Women in Technology - Manjiri Deshpande

This blog is part of our ongoing Women in Technology series.

Manjiri brings to Consilio 15 years of experience in review management, staff administration and review operations. In her past roles, she had the unique privilege of setting up the infrastructure and staff for review centers and comes to Consilio after doing the same for Conduent LCA (erstwhile Xerox Litigation Services) – where she was responsible for overseeing India review deliveries and managing review operations. A long time participant in India’s unique legal support space, she has also worked as a Senior Manager at UnitedLex and as a Project Director for Global Colleague (a boutique e-discovery supporter for select Fortune 500 clientele).

Manjiri has an LLM in International Law from the University of Pune. When not at work, she is a busy mother to a daughter and a notorious Labrador pup.

How did you get into this industry?

I started my career at a law firm, but I was quite intrigued by the eDiscovery industry which was just taking roots in India at that time. It was great to suddenly have options available outside of traditional law career roles. I grabbed the first opportunity that came my way to join this industry and I have enjoyed every day of it.

What were some pivotal moments in your career that helped to get you to where you are today?

I was fortunate to have great mentors who helped shape my career. I was also lucky to get a chance to build document review teams and centers from scratch twice in my career. Both experiences were enthralling, pivotal, and gave me a sense of fulfillment. Another turning point in my career was when I decided to transition from project management to review management. My familiarity with the eDiscovery processes as a project manager helped me have a more rounded perspective of review projects.

Have you ever noticed a time in your career where your gender proved to differentiate you?

Being a woman manager has worked in a very positive way in my interactions with female colleagues. I can empathize better with my female colleagues because I have a deep understanding of the challenges they face. As a working mother, I am well positioned to help my team members cope with the challenges of work-life balance. I have also experienced that women on my team are more comfortable opening up to me about any issues they may have.

What is your advice for someone working in a predominately male workplace?

Try to recommend hiring female colleagues to make the workplace more diverse!

It is very important to make sure your voice is heard and not let anyone overshadow your efforts. While trying to “fit in” the workplace, it is also important to not lose your identity and to recognize the strengths you bring to such a group.

What do you think companies could do to motivate more women to pursue careers in technology?

I think every female hired to start a career in technology is a role model for a young girl in her circle. Companies need to ensure hiring policies promote diversity and have sufficient female representation in leadership to create more role models in society, which in turn will motivate young girls to pursue similar career goals.