When Ramya returned after her maternity leave to Samsung R&D Institute - Bangalore (SRI-B), she knew her team would support her as she navigated life as a new mother. What she didn’t expect at all was to be promoted within the same year. For her, this was yet another instance where Samsung’s people-first culture stood out. And that did not surprise her; her love for the brand started during her college days.

“I remember preparing for my SRI-B interview back in college. I wasn’t nervous about other companies, but with Samsung, I really wanted to get in. I used to be fascinated by Samsung’s mobile ads in newspapers, and my love for Korean culture grew with K-dramas. Honestly, I feel like I was always meant to work at SRI-B. Ten years have passed, and it still feels like home.”

Ramya’s journey started in a small village, Dharapuram, Tamil Nadu, where her parents instilled in her the importance of education. Her brother who is her constant guide, encouraged her to pursue engineering. She excelled academically, determined to uphold her parents’ trust. When she earned a full scholarship to a reputed college in Chennai, she was happy that her efforts paid off.

There was no turning back for Ramya once she joined SRI-B fresh out of college. Her induction was just the beginning of long, purposeful career. She was welcomed into a warm, collaborative culture and impactful projects. Over the years, she contributed to various cutting-edge technologies for Samsung. One of her most significant contributions was to Bixby 1.0 - Samsung’s accent identification and Bixby - Keyword Spotting project, enhancing voice assistant technology to recognize diverse accents with greater accuracy. "What an absolute fortune to work on such innovative technologies. Our technology excellence is unmatched and I enjoy being a part of such a talented team," Ramya beamed.

Beyond work, SRI-B has been a much needed source of strength for Ramya. After her daughter’s birth, she faced the challenges of postpartum depression, made even harder by the stigma surrounding it. However, SRI-B’s well-being resources provided her with the awareness and support she needed to navigate this phase. With encouragement from her colleagues and access to these resources, she regained confidence, reminding herself of the meaningful contributions she was making. This renewed sense of purpose helped her reset her mental and emotional well-being.

“The best part of working at Samsung is not just that the culture is empowering, open and nurturing. In my entire career, I have never felt discriminated against. Society often questions a woman’s ability to balance work and family - especially once you are married and have children. But at SRI-B, my value is measured by my skills, not my gender. My managers guided me and gave me opportunities based on merit, just like my male colleagues.” She accredits SRI-B's Women’s Leadership Development Program (WLDP) for helping her elevate her leadership skills. “The experience with WLDP was eye-opening. The sessions were invaluable and it shaped my confidence and leadership skills in ways I hadn’t imagined.”

For women navigating their careers, Ramya has one message: “Follow your passion—don’t let others define it for you or make you feel guilty about it. If making money is your passion, own it. If you want to retire at 40, work towards it. Give your 100 percent to your goal, because no one else will do it for you.”

We are proud of our team members like Ramya who has been resilient and has defied all odds to make her own mark in an industry that is highly competitive. We wish her so many more successes and milestones in her professional journey.