Leaders

In recent years, companies have been building upon high-powered strategy functions to help develop, communicate, execute their strategies, and track progress, while technology always has an upper hand. Faced with a host of challenges today, including digital disruption and changing global trade patterns, today where organizations are striving to perform the best in taking over the competition, C-suite leaders should be acknowledged to spearhead this technology evolution, specifically, the CTO (Chief Technology Officer). Nisha Bhaskaran, CTO, at SPIRESPARK INTERNATIONAL, signifies the category, neutralizing gender disparity and rising above challenges to accomplish organizational success. Having led various advanced tech and business transformation initiatives, Nisha has proficient knowledge and expertise as a top executive leader. WE engaged in a one-on-one interaction with Nisha, let’s read through the snippets.

Take us through the prior industry experience that you bring to the table. Tell us about your expertise as a technocrat.

I am a B.E. in Information Technology, however, as soon as I completed my engineering degree, our campus placements were deferred by six months faced with the world hit by the early 2000s recessions. However, not able to sit idle for that period, I joined another company as a Java Developer- developing hand-held devices. Post finishing the development of my code, I also enjoyed spending time testing others’ code having this sheer love for creating better quality products. Eventually, I moved to testing, and validation for high-end universal remote-control devices (even after being discouraged and mentioned by many that developers are valued more than testers). Our validation division at Philips got this wonderful opportunity of setting up the global Digital Interoperability Certification Centre at our Bangalore office for UPnP, DLNA, HDMI, Open IPTV, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and other standards.

The next few years were filled with excitement and challenges and eventually, I ended up representing Philips in International Standard Alliances for the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), and Open IPTV Forum (OIPF). After 8 years, I joined SPIRESPARK INTERNATIONAL as Certification Program Manager and today I’m the CTO. The journey has been beautiful as I transfigured from Testing of Consumer Electronics products to Digital Product Certification to Technical Head of International Digital Standardization Alliances. Not to miss, I am also a Yoga practitioner (currently pursuing a Master + Doctorate course in Yogic Sciences), high altitude trekker, long distance runner and heritage blogger, and love to visit the heritage splendors of our land.

Introduce us to SPIRESPARK INTERNATIONAL. What are the various responsibilities you shoulder as the CTO there?

With over a decade of success in designing, building, and managing certification programs, SPIRESPARK was created to provide access to highly skilled technical and operations expertise for certification, compliance, and conformance programs. Our Software architects, engineers, QA specialists, strategic planners, and certification program operations management experts are all renowned for excellence in the alliance & association industry. Our proven processes include development for test requirements, test tool development and maintenance, specifications, program launch, logo management, certification administration, revenue structure consulting, web-based certification systems, requirements tracking, test tools customized for your industry, continuous integration support, and customized automation.

"Continuous Challenges To Kindle The Mind, Empowering The Staff And Providing Utmost Flexibility Have Helped In Retaining The Talent"

As the CTO at SPIRESPARK, I provide technical expertise to operationalize certification, conformance, and compliance programs for several international alliances, including Long Range Radio Wireless Area Network Alliance (LoRaWAN), Digital Living Network Alliance, and OmniAir Consortium. I also interface with the Test Laboratories of our standards worldwide to ensure the best quality certification for the devices implementing the technology.

Tell us about the most critical challenges you encounter as a technology leader. What steps do you undertake to overcome those?

The most critical challenge I have faced is competence management. In digital standardization technology, the learning curve is significant, and understanding the technology in & out is key to a successful certification program. Continuous challenges to kindle the mind, empowering the staff and providing utmost flexibility have helped in retaining the talent.

Tell us about some of the professional key milestones you have achieved so far. What has been your mantra for success?

At 30, I started my own LLP in collaboration with SPIRESPARK. Moving from being a Software Architect in a multinational to being on my own was not considered a safe and smart choice by most people around me. However, the decision to take the challenge to have more control over my life has paid off well. As a fresher back then or as a CTO now, whenever I sit to work every morning, I ensure that I have the same energy and zeal. When one loves the work they do, every day becomes a party. My mantra for success is, ‘Do what you love, love what you do’.

Any advice for aspiring women leaders/ entrepreneurs?

Life is too short to live someone else’s dream. Go all out to make every dream of yours a reality. There is no need to feel guilty about not being able to give your 100 percent sometimes as we are not just women entrepreneurs, we’re also mothers, wives, and daughters. We have not reached where we are despite being a woman, but because we are a woman. Let’s cherish that!

Nisha Bhaskaran, CTO, Spirespark International

With a B.E. in Information Technology, holding 20+ years of experience in digital connectivity standards certification, including DLNA, HDMI, UPnP, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Open IPTV, and USB standards, Nisha specializes in test planning, test policies, dispute resolution, and workgroup processes for consensus building.

Awards & Recognitions:

 • Early Career Potential at Philips Innovation Campus

 • Numerous Star Performer Awards

 • Outstanding Contribution Award at Digital Living Network Alliance

A business leader you admire:

Narayan Murthy & Sudha Murthy (Their successful, simplistic, complete, powerful, and generous lifestyle is an absolute inspiration)