Title: Director of Automation
Company: International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)
Location: Fremont, California, United States
Kanchana Padmanabhan, director of automation at International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Engineers for dedication, achievements and leadership in software product development lifecycle.
With nearly 25 years of experience to her credit, Ms. Padmanabhan has excelled throughout an illustrious career at International Business Machines Corporation, more commonly known as IBM. Since 2024, she has found much success as the director of their automation division, a position in which he has demonstrated exceptional leadership in mobilizing a globally distributed team to deliver software products efficiently. Her ability to engage deeply with technical aspects while maintaining a broad understanding of the overall mission has been instrumental in her professional advancement.
Ms. Padmanabhan began her career at IBM as a staff software engineer in 2001, working diligently in this post until 2008. Progressing to the role of an advisory software engineer between 2008 and 2016, she notably solidified her reputation as an expert and leader in her field with her appointment as a manager from 2016 to 2020. During this time, she also led a diverse team as a senior engineering manager between 2017 and 2020. Prior to her present position, Ms. Padmanabhan honed her skills in managing complex projects and fostering innovation at IBM as a program director from 2020 to 2024.
In addition to her primary endeavors at IBM, Ms. Padmanabhan was also active as a manager of development and quality assurance at BIGInsight, a consumer-centric information portal and online aggregator, since 2016. Her commitment to excellence is evident in her ability to build strong relationships with her engineers and lead with empathy and appreciation for their individuality.
Before embarking upon her professional path, Ms. Padmanabhan established a strong academic foundation that served as a launching pad for her later accomplishments. She initially pursued an education at Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College, from which she earned a bachelor’s degree in economics, mathematics and statistics in 1996. She ultimately concluded her formal studies at Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute in Mumbai, graduating with a master’s degree in computer applications in 1999. Ms. Padmanabhan’s degrees cemented her analytical skills and fortified the technical knowledge necessary for her success in the software industry.
Ms. Padmanabhan’s personal life is equally fulfilling. Born in Mumbai, she dedicates her leisure time to sewing, interior designing and remodeling. Married to her loving husband, Rajesh Krishnan, she is the proud mother of two wonderful daughters, Rathik and Rakti Iyer, who are pursuing their own careers in computer science. Ms. Padmanabhan envisions fostering growth both professionally and personally by mentoring future leaders who are skilled and empathetic while ensuring that her family continues their journey of independence.
Ms. Padmanabhan attributes her success to her ability to effectively prioritize her work by evaluating her decisions, identifying her tasks by their importance, efficiently directing her focus, and refusing to neglect her critical responsibilities. By ensuring a balance between her personal and professional lives, she believes she has been able to flourish as a mother to her children while finding her path to success at her own pace in her field. Ms. Padmanabhan is also grateful for her ability to utilize her thoughtful decision-making skills.
Ms. Padmanabhan considers her most notable achievement to be her ability to mobilize a globally distributed team across the U.S., Europe, India, and China, toward the singular goal of delivering software products while adhering to strict time and budget constraints, which required her to deeply engage with technical aspects and unify her team members under a shared vision. She also fondly recalls her affiliation with Samuel Merritt University, where she volunteered to accompany her father in helping physical therapy students care for stroke victims. Looking toward the future, Ms. Padmanabhan hopes to continue growing in her personal endeavors and her career at IBM, especially as she mentors the next generation of skilled and empathetic leaders in her workplace.
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