece of ‘common wisdom’ in the tech industry that you completely disagree with?
Vaishnavi Hodigere:
We often hear it’s all about specializing deeply in one tech stack or domain to be successful in tech. In my experience, adaptability and breadth of knowledge often matter just as much as depth. Early in my career I transitioned from biomedical engineering to computer science, and these cross disciplines became a major advantage. Rather than focusing on hyper-specialization, we need people who can adapt, learn fast, and bridge domains which drive the most impact.
Techronicler: The ‘broken rung’ is a bigger obstacle than the glass ceiling. How are you personally helping junior women make that leap?
Vaishnavi Hodigere:
Personally, I faced this when I applied for my first leadership role while being seven months pregnant. It did not stop me from applying, interviewing, or being transparent about my upcoming life changes and leave of absence. After five rigorous rounds, I was hired and successfully balanced being a new mom with leading a team on one of the largest Salesforce CRM migrations at the time. I share this story to show that stepping into leadership is possible even when circumstances feel challenging, and that confidence, preparation and ownership are what truly matter.
I lead by example and encourage women to take risks and step up, because if you don’t try, you’ll never succeed. I also emphasize that you don’t need a title to be a leader – anyone who takes responsibility and positively influences others is already leading.
Vaishnavi’s perspective reminds us that the most successful tech careers are often built on the courage to recalibrate. Whether it’s declining an executive request to protect a product’s integrity or pivoting industries to find a larger stage, her journey underscores that adaptability is just as critical as technical depth. Her “Trade, don’t cave” mantra is a masterclass in value-based leadership that every aspiring engineer should internalize.
A huge thank you to Vaishnavi Hodigere for sharing her insights. Her story is a powerful reminder that we don’t need a title to start leading—we just need the willingness to take responsibility and the confidence to carve our own path.
Vaishnavi Hodigere is Senior Director of Engineering at global intelligent automation company ABBYY. Vaishnavi leads her team with extensive expertise in information technology and deep proficiency in Cloud Technologies, e-commerce, CRM and IDP. As a results-oriented professional, Vaishnavi is known for her adaptability, organizational prowess, and commitment to delivering high-performance solutions in dynamic environments. Her leadership inspires teams to excel while navigating challenges in the tech landscape.