Padmasree Warrior makes the city proud

Padmasree Warrior, a native of Vijayawada and now the Chief Technology and Strategy Officer (CTO) at Cisco Systems Inc, US, spoke at the world CEOs conference in New Delhi in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the US President Barak Obama. It was a moment of great pride for those in the city who knew her since her childhood.

“When she appeared on the TV screens at the summit, it was a proud moment for all of us who saw her as a child,” said Adusumilli Jayaprakash, a farmer-turned-legislator and Padmasree’s senior in the local Montessori School.

Credited as one of the worlds 100 top most powerful women by Forbes magazine, Padmasree had completed her school education in Vijayawada, intermediate at Maris Stella College and later graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and moved to Cornell University for her MS degree. She was the former Chief Technology Officer at Motorola Inc. She is also credited as one of the ‘100 Most Creative People in Business’ for her initiatives in business.

A retired lecturer from the local SRR and CVR Government College in the city, Andavilli Satyanarayana, recalled how Padmasree used to visit him when she was here. Andavilli is a good friend of Padmasree’s father, Subrahmanyam, a leading advocate who lives in Gandhinagar.

“She married her IIT, Delhi, classmate, Warrior, a Keralite and her marriage was held here in the Film Chamber Hall in Gandhinagar,” recalled Andavilli.

Andavilli said that he felt proud watching her speak at the summit.

“It fills me with pride to see such brilliant people who have won global acclaim for their talent and Padmasree is one among them. She has made the city proud,” Andavilli added.

By: D Gopi