Sonali Shetty: Navigating uncommon career paths in the era of innovation

Seasoned professional and author Sonali Shetty shares her journey, insights, and the inspiration behind her new book, “CareerSense: Build Your Career in Uncommon Times.”

By Aishwarya Singh

In an era marked by the convergence of innovation, technology and business, Sonali Shetty has been at the forefront, helping companies and individuals to grow and thrive. With a background that spans over twenty years, she has consulted for Fortune 500 companies, started an AI/ML company, served as a CTO, and trained top executives. Additionally, she teaches at the master’s level at a leading research university. Shetty shares her wide-ranging experience in her new book, “CareerSense: Build Your Career in Uncommon Times, which she coauthored with American Bazaar Contributing Editor Venky Raghavendra. Shetty, based in Glenn Allen, VA, is part of the adjunct faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University’s DaVinci Center for Innovation.

In an exclusive interview with Aishwarya Singh, she discusses her work, motivations, and the future of employment in an ever-changing global landscape.

Aishwarya Singh: Congratulations on the dynamic and inspiring career path you’ve forged for yourself, Sonali. Could you take us down the road of the work you’ve engaged in over the last 20-plus years?

Sonali Shetty: Thank you, Aishwarya. I am happy to be speaking with you today. My professional life falls into three main areas—consulting, entrepreneurship, and executive leadership. Consulting appealed to me early on because I thrive on tackling business challenges in unique and elegant ways. In 2008, I took the entrepreneurial leap and founded a Product Innovation agency. We were trailblazers: one of the first third-party developers on social media platforms. We built early mobile apps and the first-ever B2B chatbot. After more than a decade of running my firm, I pivoted to take on the role of CTO at the CFA Institute, which promotes financial integrity and for offering the famously challenging CFA exam certification. Currently, I embrace a multifaceted career, taking on roles like a fractional CTO, facilitating executive roundtables on innovation, and teaching. This variety keeps me deeply involved and continually inspired by what’s ahead.

Aishwarya Singh: In an age of burnt-out professionals and countless who complain of a lack of job satisfaction, how has your work continued to inspire and satisfy you, even after decades of doing it?

Sonali Shetty: A key motif in my professional journey has been what I call being “Impatiently Curious.” From the outset, I seized every chance that came my way, which not only demanded hard work but also helped me discover my unique strengths and interests. For instance, although I have a master’s degree in biomedical engineering, I realized that it wasn’t the field where I could excel the most. Instead, I thrive at the intersection of Business and Technology – with a distinctive ability to relate to and influence both the Tech and Business Leaders. This thread of curiosity led me to entrepreneurship, a path rich with constant learning and moments of deep humility. Now, as an adjunct professor, I often find that the learning is reciprocal; I gain as much insight from my students as they do from my lectures.

Aishwarya: In 2019, people experienced a sudden shift in their professional lives when the pandemic began. Work-from-home gained traction, businesses lost revenue, layoffs peaked, and lives changed. What was your professional journey during COVID-19 like?

Sonali: The COVID-19 pandemic presented global challenges, both personally and professionally, and it was during this period that I learned a crucial lesson in business timing. Just before the pandemic struck, I co-founded a machine learning startup. Despite having a robust product and a prime market, our launch coincided with the pandemic, when supply-chain disruptions were at their peak. It was a practical masterclass in entrepreneurship. This experience has become a cornerstone of the advice I share with my students: even with a solid business plan, product, and market, the element of timing can be critical to success.

Aishwarya: In the midst of your vibrant and varied career, you also began writing. One manifestation of that came in the form of the monthly career column you visualized and co-created in a leading publication. What was the impetus to start writing it? How did that lead to you co-authoring CareerSense?

Sonali: The kernel for CareerSense emerged from a series of columns in a leading Indian publication. I had previously never written for a general-purpose audience, so this became a wonderful new challenge. Our objective was to blend the inspirational with the actionable, equipping our readers with practical steps to implement the ideas we discussed. My co-author and I had the idea of taking those columns and expanding them to reach a wider audience. The result was CareerSense: Build your Career in Uncommon Times. Our goal was to address the dramatic changes in work culture, such as the rise of remote and hybrid work, complex reporting structures, and the scarcity of career guidance or mentorship. “CareerSense” aims to assist individuals not only in finding the right career path, but also in leveling up and also acquiring the critical meta-skills required for success in the modern era. If our audience puts into action even one or two ideas, we will have considered ourselves successful.

Aishwarya: If you had to offer a few key, overarching insights from the book to a young professional, what would it be?

Sonali: Certainly, I’d like to offer three pieces of advice. First, adopt an expansive approach. Embrace a wide range of opportunities to discern where your skills, passions, and the needs of the market intersect. Start by casting a wide net, then refine your focus as you discover what fits you best. So – be prolific, and then particular. Second, in this era dominated by social media, avoid comparing your career trajectory to others’ curated success stories. What you see on platforms like LinkedIn or Instagram is often just a series of highlights, which can skew your self-assessment if you listen to the critical voice in your head. Lastly, recognize that inertia can be a formidable barrier. Strive to overcome it by taking consistent action towards your goals. Whether its exercise, lifelong learning or even writing a book, momentum is magic. These three principles can guide you toward a fulfilling career path.

Aishwarya: As a woman in the corporate world, is there advice you would specifically offer to women working to make their mark in a male-dominated industry?

Sonali: In grappling with the fact that women often bear the brunt of responsibilities like childcare, elder care, and household management, I offer some potentially contentious advice: seek a partner who understands that true partnership means sharing both career goals and home duties. Such balance is vital for sustaining both a career and family life, though I recognize that, the liberty to make such a choice may not always be present. My second piece of advice is to ensure visibility at your workplace. This isn’t just about the quality of your work, but also about being vocal in team settings and continuously honing your skills to stay competitive in the job market. Lastly, cultivate a network of supportive women. My own involvement with a Women in Technology group within our local tech council has proven to be an invaluable resource in navigating my career path.

Aishwarya: Of the varied academic degrees offered in an American university today, which would you say are most valuable in creating young leaders equipped to handle rapid technological advancements and ever-changing job markets?

Sonali: I firmly believe in the value of strong engineering and data science qualifications, particularly for those whose passions align with these areas. Such degrees are often pivotal in today’s data-driven landscape. However, it’s not just about technical fields; there’s significant merit in understanding data fundamentals across all disciplines.
On the flip side, the humanities degrees: philosophy, communications, and psychology hold their own unique value. For example, they can address the growing issue of workplace disengagement and the quest for meaningful work. These fields provide insights into human behavior and thought processes that are critical for addressing such issues. In an age where AI is taking over more routine tasks, emotional intelligence (EQ) is proving to be a more vital asset than ever. Remember that careers are rarely linear, so make the most of the opportunities at hand, while strategically planning your next step.

(Aishwarya Singh is a media innovator and podcaster. You can follow her on Instagram at @aishwaryasinghs)