From The Straits Times    |

Credit: Lawrence Teo

Nithya hails from a family of tech experts – her parents and fiance work in the industry – so it is no wonder that she chose the same path for herself. She majored in computer science at Nanyang Technological University, under its premier Renaissance Engineering Programme, and graduated in July with a dual degree: Bachelor of Engineering Science, and Master of Science in Technology Management.

In January 2022, she joined global investment bank and financial services company Credit Suisse as a technology analyst, where she utilises her software engineering skills to fix system bugs and work on or create new banking features.

Credit: Lawrence Teo

Nithya developed a keen interest in data about four years ago, when she started paying attention to the accuracy of her social media feed recommendations.

“I’d be searching for something on Google, and Instagram would start recommending posts about the thing that I’d been searching for. I found that very interesting – how my data is being used on one platform and getting such accurate recommendations on another platform,” she explains.

Nithya’s love for problem solving is another motivating factor for her to work in tech. Since young, she has always loved playing with jigsaw and logic puzzles, as well as Sudoku. “When I see problems, I want to come up with solutions. I also do not like to be part of inefficient processes. That’s why technology has been really interesting to me, because I can take processes that are very slow and build a code to change them,” she adds.

Nithya’s need for efficiency is driving her to constantly improve herself – she hopes to be involved in IT management and be part of change some day.

Technology analyst Nithya Krishnan (middle) with her friends

“Twenty years later, I want to be at least many times more knowledgeable than I am now. I want to move more into direction setting, because I enjoy making processes more efficient, like how can we better achieve or define our KPIs in the first place. So this is definitely something I see myself doing in the future,” she says.

In fact, her systematic and logical approach to things have been utilised not only at work but also in her personal life as an Indian classical dancer and choreographer with Chumma Dance, a craft she has been honing for 12 years.

“At my dance company, I’m using data analytics to find out which classes fit better for us, and allocating these sessions accordingly, so that people can attend as many classes as possible. Initially, we would spend one and a half hours figuring out the schedule. Now, it runs in three minutes,” says Nithya.

She dances about four times a week – after work and on Saturdays. It may sound like she has a lot on her plate, but to Nithya, this is how she destresses and achieves a work-life balance.

“I know how to compartmentalise and manage my time better. I plan well ahead, so I’m mentally prepared and will not feel overwhelmed. I may set goals that will only bear fruit years later, but it will be very rewarding, so I have to persevere.”