Parveen Mittal
Age: 36
Education: B Tech (Computer Science & Engg.), IIT Mumbai; PGDM- IIM AhmedabadTenure in IT industry: 8 years (prior to that 6 years in Investment Banking)
First Tech Job: Own startup, Knowledge Communities, 1999
Current Role: Country Manager – India

What’s been your best job and why?
The current one is my most challenging and satisfying job. Learnt to delegate authority while not losing grip on responsibility. Built a committed team that has always delivered and stayed together.

What do you think is the number one non-IT skill IT professionals need today?
Ability to work and communicate well within the teams.

Whom do you credit your career success to?
My parents and my colleagues.

What are the top three skills a high-level IT manager needs today?
1) Syncing business objectives with one’s own goals as well as with those of the team
2) Staying up-to-date with the current business and technology dynamics
3) Budget, time, people, and technology constraints are expected in this job
4) Learn to accept and overcome these, and when needed work around them

What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Act!

What’s the top advice you’d give to a new IT staffer?
Learn to accept mistakes. Learn not to repeat them.

What would you advise someone looking to find the type of role you currently have?
Be ambitious; gain trust of your team with your skills and commitment; and have patience.

What is the one career decision you would change if you could?
None.

If you had the choice to jump into any other job, tech or non-tech, what would it be?
Starting an India-based venture, meeting a critical Indian market requirement but with a global customer base.

The author is General Manager - India, Stratify Software. He can be reached at pmittal@stratify.com