Ever wondered what happens in core infrastructure? Lakshmi Mokkarala, who is currently Vice President of Global Production Management, shares her insights into the unique opportunities that lie within core infrastructure, her career journey and how BBH’s ability to attract diverse talent helps drive innovation.

Tell us about your time at BBH

I’ve been at BBH for over 10 years, initially starting as a consultant before deciding to accept a permanent position. I chose to become permanent for two reasons: the people and the meaningful career opportunities. I’ve found, BBHers act with a quiet confidence and a steadfast commitment to integrity. It’s a culture in which people really care about what they do and just as importantly, how they do it, both in the way they deal with clients and with each other.

As for the career opportunities, earlier in my career I had a view that staying with one company may not be beneficial to my development. I’m pleased to say, BBH has given me the ability to explore different teams and build my existing skills. My current role in Global Production Management is a great example of this. I lead a team that supports the technology for the Infomediary Data Solutions Production environment, which is part of the ‘Run’ pillar within BBH Systems. I knew I was a technologist at heart and wanted to continue solving business problems, but I hadn’t planned to be in Production Management and didn’t have experience in this area. I’d worked on the Infomediary application development team before and when this role came up, it sounded new and different. I had a lot to learn in the Production Management space and it's given me a stronger appreciation for support teams and environments.

How would you describe being part of the core infrastructure team?

There is never a dull moment in Production Support. It’s often unpredictable, forcing you to be flexible in your approach and it also requires you to learn the entire tech stack of applications, which is great for building your knowledge and expertise. From a client perspective, you see a UI/product as part of Application Development, you see how the product is built in the infrastructure space and you really understand what it takes to keep that product working. Depending on the incident, you work with different clients, businesses and Systems teams to react, recover, and restore services. It’s essential and vital work. There are other things that pique my interest in this space, like Data & Trend Analysis. This is an exciting area in that it has so much potential for proactively managing production applications and helping clients’ future-proof their business.

Has your role changed the way you view technology?

I have a new-found respect for aspects of technology that I would have previously taken for granted. Things like the hardware, database and middleware layers, I had assumed just always worked – now I know how they actually work. I would also say, I have a more holistic view of applications than I did before. I now look at security and operability as key capabilities – something that was not the case before this role.

What advice would you give to women who may be interested in core infrastructure?

Women are underrepresented in both the financial and technology sectors. Interestingly, this is amplified within the infrastructure space, so for anyone considering core infrastructure, I’d say you have a real chance to lead the way. My advice would be not to let the jargon scare you, like anything in life and in technology, you can master it with time and effort. The processes are logical and structured and importantly, you don’t need to be a coder to be a part of it.

Can you tell us more about your involvement with the Women in Technology group?

I really enjoy being a member of Women in Technology (WIT) and I’m proud to be associated with the group. When I first got involved, it became clear to me that women in Systems organizations were facing a specific set of challenges. WIT has created a community of female technologist champions and a platform dedicated to sharing experiences, learnings and expertise for women in technology. I have been fortunate to attend conferences and leadership workshops, benefit from being a mentee and now give back as a mentor. I plan to continue my involvement for a very long time.

What keeps you at BBH?

It’s the great people and the opportunity for career growth. BBH encourages internal mobility, something from which I’ve directly benefitted. In my 10 years in Systems, I’ve worked across all three of BBH Systems pillars - Protect, Run and Change - while working with a variety of clients and on challenging projects. For me that’s exciting and has only been possible because of the supportive BBH culture. I now consider myself a well-rounded technologist with a very broad skillset, which I know will lead to further opportunities within BBH.

If you’re interested in exploring a career in IT or looking to expand your expertise, BBH Systems core infrastructure group is looking for talented individuals to join the team. Keep an eye out for open roles!