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“ Fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation has translated into improved productivity at Xperi.”

By | Sandhya | www.jobsforher.com

Welcome to a captivating conversation with Spoorti Hallur, a distinguished Engineering leader at Xperi.In this exclusive interview, Spoorti shares her remarkable leadership journey at Xperi and how the company has enabled her to bring her inspiring vision for fostering positive change within her team. 

Can you share with us about your journey at Xperi? 

I started my career in 2008 by getting into creating apps for Android phones. I have worked for different companies that offer services and ones that create products, but my journey at Xperi has been exceptional. 

The reason for choosing to work at Xperi lies in the company’s strong emphasis on stakeholder management, a flat organizational structure where employees collaborate as equals without strict hierarchies, a diverse range of product verticals supported by separate service teams, QA teams, customer success teams, and more. 

At Xperi, everything revolves around well-defined processes and people-centered approaches, and hence you find a thriving team. 

Reflecting on your career, can you recount a particular moment that stands out as a defining step on your path to leadership? How did Xperi contribute to shaping your leadership journey? 

During our management of one of the deployment projects, it became evident that the project’s complexity had temporarily exceeded our control. However, the unwavering commitment of our team members and the invaluable support from our experienced seniors played a pivotal role in guiding us towards successful project completion. 

This experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me realize the importance of effective communication, empathy, and the ability to guide and motivate others. 

As I navigated through this challenging phase, I understood that leadership wasn’t just about directing tasks but about understanding individual strengths, fostering a collaborative environment, and steering the team towards a common goal. 

I embraced the opportunity to learn from my mistakes and sought guidance from mentors within the organization. This was the turning point that illuminated the true essence of leadership for me: the ability to lead with empathy, adaptability, and a continuous willingness to learn and grow. 

Could you tell us about the mentorship programs at Xperi and how they empower women in their professional growth? 

Mentoring programs for women at Xperi are a fundamental part of the company’s commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). We have employee resource groups (ERGs) such as WiT (women in tech) and others that are designed to empower and support women in their professional growth within the organization. 

As an engineering manager, I have mentored and coached every individual in the organization, not just the people who report to me. We have an inspiring team of senior leaders who are ensuring that these mentoring programs are focused on helping women advance in their careers. 

Besides, we have the Unpause program, a platform for women returnees to connect with like-minded professionals, engage in learning opportunities, evaluate their skills, and receive training to help them re-enter the workforce with confidence. 

How has been your experience as a mentor yourself? 

The process of acclimating to a fresh organizational environment typically involves not only demonstrating one’s capabilities but also immersing oneself in learning during the initial year. I’ve been fortunate to gain insights from a multitude of mentors along this path. 

As I transitioned into a leadership role, my foremost priority was to lend a supportive ear and provide assistance whenever possible. 

As a leader, I have learned to not impose but to observe people. Different people need to be handled in different ways.

Any tips or advice that you would like to share with budding women mentors? 

For aspiring women leaders, here are a few tips that I would like to share:

  • Grasp team dynamics 
  • Comprehend product requirements, and 
  • Understand both direct and indirect customer needs 
  • Active listening skills are paramount, and effective communication is vital. 

For those aspiring to leadership roles, how do you experiment with and evolve your leadership style within your current role at Xperi? 

In terms of my vision for my role, I aspire to be a transformational leader who not only guides the team towards goals but also inspires positive change and growth. I prioritize setting clear expectations, providing the necessary resources, and removing roadblocks to facilitate the team’s success. Additionally, I’m passionate about mentorship and coaching, as I believe that investing in the development of team members not only enhances their skills but also contributes to the organization’s overall strength. 

The impact of my leadership style on the organization has been notable. By fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation, we’ve witnessed increased engagement and motivation among team members. This has translated into improved productivity and the delivery of high-quality outcomes. Furthermore, my emphasis on open communication has led to better cross-functional collaboration and a stronger alignment of goals across departments. 

Xperi is at the forefront of cutting-edge knowledge and technology. Can you delve deeper into the company’s approach to staying at the cutting edge of knowledge within its industry? 

Innovation is our key to success. We, at Xperi, place a strong emphasis on recruiting and retaining top talent. Strong emphasis on R&D and continuous training and professional development programs ensure that employees stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in their respective fields. 

To ensure a brighter future for women in software development, it’s crucial to continue fostering supportive environments that encourage young girls and women to pursue careers in technology. Mentorship programs, coding initiatives, and exposure to successful female role models can play a pivotal role in inspiring the next generation of women technologists. 

Infact, Xperi regularly hosts hackathons to identify top tech talent. Xperi also supports Girls in Tech, a non-profit initiative to empower the talent pipeline of women in tech. 

We firmly believe that women bring unique insights, creativity, and problem-solving skills to the table, enriching the development process and yielding more holistic and impactful solutions. 

About Spoorti Hallur, Engineering leader at Xperi 

As a passionate engineering manager with 14 years of experience, Spoothi has a clear vision for introducing positive engineering change to her team. Her dream is to create an environment where her team members can perform at their highest level of efficiency while also staying motivated and maintaining high morale. Her technical background and love for technology have given Spoorti a unique perspective on how to make this happen. 

As an engineering manager, she has a unique perspective on the overall functioning of the system. This enables her to identify areas for improvement, evaluate the effectiveness of existing processes, and make data-driven decisions that benefit her team and organization. Her expertise in engineering and technology has enabled her to stay up-to-date with the latest advancements, ensuring her team stays competitive in the market.

Republished with permission and originally published at www.jobsforher.com

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