Business philosophy
Essential business philosophy: Always surround yourself with people smarter than you.
Best way to keep competitive edge: Create an open environment within your organization that enables your top talent to flourish. Put your customers first and when you see an opportunity, move quickly.
Guiding principle: Never, ever give up.
Yardstick of success: I measure it by how many people's lives you can impact or help in a meaningful way, whether that be through technology innovation, sound business judgment or lasting personal connections.
Judgment calls
Best business decision: Becoming an entrepreneur and taking the path least traveled.
Worst business decision: Not going with my gut feeling. You need to trust your instincts.
Toughest business decision: Having to let go of an employee is never an easy decision.
The one word that best describes you: Tenacious.
True confessions
Like best about job: Working with really smart people. I love the fact that I am continually surprised, enlightened and motivated by the talented individuals that I collaborate with every day, both within my own organization and throughout the tech community.
Like least about job: The bureaucracy involved in building a global organization. Too much of it can stifle innovation so you have to be careful to strike the right balance between process and flexibility.
Most important lesson learned: When you make a mistake, acknowledge it, learn from it and move on.
Person most interested in meeting: Leonardo da Vinci -- he was a true innovator.
Most respected competitor: IBM
Three greatest passions: Spending time with my children, playing and watching basketball, cricket and baseball, and, of course, applying my competitive skills in the business world.
First choice for a new career: Basketball coach. (First Indian American to have a stake in NBA Team), Coached her daughter & team to National Finals with no prior experience, http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/05/11/090511fa_fact_gladwell
Predilections
Most influential book:
Gödel, Escher, Bach by Douglas Hofstadter. It combines an exploration on the mathematics of Godel, the art of Escher and music of Bach with a look at the relationship between computers and the way humans think.
Most influential movie: Shawshank Redemption, protagonist's attitude of Never Giving Up.