Women at the Wheel 2022: Sri Alekhya Godugu

2022 Honoree

Senior Electronics & Systems Engineer
Cepton, Inc.

What is one of your proudest accomplishments of your career?

I am so proud and grateful to have gained the wonderful people around me and their trust in my career. For me, it is not just one single accomplishment, but a journey of awesome things I was made a part of. My active work on benchmarking and quoting automotive designs in an innovative and cost-effective way as an electronics engineer has awarded our company with good projects from big OEMs. Being reliable, I was allotted a key role for a prestigious advanced sensors project. I am so honored to be currently working as a systems engineer with an extraordinary team.

 

In what do you credit your success and/or what do you think makes you stand apart from your peers?

I am honestly surprised at how I molded myself at work from an electronics engineer to a resident/program engineer who covers multiple areas like software, optics, electronics, mechanical and timing, in parallel to lots of learning, taking classes/exams and writing papers for my Ph.D. Successfully handling tasks under pressure and initiatives that led to amazing opportunities were my best efforts. I prefer to work in a way that it doesn’t need to be re-done. I like to be efficient saving everyone’s time.

 

What tools do you use to help you grow in the industry?

I always want to challenge myself with tougher tasks and put my heart in it running an extra mile to achieve perfection. To me, growing in the industry means to keep practicing the current knowledge and updating myself with the advanced industry trends and technologies. Pushing my limits each day and adapting myself to every significant opportunity has enhanced my learning.

 

What is your best advice to other women who want to excel in the automotive industry?

First and foremost, my advice is to be confident. Teamwork is appreciative, but the ability to do certain tasks independently makes you stronger and potent. Pursuing qualitative risks and continuous learning will greatly add benefits to your career. Embrace your opportunities and be buoyant. Also, don’t be afraid to speak up with your ideas in a room of officials — times have changed and your move will be appreciated.