How do you grow your data career with clarity, without burning out, selling out, or trying to be the smartest person in the room?

In this honest and insightful episode of From a Woman to a Leader, I sit down with Harini Rajagopal, a senior data engineering leader who has done it all:

data analyst, data scientist, software engineer, analytics engineer.

And now Harini leads high-performing teams with a combination of strategy, empathy, and technical depth.

Harini shares her journey of restarting her career in the U.S., navigating the shift from individual contributor to manager, and the lessons she wishes she could share with her 25-year-old self.

We talk about what it really takes to grow in a data career, how to choose the right path (even if you’re unsure), and the two surprising skills every data professional needs—one of them is Excel, and the other might just transform how you lead.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The 4 career paths in data, and how to know which one’s right for you
• How to become a leader without losing your technical edge
• Why being strategic means asking, “What happens if we don’t do this?”
• What it really takes to build trust and lead without micromanaging
• The two underrated skills that can fast-track your career growth

This is more than a career story; it’s a guide to leading with confidence, curiosity, and clarity at every stage of your tech journey.

🎧 Hit play if you’re exploring a data career path or wondering if leadership is right for you.

👩‍💻 Want more support to grow as a leader?

📥 Download my free guide: https://limorbergman.com/careersteps/

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About Harini Rajagopal

Harini Rajagopal is a senior data engineering leader with over a decade of experience delivering scalable, cloud-native data platforms across insurance, fintech, and automotive sectors. At AAA Life Insurance, she leads teams that build high-impact data lakes and pipelines using AWS, Snowflake, Airflow, and Terraform. She’s also a speaker, mentor, and advocate for inclusive, high-performing teams.

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hrajagopal/