Believing in Yourself, with Nithya Ruff

In this warm heart-to-heart with my colleague and good friend Nithya Ruff, we dive deep into her incredible journey from India to Silicon Valley, where she's now leading the open source program office at Amazon and serving on the board of the Linux Foundation. Nithya opens up about the pivotal moments in her life—moments that weren’t just about career choices but about the people who believed in her and the values that have guided her.

Together, we explore:

- Nithya’s journey into open source and how a leap of faith to move to the U.S. shaped her life and career
- The role of male allies, from her father’s belief in her future to the colleagues who opened doors at crucial moments
- Balancing family and ambition—Nithya shares how she and her husband made decisions together to support their family, while she kept pursuing her career dreams
- Mentorship and giving back—Nithya’s passion for paying it forward and how she’s become a fierce advocate for others in the tech world
- Life lessons on resilience—Whether you’re navigating bias, feeling like the underdog, or just trying to figure out your next step, Nithya’s advice on believing in yourself and pushing forward will resonate

We also reflect on the value of friendship, mentorship, and how women can light the way for each other. Nithya's warmth, wisdom, and honesty in this interview are what make her such a remarkable friend and leader.

Join us for this heartfelt conversation, where Nithya's wisdom and experiences come together to inspire you to dream big, push through challenges, and help others along the way.

Show Notes:
00:00 Believing in Yourself: A Crucial Muscle to Develop
01:01 Introduction to She Lights the Way
01:34 Meet Nithya Ruff: A Personal and Professional Journey
04:14 Nithya's Role at Amazon and the Linux Foundation
05:52 Pivotal Moments & Personal Milestones
09:02 The Importance of Male Advocates
12:01 Family Influences and Decisions
15:39 Raising Daughters and Building Relationships
18:36 Inspirations and Mentorship
26:13 Advice for Women: Believe, Advocate, and Persist
34:31 The Power of Mentorship and Community
37:28 Looking Ahead and Defining Success
41:00 Conclusion: Lighting the Way for Others

Guest Bio: 
Nithya Ruff is a strategic open source, digital, and media technology executive with over 20 years of experience leading tech and innovation at prominent companies such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Comcast, Intel, Wind River, and Western Digital (SanDisk). She is recognized as a visionary in the open source community and currently serves as the chair of the Linux Foundation board of directors. Her career has spanned various roles, including product management, product marketing, and strategy, with a focus on championing diversity and inclusion in technology. She is an advocate for women in tech, and actively works to create more inclusive organizational cultures and mentor others in the field.

Learn more about Nithya’s work and connect with her:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter/X