Leaders

My father worked as a Civil Engineer in the UAE. Like many Indian households, career choices often revolved around engineering or medicine. Inspired by my father’s work, I was fascinated by how simple drafts with a few lines on paper could transform into remarkable structures. That idea of ‘transformation’ captivated me — the ability to solve complex problems and create innovations that improve lives.

Engineering combines creativity, strategy, and teamwork — values I carry forward as the CEO of ASHWAA Engineering Pvt. Ltd. Today, I’m driven by the same inspiration — to design innovative automation solutions that enhance efficiency, safety, and productivity across industries. Knowing our work shapes the future of manufacturing and technology keeps me motivated every day.

Take us through your professional journey in the engineering and innovation space. What key competencies have you developed over the years in the global tech industry?

I began my career in India as a project intern, working with DRDO and ISRO as part of my academic requirements. Collaborating with brilliant scientists was an inspiring start that shaped my approach to innovation. Since then, I’ve worked as both an engineer and manager, gaining expertise in quality, engineering processes, leadership, and global innovation.

My husband and I later left our jobs in the U.S. to return to India, fully dedicating ourselves to ASHWAA Engineering. Our core strength lies in robotic process automation, delivering customized solutions that enhance manufacturing efficiency, safety, and productivity. This journey has honed my skills in strategic planning, innovation management, and leadership — driving impactful change through automation.

What led you to establish Ashwaa Engineering? What was the underlying idea and vision behind establishing the company?

My husband and I are the chief engineers of ASHWAA Engineering. His vision to become an industrialist began at 17, while my aspirations emerged early as I tapped into my leadership abilities. After meeting in 2017, we often discussed achieving greater things and building an engineering-driven company.

In August 2020, we turned that vision into reality by establishing ASHWAA Engineering, with a focus on integrating automation and robotics into innovative manufacturing to enhance operational efficiencies. Since then, we’ve successfully completed numerous projects, earning a reputation as a trusted partner for engineering design, fabrication, and automation solutions.

But ASHWAA is more than just engineering. We are deeply committed to community building, particularly supporting girl child education and encouraging more women engineers to join the field. While we don’t yet see as many female applicants as we’d like, we believe our educational efforts will help change that.

Our vision is to position ASHWAA as a globally recognized engineering company, delivering reliable solutions that provide greater ROI and long-term value to our customers.

As the Founder & CEO, what primary roles do you play within Ashwaa Engineering? What are your key focus areas in terms of driving the company’s growth?

As Co-founder and CEO, I’m actively involved in both administrative and technical aspects. Together with my husband, we drive the company’s strategic market positioning.

I focus on three key pillars that shape our growth. First, ‘Strategic Vision’ — setting the company’s direction to stay ahead of emerging trends in automation and engineering while aligning our services with industry needs. Second, ‘Innovation & Technology’ — where we invest in cutting-edge solutions to deliver world-class automation systems, contributing to India’s evolving automation landscape. Lastly, ‘Client Engagement & Partnerships’ — where we prioritize building strong partnerships, working closely with clients to understand their challenges and deliver tailored solutions that drive measurable results — because engineering is all about solving problems.

What key challenges do you face as a STEM leader? How do you navigate through these roadblocks successfully?

Women in engineering still face skepticism despite consistently proving their capabilities — something I’ve experienced firsthand. I’ve often seen surprise or disbelief when women discuss technical topics.

Navigating these challenges requires being humble yet firm — a trait I learned from my mother, who excelled in an administrative role for over 30 years. Equally important is adopting a mindset of continuous learning. The moment you believe there’s nothing more to learn, that itself becomes the greatest obstacle.

Staying open to learning and growth makes challenges easier to overcome. Adaptability is key. Achieving goals is like climbing a mountain — obstacles aren’t setbacks but stepping stones that drive progress. Embracing them as opportunities is what leads to success.

Which career milestones are most special to you? What is your ‘success mantra’?

Co-founding ASHWAA Engineering and achieving what we have so far is my most special career milestone. While I’m proud of my accomplishments, I believe there’s much more ahead. I remain both content yet ambitious — always striving for greater milestones.

My success mantra is staying committed and continuously learning. Regardless of how successful a company becomes, growth should never stop. The moment I believe there’s nothing more to achieve is the moment I stop being successful.

Sumalini Jyothi, Co-Founder & CEO, Ashwaaa Engineering

Sumalini Jyothi is an aeronautics engineer-turned-entrepreneur, focused on changing the engineering industry dynamics through her company Ashwaaa Engineering. Hailing from a small town in Telangana, she went on to pursue her undergrad degree at the Institute of Aeronautical Engineering and later moved to the United States for her master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Dayton, Ohio. Sumalini is an inspiration for women in STEM.