Growth Beyond the Job

How Karuna Kak is turning technology and AI literacy into pathways for women to grow and lead

In the technology world, change moves at breakneck speed. Skills expire, tools evolve and careers can pivot overnight. Many professionals chase the next big thing, hoping momentum will carry them forward. 

Karuna Kak chose a different path. 

She stayed the course, connected the dots and quietly turned personal progress into collective purpose. Her story is not one of instant success, but of steady ascent.

“Technology gave me a voice, and community gave me purpose,” Kak says, summing up nearly a decade of work. 

In an industry often dominated by jargon and hype, the line cuts through like a breath of fresh air. It reflects a philosophy shaped not just by ambition, but by empathy; a belief that innovation matters most when it brings people along, rather than leaving them behind.

Professional Journey 

Kak is a senior business analyst at Bajaj Finserv. Over nine years, she has worked across banking, education technology and consumer-focused digital platforms.  Alongside her corporate role, she has become a visible voice in women-led technology communities, helping demystify artificial intelligence and digital tools for those often excluded from such conversations.

Her career took a significant turn during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she moved into the EdTech sector. As classrooms went dark and screens lit up, digital learning became a lifeline. Kak contributed to products designed to support students and educators navigating this abrupt transition. The experience reinforced her belief that technology, when applied thoughtfully, can reshape access and opportunity at scale.

The Challenges Beneath the Surface

Kak is candid about the obstacles she encountered along the way. “Adapting to fast-evolving technologies, balancing stakeholder expectations and constantly upskilling were ongoing challenges,” she says. Like many professionals in fast-moving industries, she faced moments of self-doubt, questioning whether she was progressing quickly enough in a world obsessed with speed.

Her experience reflects a broader reality. According to the World Economic Forum, nearly half of all employees globally will require reskilling as automation and AI reshape work. 

For Kak, the solution was not panic, but persistence. Each challenge became a checkpoint rather than a roadblock, reinforcing the importance of resilience and clarity.

“Growth for me isn’t a milestone; it’s a mindset,” she explains. It is an approach that rejects comparison and embraces continuity—learning a little more, adapting a little better, each step of the way.

Community as a Force Multiplier

While her corporate achievements are substantial, Kak’s influence extends far beyond the office. She is deeply engaged in women’s digital upskilling communities, focusing on AI literacy and digital confidence. 

Her selection as a Google WomenWill Facilitator by SHEROES stands among her proudest achievements. In this role, she mentored women entrepreneurs, helping them adopt digital tools to scale their businesses and sharpen their decision-making.

Another standout moment came with the webinar “Everything AI: Powering Life + Work,” hosted by SHEROES in collaboration with Glow & Lovely careers. Designed to introduce women to practical, everyday AI applications, the session drew widespread participation.

 “Seeing women experiment with AI and feel excited instead of intimidated was incredibly powerful,” Kak says.

The need for such initiatives is well-documented. Currently, women make up about 35% of the tech workforce., with representation declining at senior levels. Kak’s work addresses not just skills gaps, but confidence gaps—often the invisible barrier preventing women from stepping into technology-driven roles.

Financial Independence and Freedom

At the heart of Kak’s advocacy lies a clear understanding of what digital empowerment enables. 

“Financial independence means confidence, dignity and the freedom to make choices,” she says. 

For her, technology is not an end in itself, but a means to stability, agency and the ability to uplift others.

The SHEROES Effect

Kak speaks warmly about SHEROES, the platform that has played a formative role in her journey. As a SHEROES Champion, she has led AI learning challenges and interactive sessions that encourage women to explore technology without fear. 

“SHEROES didn’t just give me visibility,” she says. “It gave me belonging.”

The platform, she notes, exemplifies a simple truth: women rise higher when they rise together.

Words for Those Restarting

For women struggling or restarting their careers, Kak offers grounded advice. 

“Your journey is yours alone—don’t compare your timeline with anyone else’s,” she says. 

Her message emphasizes starting small, staying consistent and allowing space to learn without self-judgment. It is a philosophy she lives by, captured in a quote she returns to often: 

“Growth is a series of small, consistent steps—taken even on days you doubt yourself.”

Looking Ahead

As artificial intelligence and automation reshape industries, voices like Kak’s offer a necessary counterbalance to both hype and fear. She does not promise easy answers, nor does she shy away from complexity. Instead, she argues for an approach to technology rooted in empathy, access and community.

In a world racing toward the future, Karuna Kak’s story is a reminder that meaningful progress still begins—step by step, together