JAMMU: In an exclusive online interview with Ajmer Alam Wani, Editor-in-Chief of JK Monitor (www.jkmonitor.org), Jaisal Surana Kundu, the esteemed Data Architect, Data Modeller, and Senior Business Analyst from Milton Keynes, England, delved into her remarkable journey in the STEM field and her recent accolade of winning the Icon/Lifetime Achievement award at the prestigious MK STEM awards 2024 in the UK.
Jaisal's career spanning 17 years has been a testament to dedication and innovation in the technology sector. Her diverse roles, ranging from Data Analyst to Senior Business Analyst, and now as a Data Architect at Santander, have shaped her perspective on data modeling, architecture, and advocacy for women in technology.
One pivotal moment in Jaisal's career was when she collaborated with Careers Enterprise and SEMLEP to impart digital skills to underprivileged children while simultaneously running women empowerment programs. Volunteering with MKAI on initiatives like Women in MKAI further cemented her commitment to fostering women's leadership in technology and bridging the gender gap in STEM.
Reflecting on her multifaceted roles, Jaisal emphasized how each experience contributed to her understanding of emerging technologies and their implications on data architecture. She shared insights into a recent challenging project where designing sustainable solutions involved migrating legacy systems, ensuring data accessibility, and incorporating design thinking techniques to meet customer requirements effectively.
A staunch advocate for diversity and inclusion, Jaisal highlighted strategies such as upskilling, representation in leadership roles, and promoting a culture of continuous learning to empower women in STEM fields. She emphasized the importance of ethical considerations in data management, privacy, and security, stressing the need for staying updated with regulatory frameworks and fostering a culture of responsible technology use.
Mentorship has played a pivotal role in Jaisal's career, both as a mentor and a mentee. Her contributions to forums like Women in Tech Global, MKAI, and mentoring programs have not only honed her leadership skills but also empowered others to navigate challenges and excel in their careers.
Addressing the challenges women face in the STEM industry, Jaisal underscored the significance of addressing gender pay gaps, imposter syndrome, and biases in recruitment processes. She advocated for organizational initiatives such as return-to-work programs, diversity committees, and support for childcare to create an inclusive environment conducive to women's growth and retention in tech.
In navigating complex technological projects, Jaisal emphasized effective collaboration, communication, and risk mitigation as essential components for successful outcomes. She encouraged aspiring data architects to leverage technology ethically, build regulatory frameworks, and champion diversity for societal benefit and sustainability.
Jaisal Surana Kundu's journey exemplifies resilience, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to driving positive change in the tech landscape, making her an icon and a role model for aspiring professionals in STEM worldwide.
For the detailed interview, read questions and answers below till end.
1. Jaisal Surana Kundu, congratulations on winning the Icon/Lifetime Achievement award at MK STEM awards 2024! Your journey in the STEM field has been truly inspiring. Can you tell us about a pivotal moment in your career that shaped your trajectory as a Data Architect and advocate for women in technology?
Ans: When I started working with Careers Enterprise and SEMLEP to teach digital skills to vulnerable children, running women empowerment programs. Also working as a volunteer with MKAI on their diverse initiatives, including Women in MKAI shaped trajectory for women leadership And promoting technology skills for gender parity.
2. Your career has encompassed various roles from Data Analyst to Senior Business Analyst to Data Architect. How have these diverse roles contributed to your perspective on data modeling and architecture, and how do you leverage this multifaceted experience in your current role?
Ans: These diverse roles have helped me learn many new tools and technologies To leverage data and understanding gaps that can affect underlying outcomes with emerging technology algorithms.
3. Jaisal, as a Data Architect at Santander, you play a critical role in designing data solutions. Could you walk us through a particularly challenging project you've worked on recently, detailing the complexities you encountered and how you navigated them to achieve success?
Ans: As a Data Architect the challenging part in a project to design solutions Is to understand the customer requirements using design thinking techniques, introducing new tools and software by migrating legacy systems and ensuring data is available to be reused in optimised manner with solutions which are sustainable.
4. Given your dedication to empowering women in technology, can you share some strategies or initiatives you've implemented throughout your career to foster diversity and inclusion in STEM fields?
Ans: For implementing diversity and inclusion in STEM fields, I believe in upskilling to the emerging technologies and representation of women leadership in technological forums to voice perspectives and share the knowledge with others while we also enable our learning experience.
5. With your extensive experience, you've likely witnessed significant advancements in technology over the years. How do you stay updated with emerging trends and technologies in the rapidly evolving field of data architecture, and how do you incorporate these advancements into your work?
Ans: Imvolvement in migration projects which help you learn latest Tools and technologies.
Upskilling using certification programs.
Keeping up to date with news articles, LinkedIn posts and emerging tech newsletters.
Participate in emerging Tech community groups, forums and summits.
Co-Authoring at various emerging technology opportunities.
- Ethical considerations in data management and technology usage have become increasingly important. How do you ensure that the solutions you design adhere to ethical standards, especially in terms of data privacy and security?
Ans: Understanding ethical Risks, security and data privacy concerns starting from the design to the implementation phase.
Keeping up to date with emerging technology regulations.
Monitoring the data sets and co-ordination with data protection officers.
Training for Data protection and security and understanding potential risks snd how to overcome them.
7. Mentorship has been a crucial aspect of your professional journey. Can you discuss the role of mentorship in your career, both as a mentee and a mentor, and how it has contributed to your growth and development?
Ans: As a mentor, I have mentored Using forums like women in tech global, Careers Enterprise in the Midlands as a Enterprise Adviser, with various forums of MKAI to help with digital skills, emerging technology and careers options, soft skills improvement and usage of AI or automated tools for better outcomes of repetitive tasks.
As a mentee, it has helped me to gain leadership and public speaking skills abd representing at various forums with utmost confidence and mindfulness.
8. As someone who has advocated for gender parity in technology, what do you believe are the biggest challenges women face in the STEM industry today, and what steps can organizations take to address these challenges effectively?
Ans: Biggest challenges are gender pay gaps, imposter syndrom, lack of self confidence, soft skills and lack of women leadership in executive roles. Cultural differences and mindset, also many women give up careers due to motherhood, also biases in tools or processes in recruitment of women post maternity are some of them.
Upskilling, Return to work programs along with coaching after Maternity gaps, representation if women in executive positions, Diversity and Inclusion committees to review any gender related gaps or issues, support for childcare and mental health can help sort many of above mentioned challenges.
9. Collaboration is often key in complex technological projects. How do you approach collaboration and communication within multidisciplinary teams to ensure alignment and successful project outcomes?
Ans: The ability to Communicate with multi disciplinary teams is possible due to soft skills, documentation, empathy, understanding cultural difference and collaboration by understanding1and mitigating risks can lead to success of outcomes.
10. Jaisal, looking back on your career, what advice would you give to aspiring data architects, especially those who are passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion in technology?
Ans: I would advice that Technology especially emerging technology like AI, XR etc can be used for good by understanding the datasets, risks and guard rails and building ethical standards regulations and frameworks for societal benefit along with sustainability.
WhatsApp 
