Shweta (Shay) Natarajan
What is your connection to Georgia Tech?
I graduated with my B.S. and M.S. in ME from Georgia Tech and met my husband Ashok (M.S. in ME, Ph.D. in EAS) there. I also serve on the advisory board of the Woodruff School.
What is your current professional role? Please list a few notable career accomplishments.
I am the Partner of Strategy at Mobility Impact Partners (MIP), a Private Equity fund focused on investing in sustainable transportation technologies.
Some of my notable career accomplishments are:
- Being part of the CEO's office at Caterpillar and being directly responsible for the company's strategic plan.
- Being rated in the top 5-10% of McKinsey in multiple performance reviews.
- Being directly responsible for 10% the of world’s LED supply during my time at Apple.
- Winning the award for best thesis at Georgia Tech.
Why are you passionate about WoW?
My mentors and friends made my time at the Woodruff School very memorable. I want to pass that forward, and make sure that women at the Woodruff School are supported and find opportunities to thrive.
What are your hobbies and passions?
I love reading, taking long walks, swimming, and traveling.
What is your favorite quote?
It's more of a concept than a quote. David Epstein, in his book, "Range - Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World," lays out research which shows that those at the top of their fields (Mozart, Van Gogh, Roger Federer, etc.) spent a lot of time trying out various pursuits before they finally settled on a career path. This has taught me to choose career experiences based on what I think I can learn, and not make career decisions based on how quickly I can get promoted.
What advice would you give a young female engineer?
Be confident, get rid of imposter syndrome and view challenges as opportunities.