CEG C-Level Connect Series #40 – Ms. Janaki Akela, Independent Director of companies including Fractal.AI, Salli Mae, avrerq.inc and Southern Company.

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Ms. Janaki Akela, CEG 1982 ECE, Independent Director of companies including Fractal.AI, Salli Mae, avrerq.inc and Southern Company

Janaki Akella is a distinguished Digital Transformation Leader, celebrated for her ability to seamlessly bridge the realms of technology and business. With a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership in global organizations and boardrooms.

Currently, Janaki serves as an Independent Board Director for Southern Company, a $85 billion market cap public utility, where she chairs the Business Security & Resilience Committee and contributes as a member of the Audit Committee. Additionally, she holds board positions at Sallie Mae, overseeing Operational Compliance Risk & Audit, and at Fractal.ai, a pioneering AI services company transforming enterprises through innovative technologies.

Janaki’s illustrious career includes leadership roles at Google, where she spearheaded initiatives across Ads, Cloud, and organic Search—three of the company’s largest product areas. As the first woman globally elected Partner in McKinsey & Company’s Business Technology Office, she directed over 100 consulting engagements for Fortune 100 C-Suite leaders, specializing in high-tech growth strategy and digital transformation across North America, Canada, and Asia.

Her journey began at Hewlett Packard Labs as an Engineer Scientist and at the System Technology Division, where she honed her technical expertise. Recognized for her contributions, she has been named among the Top 100 AAPI Board Members in the U.S., honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award by her undergraduate alma mater (College of Engineering, Guindy), and acknowledged as a leader in initiatives such as Google Women in Ads and McKinsey’s Women in Technology.

Janaki’s global perspective, technical prowess, and strategic acumen continue to make her a trailblazer in the fields of business and technology. She is passionate about fostering innovation and empowering organizations to achieve their digital transformation goals.

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Host – Mr. Vish Viswanathan, CEG 1985 Mech, CEO, Anikode Management Consultants

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Host – Mr. Jaytesh Calpakkam, CEG 2016 Mech, Co-Founder of “The Internet Generation” 

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Technical Support – Mr. Partha Sarathy, CEG IT, 2021

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