Coming from the US, Lina Pradhan never lost touch with her roots and remained committed to giving back to the community. Even after relocating to India, she continued her mission through her company, Samtec Tools & Accessories, Pvt Ltd, providing essential support to those in need. One of the women leaders in the manufacturing industry, she stands as a powerful force of leadership and impact.
Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, USA. Lina Pradhan is the Executive Director of Samtec Tools & Accessories. Her parents shifted to Syracuse in the late 60’s, where they helped people to stay connected to their culture in a small Indian Community. In the 80’s, her father who was a civil engineer, started a business, Modi Engineering and Land Surveying, where the focus was on road design, bridge design and construction survey. She says, “because of this I had always been associated with the engineering field”.
Her love for math and science led her to pursue her education in electrical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York. She shares her love for electronics and learning the process of building. When she started her studies in RPI, the ratio of students was very unexpected to her. She remembers, “the ratio of men to women was 10 to 1, which was very low. And many times, I would be the only woman in the class. So that taught me a lot”.
She believes that in traditional industries like manufacturing, automation and electronics, the ratio gap is still huge and there is a long way to go.
After graduation, her career started with American Electric Power, one of the largest power companies in the US, in the division of Key Accounts Marketing, where she worked for many years. Here she gained the experience of learning and interacting with different kinds of people.
She shares her experience saying, “I had to work with large manufacturing companies who were doing expansions and then come back to the office and worked with the engineering teams to design power systems. So again, a place where the engineering design teams rarely had women.”
She further adds that in many departments, the senior engineers were men and being the youngest engineer there, it took time for her to make a path for herself and show them her capabilities. However, this gave her the chance to build her confidence and improve in her engineering and communication skills.
Being a Woman in Manufacturing
Initially entering into manufacturing, for Lina, being a woman, it was challenging in some ways. In the early days of her career, clients would often ask for her manager to discuss the technical aspects instead of with her and it was frustrating, she admits. However, she continues, “Instead of taking an approach that is head on, it’s better to be patient and with multiple meetings, develop a relationship of trust”. She believes it takes time to make an impression.
Later, she decided to join her father’s business, Modi Engineering & Land Surveying. Though she had opportunities in her previous company, her interest took her to the family business. Lina’s role in her father’s company was as a managing engineer: managing construction and design projects, the finance department and negotiating contracts. Another challenge where she had to negotiate rates and contracts was with local unions, working with highly experienced professionals, required her to advocate for their surveyors’ needs while securing the best possible terms. She says, “again it was a construction industry and another arena where there were few women”. However, it was rewarding as she grew and expanded the family business.
After getting married, Lina expanded their firm to Boston. She acknowledges the difficulties of managing both work life and personal life. She shares the support she got from her husband, “balancing work and raising twins was demanding, but we supported each other’s careers”. She is thankful for her husband’s support in her professional career.
Beginning of a New Journey in India
Lina managed the company for 15 years, and then sold the business in the USA when her husband got an opportunity in Pune to manage Samtec Tools & Accessories Pvt Ltd. In 2009, they decided to move to India and she took on the challenge to transition her family into a new culture and new lifestyle. Initially this was difficult but she was determined to help the family settle into their new life before joining Samtec to take on an active role as an Executive Director in Finance. For her, it was a new work environment, new people and a different work culture. At first there was some resistance to accept the systems and processes that she brought from her experience in the US. She says, “I always believe in technologies and systems so I wanted to implement new things in the company”. After some time, the employees understood how these processes could benefit the company. They also understood Lina’s management style and they opened up and communicated with her, giving their trust to her.
Moving to India was a major transition for Lina, with no friends and close ones in Pune. She joined the Women’s International Group in Pune which helped her to make new friends and understand more about Pune. It helped her to adapt more in the city. She says, “It was a big change, but I embraced it as an opportunity for growth.”
For Lina, balancing work life and personal life was not easy. However, the support of her family made it possible. She shares, “I had support from both our mothers, that is my mother and mother-in-law.” After returning to work, taking a one-year break, she managed her schedule and gave time to her children. She adds, “my husband and I give high value to raising our children with values while also committed to our business”. She believes, “in our company, we see the positive impact of having women in leadership and decision-making roles”
Giving Back to the Community
One of the most rewarding parts of the journey for Lina is giving back to the community through the Sathya Sai Organization. She and her husband work through the organization to provide free medical services and cataract surgeries daily in and around Pune. They do 150 to 200 surgeries every month in the outskirts of Pune and rural areas. She acknowledges that she never had thought of doing such deeds in a different country. But coming to India, meeting the people, joining Samtec, these experiences will always be close to her heart.
According to Lina, to empower more women in engineering, we need to start early, by reaching out to girls in high schools and engineering schools. Hosting workshops, bringing in speakers, and exposing young women to the vast opportunities in STEM can make a significant impact. Many may not be aware of the possibilities or might feel hesitant due to a lack of representation. Creating awareness and guidance is crucial.
She believes that many engineering graduates, especially women, lean towards IT due to familiarity, comfort, and sometimes the glass ceiling in core engineering fields. However, she adds, “the key is better education and exposure.” Companies should actively recruit and inform students about the diverse career paths within engineering. More discussions, publications, and conferences on women in engineering can help bridge this gap.
To young women pursuing STEM, she advises to not be afraid to explore new opportunities. If one is passionate about technology, math, or science, engineering is an excellent field. Walk through open doors, challenge yourself, and see what you are capable of. She also thinks having mentors along the way can provide guidance and support.
For Lina, her role model has been her father, who had built his business from the ground up in a new country with strong values and integrity. Her mother, too, was a source of strength to her, balancing cultures, raising a family, and always giving back to the community. This dedication and hard work is the inspiration for Lina.
Lina suggests the best way to start the day is through meditation, “centering yourself for 20 minutes before stepping into the world. When you align yourself with your inner peace, the universe aligns with you”.
