The 2x Women in Tech Podcast with Chelsea Behrens

Jyotsna (Jo) Anand Bhasin, Director, Strategy and Operations at Salesforce

So much in life is about having the courage of your convictions, as exemplified on this episode of the 2x Women in Tech Podcast. Jyotsna Anand Bhasin (who goes by Jo) has ascended to the role of Director of Strategy and Operations at Salesforce through a mix of skill sets that all intersect with the clarity of her vision. There’s a reason this dynamic “program owner” and “people manager” has progressed into strategic leadership roles. Learn how she has stayed committed to her priorities, from a young engineering student in India to twin MBAs and into the ranks of some of America’s largest corporations.

Jo shares her thoughts on what it means to be a fearless leader and why she is laser-focused on opening doors for other women. Having reached a senior position in large part thanks to the support and guidance of mentors over the course of her career, Jo is now happily paying it forward! She wants to see women thrive in tech and trust themselves to know when to stretch – as well as stay in steady state. She offers sage advice for women engaged with the perennial work-life balance struggle: It’s okay to lean into periods when our personal lives must be the priority. The trick is to stay professionally confident and keep scanning the horizon for that next well-timed opportunity to shine.

Jo is sharing lessons learned through a progression of strategic roles at IBM and in her current position at Salesforce. You’ll want to take notes on her tips for women who aspire to strategic leadership positions, including how to generate your own job opportunities and why your network of support is everything. She is also reminding us that it’s not the end of the world if someone doesn’t like us or something we do. To the contrary, says Jo, it’s an opportunity to use your influence to understand the issue and work collaboratively in pursuit of a solution. If something’s not working? Ask for help. Be authentic. And the real secret sauce? It’s simple: Start with kindness—and a smile! Brave leaders lead with dignity and respect.

Key Takeaways:

• Jo defines her role as Director of Strategy and Operations at Salesforce, which involves mediating between multiple stakeholders to deliver optimal customer solutions.

• When not getting the job is a good thing: Jo interviewed for a position she was not offered only to be offered an even more challenging and gratifying opportunity. It happens that way sometimes, so stay open!

• People Manager: Jo prefers this very specific terminology to communicate how seriously she takes the responsibility to be a strong leader, supporting her direct reports in their development and aspirations.

• Jo attributes much of her success to the dedicated mentoring she has received over the course of her career, including by leaders (women at IBM in particular) who equipped her with a powerful skill set. Now? She wants to pay it forward by bringing others along!

• Electronics and communications engineering were natural aptitudes, but Jo always knew she ultimately wanted to leverage that problem-solving skill set in a business context, a dream she advanced by acquiring an MBA.

• The Power of Yes! Jo believes the positive mindset she brings to both her professional and personal lives is what makes it all possible.

• Jo and her now-husband met while pursuing their first MBAs, in India, and then on their journey to secure a second MBA in the U.S. at the University of Virginia. They worked together, studied together and built a union deeply rooted in mutual respect and equality.

• For women who aspire to more strategic opportunities, Jo offers a three-step approach:

  • Pause. Assess for yourself whether you’re ready to take on the responsibility and the challenge.

  • Ask leaders to help identify opportunities to contribute to strategic planning.

  • Keep your eyes and ears open. You never know which team member might surface an opportunity or welcome a solution you proactively propose.

• To Everything There is a Season: Jo recommends proudly accepting the reality of competing work-life priorities. It’s okay to throttle back temporarily when bandwidth is limited, knowing that career opportunities will open up again over time.

• Remember This: When you receive pushback or someone doesn’t seem to like you, it’s actually an opportunity to exercise influence and figure out a path to solve the problem!

• Jo shares a vivid step-by-step narrative of how she deployed program management skills creatively at IBM to create a process roadmap, buy-in and trust that catapulted her into the strategic leadership team. 

• The Big Picture: A skill set you pick up today may seem unimportant or irrelevant in the immediate, but you never know when that knowledge might prove useful down the line.

• Jo has been surprised by the amount of support she has received in pursuing her career goals. Far from erecting roadblocks, many mentors have lofted her towards her goals.

• Jo’s Golden Rule: Treat people with respect, dignity and kindness. A smile can go a long way in setting the tone for every interaction.

• A wish list for the tech industry:

  • Quicker customer adoption, which means quicker development of newer, more efficient tools and solutions.

  • More storytelling and shared experiences that highlight and support the role of women at every level of the workforce.

• Two Parting Thoughts for Women in Tech:

  • Be Brave! Take control of career, pursue what you desire and don’t be afraid to ask leadership for support. You’ll be amazed at the opportunities that emerge!

  • Be intentional about building a support network – personally and professionally – to help you accomplish your goals.

Episode Resources

• Jo on LinkedIn

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