Leaders

The growing presence of women in Chief Operating Officer (COO) roles is reshaping how organizations approach leadership, execution, and long-term growth. As the operational backbone of an enterprise, a COO is responsible for translating vision into action—aligning people, processes, and strategy while ensuring that innovation is supported by disciplined execution. Women leaders are increasingly bringing a distinctive blend of strategic thinking, operational excellence, emotional intelligence, and collaborative leadership to these positions. Their ability to foster inclusive cultures, build resilient teams, navigate complexity, and balance business performance with people-centric decision-making has made them instrumental in driving sustainable organizational success. Rather than simply managing operations, they are redefining what effective operational leadership looks like in an increasingly dynamic business landscape.

Among these leaders is Jaishree Saxena, Co-Founder and COO of CareerMaker.ai, whose career exemplifies the power of combining global experience, technological expertise, and purpose-driven leadership. Her professional journey has traversed finance, technology, education, research, strategy, and operations, equipping her with a multidisciplinary perspective that now shapes CareerMaker.ai's mission of transforming employability through artificial intelligence and career strategy.

Dr. Saxena began her academic journey with a bachelor's degree in Physics from Ohio Wesleyan University before launching her career on Wall Street, where she worked in technology supporting traders and investment bankers. While her technical expertise opened doors, her professional experiences soon reinforced a broader lesson: that long-term career success is equally dependent on communication: confidence, relationship-building, and the ability to influence outcomes. This realization became a defining principle that continues to shape her leadership philosophy today.

She later joined Educational Testing Service (ETS), where she spent eight years progressing from programmer to owner of eight enterprise applications within the auditing division. During this period, she developed a client-centric approach grounded in accountability, ownership, and an unwavering commitment to quality. Beyond technology, Dr. Saxena consistently embraced leadership opportunities within the community, serving as President of Child Care Connection and leading one of the organization's most significant strategic transformations in over two decades. Her contributions earned her the Outstanding Volunteer Award at ETS in 2015, while advisory roles with Minding Our Business, Inc. and committees at ETS and the Princeton Chamber of Commerce further strengthened her expertise in organizational development, employee engagement, and community outreach.

Committed to lifelong learning, Dr. Saxena completed Strategic Management studies at Harvard University Extension School before earning her doctoral degree from Rider University in 2024, where her research focused on women in science in India. After returning to India, she applied her strategic and operational expertise as an advisor to the Sri Krishna Educational Trust before co-founding CareerMaker.ai. Today, she leads the company's operations with a clear conviction that while knowledge may create opportunities, it is communication, confidence, character, and continuous learning that enable individuals to thrive. Under her operational leadership, CareerMaker.ai is working to bridge the gap between academic achievement and real-world employability, empowering individuals to build meaningful and future-ready careers.

Looking back on your career, what defining moments or decisions have had the greatest impact on your leadership philosophy and approach to organizational growth?

One of the most valuable lessons I've learned is that leadership isn't about having every answer; it's about enabling others to discover their own. Early in my career, I measured success through expertise and performance. Over time, working across different industries and cultures showed me that organizations thrive when people feel empowered to contribute, question ideas respectfully, and take ownership of outcomes. I've seen talented individuals hold themselves back because of self-doubt or fear of failure, which reinforced the importance of creating psychologically safe workplaces. Today, my leadership philosophy rests on three principles: empowering people, fostering accountability, and embracing continuous learning as the foundation for sustainable organizational growth.

As COO of CareerMaker.ai, how are you addressing the evolving gap between education, employability, and industry expectations while building a scalable organization?

One of the biggest challenges I see today isn't a lack of knowledge; it's the gap between education and employability. While academic institutions equip students with technical expertise, many graduates still lack the communication, confidence, emotional intelligence, and professional presence that employers value most. At CareerMaker.ai, our recruitment experience has shown that hiring decisions often depend on how effectively candidates articulate their capabilities and connect their experiences to business outcomes. As COO, my role is to translate this understanding into scalable execution by building robust systems, strong partnerships, efficient processes, and high-performing teams that consistently create value for students, professionals, educational institutions, and employers. I also oversee operations at GSCAR and GSCAIR, leading initiatives in quantum computing at GSCAR and artificial intelligence at GSCAIR. Across these initiatives, my focus remains  on creating sustainable operating frameworks, empowering talented people, fostering accountability, and continuously innovating to bridge the employability gap while delivering meaningful, long-term impact in India and beyond.

Career success is increasingly influenced by technological disruption and changing workplace expectations. How can organizations and individuals better prepare for this new reality?

I believe the future belongs to those who never stop learning. Technology has always evolved, but today's pace of change requires individuals and organizations to adapt faster than ever before. Rather than worrying about AI replacing jobs, I believe the greater challenge is whether people are prepared to continuously reinvent themselves. One of my favorite quotes is from Alvin Toffler, "The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn". Organizations must create cultures that encourage ongoing learning, while individuals need to take ownership of their own development. Those who remain curious, adaptable, and committed to lifelong learning will continue to create opportunities regardless of technological change.

Operational leadership often involves balancing innovation with sustainable growth. How do you ensure rapid expansion doesn't compromise quality or culture?

For me, growth should always strengthen an organization's culture rather than weaken it. While expansion naturally brings pressure to move faster, sustainable success requires discipline, clarity, and consistency. I prioritize open communication, clearly defined processes, accountability, and continuous feedback to ensure quality remains uncompromised. Equally important is creating an environment where people feel psychologically safe to share ideas, challenge assumptions, and contribute openly. I've found that innovation flourishes when individuals feel heard and respected. By combining strong operational systems with a culture of trust and collaboration, organizations can scale effectively without losing sight of their long-term vision or core values.

How do you see analytics and insights reshaping the future of HR and career management?

Data has become an indispensable tool in HR, but I believe it should guide decisions rather than replace human judgment. Analytics can reveal patterns, predict outcomes, and improve workforce planning, yet every data point ultimately represents an individual with unique aspirations and potential. One book that significantly influenced my thinking on this topic is Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O'Neil. The book highlights how algorithms and data models can unintentionally reinforce bias when they are used without transparency, accountability, or human judgment. Leaders have a responsibility to interpret data with empathy, fairness, and accountability. The future of HR lies in combining advanced analytics with human understanding, ensuring technology enhances decision-making while keeping people at the center of every organizational strategy.

As a woman leader in a technology-driven industry, what experiences have most influenced the way you mentor teams and build high-performance organizations?

My mother has been one of the greatest influences on my leadership journey. As an entrepreneur, she demonstrated that strength and compassion can coexist, teaching me that empathy, resilience, and relationshipbuilding are powerful leadership qualities. Her belief that women are often the social glue of a family inspired my approach to building inclusive workplace cultures. Harvard professor Chris Christensen's book, 'How Will You Measure Your Life?', also shaped my thinking by emphasizing that true success is measured by the quality of our relationships, integrity, and positive impact on others. I strive to create environments where people feel valued, supported, and empowered because I believe exceptional results are achieved when individuals become the best versions of themselves.

Beyond business success, what legacy would you like CareerMaker.ai to create in shaping careers and the future of work?

I see life as having two distinct phases. The first is about building stability for ourselves and our families, while the second is about giving back in meaningful ways. CareerMaker.ai was born from that desire to contribute. I believe Indian students possess immense talent and curiosity, but many lack access to the mentorship and practical career guidance needed to unlock their full potential. If we can help individuals find their voice, build confidence, and create fulfilling careers, then we've achieved something meaningful. Ultimately, I hope our legacy is measured not by the number of placements we facilitate, but by the number of lives we positively transform.

Jaishree Saxena, Co-Founder & COO, Careermaker.AI

Dr. Jaishree Saxena is the Co-Founder and COO of CareerMaker.ai, bringing global expertise in technology, strategy, HR, and operations. A Physics graduate from Ohio Wesleyan University, Harvard Strategic Management alumna, and Ph.D. holder from Rider University, she is dedicated to advancing employability, AI-driven career development, and research-led innovation.