(April 17, 2023) For this Scotiabank product owner, her job is the perfect amalgamation of all her interests: travel, networking, efficiency, and automation of redundant processes. Born and raised in Hyderabad, Parinitha Sabhnani knew early on that she wanted to travel the world. Life had other plans though. Parinitha soon found herself juggling college life, pursuing an MBA from Hyderabad’s Badruka Institute of Foreign Trade, and a full-time job with Bank of America. Despite it all, she found a way to make it work for her and soon landed her next job with Tech Mahindra (formerly Satyam) through campus placements.
As she embarked on her journey as a business analyst, Parinitha found herself realising many of her dreams. Soon the travels began as well as she was chosen for onsite projects. Her travels took her to all the places she’d dreamed of: Germany, France, and eventually Canada. “Canada turned out to be a long-term project,” says 39-year-old Parinitha, who is currently working as a product owner (Robotics Process Automation) with Scotiabank. Incidentally, it was in Canada that she met her now-husband and the couple settled in Toronto with their two kids.
As a product owner, Parinitha’s role involves delivering differentiated products to the market. “I am responsible for managing the product throughout its lifecycle with assistance from specialists such as designers, developers, quality assurance engineers, and operations experts,” she says, adding, “In short, I connect business strategy, design knowledge, and customer needs in order to develop a product that is relevant, feasible, and valuable. We are focused on optimising a product to achieve the business goals and user necessities while maximising return on investment.”
Working with a global team also gives her an opportunity to appreciate and celebrate diversity. “My team includes people from various backgrounds and at my workplace we believe in a world where differences are celebrated. My organisation affords us an inclusive culture where every employee is empowered to reach his/her fullest potential, respected for who they are, and their differences and similarities are embraced.”
With two young kids, work-life balance is on top of Parinitha’s list. A typical day for her begins at 6 am with a quick workout routine followed by getting the kids ready and dropped off to school, before heading to work herself. Following the pandemic, she is able to work in a hybrid model with work from home being encouraged. “That allows me more time with my family,” she smiles. After picking up her kids around 3 pm, she strives to wind up work by 5.30 pm to spend time with her family either at the park or playing games at home. A family dinner typically involves everyone pitching in. “After we get the kids to bed is our time to catch up on some of our favourite OTT shows and movies,” she says. As a family, they also periodically donate care and essential packages, especially around Diwali and Christmas apart from weekly volunteering sessions at their local temple.
Parinitha with her family
In the midst of all of this, she also sets time aside for herself doing some of her favourite things: travelling, adventure sports, playing badminton, VR games and reading.
Parinitha says that being a part of the technology industry requires her to constantly update her skills and knowledge through certificate courses in order to stay relevant in her role. She recommends certifications related to AI, UI path, and machine learning. “The more you acquire knowledge through different courses or certifications, the better you can keep track of the latest developments in the industry,” she says.