SIM Member Spotlight: Women's History Month

Anjana Harve is a strategic leader with broad business knowledge and deep technical expertise, focused on improving business outcomes through digital strategies. Her vast experience of more than 25+ years spans several executive leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies leading large-scale digital transformations. Currently, Anjana is the EVP & CIO of BJ's Wholesale Club , a Fortune 500 company with over $19B in revenues, where she is responsible for leveraging technology to drive business outcomes, optimize revenue growth, and improve operating efficiencies.

SIM envisions providing its members with opportunities for “Unparalleled Connection, Unparalleled Career Development, and Unparalleled Contribution”. We asked Anjana to share her experience with SIM through this lens and to offer some reflections and acknowledgments during Women's History Month.

How has SIM enabled you to connect with other professionals in your industry or special area of interest?

SIM has provided me with excellent opportunities to network with CIOs and other IT leaders, which has been very beneficial. I took the opportunity a few years ago to start a CIO LifeSciences roundtable in Boston. It was great connecting with other peers in the same industry – sharing experiences and learning from one another.

In what ways has SIM helped you develop leadership skills that have proven beneficial within your organization or community?

The opportunities to present on topics at SIM conferences and get involved with some of the events have helped me hone my communications and leadership skills.

How has SIM empowered you to give back to the profession or community in ways that might not have been possible without your membership?

I have really enjoyed getting involved with SIM Women and sharing my perspectives. As I myself have gotten farther in my career, my involvement with SIM Women has helped me develop a passion for supporting women to grow and advance their careers.

Women are under-represented in the technology industry, particularly in leadership roles. What are your thoughts on how the industry can improve, and how can SIM contribute to this effort?

While there has been modest progress over the last few years, unfortunately, women are still under-represented in the C-suite as well as senior roles. A recent McKinsey Women in the Workplace report, which focused on technology professionals, showed that while women make up 48% of the workforce at the entry-level, senior roles are still at 28%. Women of color are an even smaller number within this pool and are at 6% in senior roles.

The industry and organizations like SIM, which are focused on technology professionals, can continue to do a lot to address this issue head-on. A few of my recommendations include:

1. Providing more flexible schedules at work
2. Establishing diverse interview slates to remove any bias in recruitment
3. Giving access to women's networking groups within the company and in industry forums
4. Sponsoring and mentoring high-potential women talent
5. Giving visibility and access to senior women leaders within the company and/or from external firms as role models
6. Encouraging men to be strong allies and taking opportunities to mentor women

One of the critical parts of ensuring that women continue to grow and advance in their careers is to systematically improve the promotion processes through various levers, such as educating and building awareness around unconscious bias, having clearly outlined promotion criteria, and instituting a panel review for promotion proposals.?

Professional organizations like SIM can continue to support women by offering strong networking opportunities, specific programming catering to women’s needs at events, mentoring and coaching opportunities, providing companies access to a diverse talent pool, training and education for women as they navigate through the early stages of their career,?and support as they seek career growth opportunities.

Do you have stories about individuals or entities (professors, mentors, colleagues, organizations, activists, movements, etc.) you'd like to acknowledge during Women's History Month? Who deserves recognition for supporting your leadership or professional achievements?

I grew up with two powerful generations of women to look up to –?my maternal grandmother and my mom –?who inspired me to believe in myself and dream big. My maternal grandmother, Lalithamma Kalabhairavan, studied only till 8th grade. Even though she was so keen on continuing her studies, girls in India during her generation were not encouraged to do so. But she didn’t let that come in her way. She devoured and read anything she could lay her hands on. She begged her brothers to get her books from the library and snuck away to virtually explore the world and learn. She taught herself English by reading, listening, and talking to her family. My insatiable curiosity and deep love for learning come from her.

But I owe everything I am today to my mother, Malathi Vaidyanath, and I would like to recognize her during Women’s History Month for all that she has done for me and everyone she has had a chance to touch. She has, and continues to be, the most powerful influence in my life. She taught me the importance of continuous self-improvement, constantly pushing myself outside my comfort zone, taking risks, and looking at failures as necessary stepping stones to success. At every step of my career, as I weighed potential opportunities, debated how to pursue growth strategies, and struggled with juggling a demanding career with two kids, my mom has been with me, supporting and encouraging me to never give up and pursue my dreams.

As I reflect on my career journey, I realize that I couldn’t have achieved my professional accomplishments without a strong family support system, amazing mentors, bosses, and colleagues at work, and a fantastic group of industry peers whom I have met through networking.

Are you a SIM member who wants to be featured in an upcoming SIM Member Profile? Would you like to nominate a fellow SIM member to share their story? Email us at [email protected] .