Suja Chandrasekaran

Inspiring Global Technology Executive Shares Her Story - Suja Chandrasekaran

In 28 October 2015, Suja Chandrasekaran was a keynote speaker at the Monash Engineering and Information Technology Graduation at Clayton Campus, Monash University.

With a Master of Business Systems from Monash University (1996), Suja has worked for some of the world's greatest organisations across Australia, Latin America, Europe and the US. Today, she is an influential and global change-agent in digital, technology, data, analytics and business process.

Suja is currently the Chief Information Officer at Kimberly-Clark in Dallas. Kimberly-Clark is world's leading Consumer Packaged Goods business with B2C and B2B models placing consumers at the center of its business.

Prior to this, Suja led global technology, data and analytics platforms for Walmart US, Sam's Club and Walmart International. Walmart is the Fortune 1 Company and the world's largest retailer with revenues of about USD 475 billion.

She also coaches Chief Executive Officers of technology start-ups in Silicon Valley, advising on digital marketing, ecommerce, mobility and analytics strategies.

Suja believes that 'managing data-enabled business models and interpreting data and analytics have become the central components to business differentiation over the last 3-5 years.'

In 2013, Suja was awarded 'IT Leader of the Year' by Temple University's Fox School of Business and was named as one of the 'Top 10 Digital and Technology Leaders' in the US by the Financial Times. She was also recognised as a 'Top 50 Diverse Executives of 2014' by Diversity MBA Magazine, and as one  of the world's 'ICONIC Women Leaders in Technology' by Interop, Information Week in India.

But Suja is passionate about more than being one of the world's most respected 'deep technologists'. She is committed to driving change for female executives.

Suja supports Asian Women Leadership and leads several platforms to help develop women in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. 'I want to help professional women in today's technology-driven business world carve new paths and make an impact,' explains Suja.

Looking back over her career, Suja believes her achievements so far have centred on the key influencers of data, business process and technology.

At Nestle (1997-2007), Suja held a number of positions including Director of Application Infrastructure and Director of Business Process Integration and Development. She then became Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Transformation when Nestle focused on standardisation of process, data and technology as a platform for growth.

Later in her career, Suja was Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for PepsiCo North America (2007-2010) and the CIO for The Timberland Company (2010-2012).

In addition to her postgraduate qualification from Monash University, Suja holds a Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Madras (India) and has undertaken Executive Development education at London Business School.