30572_Kao Data Critical Careers_Pages - Flipbook - Page 98
Sreemathi
Chandrasekaran
Real Estate and Country Head of Data Centres,
India for Kyndryl
How did you get into the data centre industry?
got into the data centre industry after starting
my career in business process outsourcing
right after graduating from university. That
sector was booming in India at the time. From there,
I moved to IBM which eventually led me to data
centres. Kyndryl was spun off from IBM in 2021 and
I currently lead the India portfolio for real estate,
which includes both of昀椀ce and data centre spaces.
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he spinoff from IBM to Kyndryl was
a remarkable period, especially
because it happened during the
peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. We had
to manage everything remotely, which was a
massive undertaking.
I
T
What has kept me in this industry are the everchanging market conditions; it’s a sector where
nothing stays the same for long. This industry keeps
you on your toes—there’s no chance of getting
bored. Additionally, my role involves signi昀椀cant work
with cost analysis and budget management, which I
昀椀nd particularly engaging.
Witnessing our company, as large as it
is, successfully navigate these challenges
entirely through remote operations was
not only a reinforcement of my belief in
digitalization but also an exciting experience.
Being part of setting up a new company
during such an unprecedented time was
thrilling and has added to the reasons I enjoy
this industry.
I enjoy working with numbers, and the balance of onthe-ground management with 昀椀nancial strategizing
keeps me motivated.
It’s these kinds of challenges and the
constant need to adapt and innovate that
keep me hooked.
