Sowjanya Shetty transitions from chip design to podcasting

Sowjanya Shetty started her career as a chip designer but has now moved into podcasting. She still uses her tech background to enhance her work in media. Her interest in technology began in childhood while visiting her mother’s office at Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL). After her father's death, her mother found a job at BEL in human resources. Sowjanya was exposed to engineering concepts early on and had access to useful resources like books and journals. She began creating notes on science topics, which became popular among her network. This led her to make money selling her notes while also learning about computer assembly. Sowjanya earned her engineering degree from M Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology in Bengaluru and began working at BEL as a chip designer. Later, she moved to the US with her husband. She faced challenges when her startup job ended suddenly, forcing her to find a new position within 60 days. She took a sales job, which was very different from her typical introverted tech background. This experience improved her communication skills and taught her the value of being knowledgeable about current events. Upon returning to India, she joined HP, first working on network cards for printers and then transitioning to program coordination. She even started a small gifting business to understand what being a CEO involved. After successful roles at GE Digital and Microsoft, she decided to focus on podcasting three years ago. Her podcasts center on career development and mindset shifts.