Meet Nithya Mary—Data Analyst, nurture.farm

Say hello to Nithya Mary, Data Analyst at nurture.farm. An agricultural engineer with diverse experience in the agritech and food supply chain industry, she is passionate about sustainable food production by making cutting-edge technologies accessible to farming and allied sectors.?

How did you become interested in your line of work?

I can’t answer this accurately since I don’t know it myself. I‘ve been interested in agriculture since childhood. Since I was 8 or 9 years old, I was sure I wanted to study agriculture. Maybe visits to my uncle’s farm had a role to play in it. Fast forward to now—I have a Masters in Agricultural Systems and Management, and experience in both engineering and business roles in the agri-tech industry.?

How would you describe your role within the company?

At nurture.farm, I’m a data ninja. I work with multiple teams to help them monitor the performance of a product/app or the efficiency of a process. I track the progress of projects and provide timely data-driven insights to make course corrections to ensure the project’s success.

What is a lesson or experience unique to your profession???

My current role in analytics is at an intersection of tech and business. I get to look at the data from different perspectives and understand the reason behind the success or failure of a project. I work as a part of cross-functional teams, which gives me a better comprehension of the entire process.??

What energises you about your work?

Coming from an engineering background, I love problem solving. And, if it’s a problem related to sustainable agriculture, then I’m on it.

What motivates you to stay positive???

I try to start every day with a fresh mind, without carrying the baggage of the negativity from the previous day. That helps me look at problems from a different viewpoint, and solutions almost always present themselves sooner or later.

What has helped you build confidence?

Confidence comes with exposure. I often push myself out of my comfort zone, and only then do I realise I indeed have strengths I didn’t know I had. When you identify your strengths, confidence will follow.?

What is the greatest risk you have taken???

The greatest risk I took in my career was following my heart. I studied agricultural engineering when there weren’t many job prospects, particularly for women. This was before the digital agri-tech industry boom. I made this decision going against the advice of many well-wishers. Only my mom was supportive. However, the risk I took has given me very satisfying returns.?

What lessons and experiences can you share as a woman?

As a woman, you have to speak up for yourself. It’s very easy for women to get overlooked, especially in the tech industry. People tend to look at women as novices, regardless of their experience or expertise. You have to blow your own trumpet.?

Throughout your career, who were your biggest inspirations?

Professionally, Dr. Sachin Shende (CEO, FarmSetu Tech) has been a big inspiration. His grit and clarity of thoughts are some things I would like to emulate.?Vijayabharathi, my colleague and mentor in my first job, was also a big inspiration. She taught me to give my best to every single project, however big or small.

What is the best advice you have ever received???

When I was in school, my father always said, “Enjoy your studies.” He meant not to study for marks but the joy of learning. This advice works very well for me to date. Before venturing into something new, I always ask myself whether I will enjoy the process. If it’s only the outcome I’m interested in, then it’s not the right thing for me. When you enjoy the journey, the destination will also turn out to be beautiful.??

What are some of the traits you admire the most amongst the people you work with?

I admire the cool-headedness in Anshika Bhatia, strong technical prowess in Gayatri Mali, deep understanding of the business in Anirudh Rao, and willingness to go out of the way to help her colleagues in Akanksha Singh—I can go on and on.?

How do you engage with and empower others???

Honestly, I think I’m not doing it enough. Both personally and professionally, I have had many mentors who kindly took the time to guide me, help me and empower me. Though I realise the only right thing to do is pass on the goodness, I’m guilty of not making enough effort. I hope I can engage with eager minds more often in the future and help within my capacity.?

Why do you think empathy is so important in this day and age???

Empathy is important in any day and age. We are living in a society. Thoughts and actions of one person influence everyone around them, be it in a family or at work or the society at large. You need to empathise and make it easy for people around you, which will, in turn, make your life easy. Empathise for your own good!

What are your interests/hobbies?

I like to read classics. That has been my most consistent hobby. My other interests are sewing and cycling.