SaiLakshmi Santhanakrishnan’s Grace Series Talk Celebrates Purpose-Driven Success
In the final installment of the spring 2025 Grace Series, SaiLakshmi Santhanakrishnan, head of environmental, social and governance (ESG) and sustainability at Amazech and co-founder of the mentorship platform WeInspire Guru, delivered a powerful and inspiring talk titled “Off-Script: Creating Your Own Path in STEM, Leadership and Life.” With sincerity and conviction, she shared a career journey shaped not by traditional milestones but by courageous choices, bold transitions and an unwavering commitment to her values.
Santhanakrishnan opened her story with a familiar dream shared by many in her community: to become a doctor. Yet, when faced with an unjustified capitation fee during the admissions process, she made a defining decision. “I walked out,” she recalled. “That one choice changed the entire course of my life.”
Turning away from the conventional path, she pivoted to computer science — an unconventional and daring choice at the time. Without the pedigree of a prestigious university or the advantage of influential networks, she started at the grassroots level, first working as a corporate trainer. Through persistence, resilience and an aptitude for solving complex problems, she steadily built her technical expertise and professional credibility. “I didn’t wait for anyone’s approval to grow,” she said. “All I needed was courage and conviction to move forward.”
Her career quickly took on a global dimension. Leading multicultural teams and developing software solutions for international clients, Santhanakrishnan embraced opportunities that broadened her worldview and refined her leadership style. “The world became my classroom,” she reflected. “Leadership isn’t just about expertise, it’s about understanding people.”
Recognizing early the convergence of technology, compliance, and risk, she leaned into emerging areas that many overlooked. Contributing to the development of governance, risk, and compliance platforms, some of which became industry benchmarks, Santhanakrishnan positioned herself at the forefront of enterprise risk management.
Throughout her journey, one principle remained constant: success should be measured not by titles or prestige, but by mission and alignment. This clarity deepened during her time at Amazon, where she led global risk, compliance, and privacy efforts for Alexa. Despite reaching a career peak, she made the courageous choice to walk away when her values no longer aligned with the organization’s direction. “Success sometimes means knowing when to walk away,” she said. “It’s about staying grounded in your purpose.”
That decision reignited her passion for sustainability. Santhanakrishnan pursued further credentials in ESG from Cambridge University and now leads initiatives focused on integrating sustainable practices into technology operations. Her work addresses the critical intersection between data centers, AI systems, cloud infrastructure and environmental stewardship, helping organizations innovate more responsibly for the future.
Beyond her professional achievements, Santhanakrishnan remains deeply committed to service and mentorship. She actively advises young professionals in cybersecurity, champions women in technology and partners with city governments on ESG initiatives. “It’s not just about what you achieve,” she emphasized. “It’s about what you enable in others.”
Throughout her talk, Santhanakrishnan returned to a powerful theme: growth is rarely linear. “There’s no perfect roadmap,” she reminded the audience. “Your values are your compass. Trust your voice, your timing, your journey.”
She encouraged students to pursue what excites them, even when they don’t feel fully qualified, and to embrace discomfort as a signal of growth. “Take that bold ‘yes,’” she said with a smile. “You don’t have to know everything to begin, you just have to begin.”
Santhanakrishnan’s story, uncharted, bold and lived off-script, is a compelling reminder that the most fulfilling paths are the ones we create ourselves, guided not by certainty but by purpose, grit and heart.