Parul Chhabra

Part of the IT Leaders 100 - a list of the most influential IT leaders in the UK in 2025.

A resourceful, dynamic, Oracle-certified Java Programmer, Parul has 12+ years of experience across various domains, including government, financial services, e-commerce, healthcare, and digital. Throughout her career she has leveraged emerging technologies to drive innovative solutions, with expertise in Java, Spring, Hibernate, REST, AWS, Google Cloud and Agile Scrum methodologies.

After returning from maternity leave and transitioning to a new job in the UK, Parul overcame the challenges of adapting to diverse cultural norms and workplace practices. To stay ahead in the tech industry, she earned certifications in AWS AI, AWS Cloud, Java, GCP, and Azure AI.

Parul believes in the power of lifelong learning, especially for women re-entering the workforce.

What's the most exciting part of your current role?

The most exciting part of my role as a software engineer at IBM is the combination of building innovative solutions and mentoring others, especially in areas like Java, Python, AWS, and AI. I get to work on impactful project designing and developing scalable cloud-native applications using Java and Python, deploying them on AWS infrastructure, and integrating AI capabilities to make our systems smarter and more efficient.

What really motivates me is solving complex problems that affect enterprise clients globally. From designing microservices to optimising ML model deployment pipelines on AWS, there's always a new technical challenge that pushes me to grow. Equally important is my role as a mentor. I guide junior developers through code reviews, architecture discussions, and career development, helping them understand not just how to write code, but why certain design decisions matter. It's rewarding to see others gain confidence, especially when they start contributing ideas that move the project forward.

IBM's emphasis on innovation and learning supports both my growth and my ability to support others. Being able to contribute both as a developer and a mentor while working with cutting-edge tech like AI and the cloud is what makes this role so exciting.

What do you consider your greatest IT achievement of the last 12 months?

Over the past year, my greatest IT achievement has been earning the AWS Certified Machine Learning – Associate certification while simultaneously delivering impactful work for a public sector client, which earned me a formal appreciation letter from the client's leadership.

The certification was a personal and professional milestone. It required a deep understanding of deploying machine learning models on AWS, including data engineering, model tuning, and scalable deployment using services like SageMaker, Lambda, and S3. Preparing for and earning this certification not only expanded my technical skillset but also strengthened my ability to architect real-world AI/ML solutions in production environments.

At the same time, I applied these skills in a high-impact public sector project focused on automating data processing and predictive analytics. I played a key role in designing and implementing the solution using AWS tools and Python-based ML workflows, improving efficiency and accuracy for the client. The work was recognised through a formal appreciation letter from the client an incredibly rewarding validation of both the technical delivery and the collaborative partnership we built.

Balancing certification preparation with project delivery made it a standout year, both in terms of personal growth and measurable client impact.

What's the biggest challenge facing IT leaders today, and how are you tackling it?

One of the biggest challenges facing IT leaders today is effectively integrating emerging technologies like AI into existing systems while ensuring scalability, security, and ethical use. With the rapid pace of innovation in AI and cloud platforms like AWS, the pressure to "adopt fast" can lead to fragmented architectures or rushed implementations that don't align with long-term goals.

To tackle this, I focus on a balanced approach to innovation - one that emphasises not just experimentation, but also strategy, governance, and education. I stay hands-on with AI and machine learning tools, leveraging services like Amazon SageMaker and Bedrock, while also helping teams understand when and where these technologies make sense. As a mentor, I guide junior engineers through AI fundamentals, ethical considerations, and how to evaluate real-world use cases critically - not just because it's new, but because it adds value.

I also advocate for cross-functional collaboration between engineering, data science, and business teams, so we can align technology adoption with clear outcomes. By promoting responsible experimentation and building reusable, cloud-native AI components, we reduce technical debt and accelerate innovation in a sustainable way.

Ultimately, it's about being both strategic and hands-on bridging vision with practical execution.

What piece of technology could you not live without, and why?

AWS, specifically services like Amazon SageMaker and AWS Lambda. As a developer working with cloud-native applications and AI/ML projects, AWS has been a game-changer in terms of scalability, flexibility, and speed of development.

Amazon SageMaker allows me to quickly prototype, train, and deploy machine learning models at scale, which is crucial for experimenting with AI solutions in real-world applications. Whether it's processing large datasets or optimising models, SageMaker handles the heavy lifting, allowing me to focus on solving business problems rather than infrastructure challenges.

On the development side, AWS Lambda provides an ideal environment for building serverless applications, which is incredibly efficient for deploying microservices. I use it extensively for automating tasks, scaling applications, and reducing operational overhead, which is crucial for fast-paced project delivery.

What I love most about these tools is that they not only help me develop faster but also empower the teams I mentor to focus on coding and innovation rather than getting bogged down in the operational details. AWS's capabilities have dramatically transformed how I approach development, making it a tool I genuinely couldn't live without.

What excites you most about the future of IT?

The convergence of emerging technologies like AI, cloud computing and automation, and how they will revolutionise industries and everyday experiences. The pace of innovation is accelerating, and we are on the cusp of transforming how businesses operate and how technology serves humanity.

In particular, I'm excited about the continued advancements in AI and machine learning. With tools like AWS SageMaker and machine learning frameworks, we're going to see even more intuitive, scalable, and powerful AI applications. These technologies will not only improve efficiency but will also unlock new solutions in areas like healthcare, sustainability, and personalised customer experiences.

Additionally, the evolution of cloud-native architectures is another aspect of IT that I find thrilling. Serverless computing, microservices, and containers (like Kubernetes) are making it easier to build flexible, scalable applications faster. This flexibility gives developers, like myself, the freedom to innovate without worrying about infrastructure constraints.

Finally, I'm excited about how IT will continue to bridge the gap between business needs and technology. As a mentor, helping the next generation of developers adapt to these changes and understand their potential is something that truly motivates me.

What’s the strangest job you’ve ever had?

A giveback project I did recently when I worked at Boston Robotics. It wasn't so much the work itself, but the unusual nature of the tasks and the team I was working with. The lab had this quirky mix of passionate engineers and computer scientists all working on different prototypes - from automated photography to robotic arms.

One of the strangest tasks I was given was to programme a robotic "SPOT" for a showcase, which was supposed to click photos for disabled photographers!! It was a hilarious and somewhat chaotic experience, but it taught me a lot about problem-solving, patience, and the importance of testing and iteration - lessons that have stayed with me throughout my career. Despite the weirdness, it made me realise how much I enjoy working with technology and the endless possibilities that come with it.

Looking back, it wasn't so much the strangeness of the job itself, but the unconventional projects and the unique team dynamic that made it memorable and rewarding in unexpected ways.

If you could instantly master one new skill, what would it be?

Quantum computing. As an IT professional with a strong focus on AI, cloud technologies, and development, I see quantum computing as the next frontier in technology. The potential it holds for solving complex problems, particularly in fields like cryptography, optimisation, and machine learning, is mind-blowing.

While quantum computing is still in its early stages, mastering it would allow me to explore new algorithms, simulate quantum phenomena, and work on solutions that are currently beyond the reach of classical computing. The idea of leveraging quantum principles like superposition and entanglement to solve problems that traditional computers can't handle is both fascinating and incredibly exciting.

Additionally, quantum computing could open up new possibilities in AI, speeding up data processing and improving model training times significantly. If I could instantly master it, I would dive into building quantum-powered AI solutions and contribute to the exciting intersection of these technologies.

Ultimately, mastering quantum computing would not only expand my technical expertise but also place me at the forefront of a revolutionary shift in how we approach computation and problem-solving in the future.