Sampada Basakar

One of the Tech Women Celebration 50 - women changing the ratio of the tech workforce

Sampada Basakar is an accomplished senior engineering executive with over 20 years of experience, and is currently Product & Platform Engineering Director at Vodafone Business Group.

Her colleague writes:

"Sampada is our exceptional Product & Platforms Engineering Director, and a beacon of inspiration for my career in Tech. Her skill in breaking through barriers and leading with a compassionate, empathetic female leadership style has ignited my determination."

One of Sampada's biggest achievements to date involves the building of a comprehensive Data and AI platform at IBM. The platform is called IBM Cloud Pak for Data and it became the first product in IBM to make 100 million dollars within the first year of its launch. The platform was built on the latest and greatest of technologies, was cloud native, built on Kubernetes, and enabled customers to monetize their data. It helped customers collect, organize and analyse data effectively and build and run machine learning models.

Her nominating colleague commented:

"Sampada's leadership distinguishes itself through innovation, fostering an environment where diversity flourishes. Her pioneering spirit manifests in forging networks for women in technology, dispelling stereotypes, and inspiring growth. Her guidance is a testament to breaking barriers, showcasing the power of women in leadership roles. Through her support and mentorship, Sampada empowers women to thrive in the tech realm. Her impactful leadership has not only reshaped our approach but also ignited a transformative movement, ensuring a more inclusive and dynamic future for all. Her influence has sparked a wave of women, including myself, committed to progressing as engineering leaders."