Leaders Profile: Mauli Tikkiwal

In this exclusive Leaders Profile interview at The Studio, Mauli Tikkiwal discusses her extensive experience in the technology industry, championing sustainability and innovation within her roles over the years.

Mauli Tikkiwal has enjoyed more than 15 years of experience in the manufacturing industry. As an IT Director, Board Member and digital lead for 21 special education needs academies across the UK, Mauli has established herself as a key figure in technology-driven business transformation. Her passion for sustainability and continuous innovation has shaped her approach to leadership, making her a forward-thinking and impactful leader.

Leaders Profile Insights with Mauli Tikkiwal:

• Blending business acumen and technology expertise
• Championing sustainability in technology
• Innovation and continuous learning: the keys to success
• Tough decisions, positive outcomes

Blending business acumen and technology expertise

Tikkiwal’s journey in the business world is deeply intertwined with her love for technology. Beginning her career as an engineer, she quickly realised that technology was the cornerstone of business transformation. 

“And every single time I wanted to go through a business transformation initiative. What I realised at the end, it all depended on the technology we deployed or we enabled it through technology.”

This realisation guided her to transition into the technology sector, where she could directly influence and enable business strategies. Her previous role as an IT Director allowed her to merge her technical knowledge with her business insights, driving innovative solutions that align with organisational goals. 

Championing sustainability in technology

“We are going to make a big impact through small actions.” One of Tikkiwal’s most significant contributions to her organisations has been her unwavering commitment to sustainability. 

As the Sustainability IT Lead for both her multinational company and the special education academies, she was instrumental in integrating sustainability into every facet of technology deployment. Tikkiwal introduced a mandatory ESG assessment in all IT projects, ensuring that every technological initiative considers its environmental impact. This initiative not only helped reduce carbon emissions but also educated her teams on the importance of sustainability in their daily operations.

Innovation and continuous learning: the keys to success

Tikkiwal firmly believes that innovation and continuous learning are critical to success in any industry. In her leadership roles, she emphasises the importance of staying ahead of technological advancements and adapting to change. 

"You have to be innovative and continuously upskill to keep pace with the rapidly evolving technology landscape," she asserts. This mindset has enabled Tikkiwal to lead her teams through complex transformations, fostering a culture of creativity and adaptability. “In [the] technology world, you have to upskill yourself continuously because the pace at which technology changes, you cannot keep up unless you make it intentional.”

Tough decisions, positive outcomes

Leadership often involves making difficult decisions, and Tikkiwal’s experience is no exception. Early in her career, she faced resistance from her team when introducing a new technology platform to streamline customer interactions. 

“I had to make a tough call and I said, look, this is what we are going to do because it's going to be better for all of us and our customers because you have to have a customer-centric kind of mindset.” Despite initial opposition, Mauli’s decision proved successful, leading her team to become the top-performing group globally within her company. Her ability to communicate effectively, manage change and mentor her team was crucial in achieving this outcome.

Read the full Leaders Profile interview with Mauli Tikkiwal to learn more about her technology career and her role in spearheading sustainability initiatives.

Leaders Profile: Check out our line-up of HotTopics Leaders Profile interviews.

HotTopics produces interviews with a diverse array of leaders, C-suite marketing and technology leaders. These take place in-person during our much-anticipated flagship event, The Studio, and virtually with leaders based all over the world. Learn more about what makes these leaders tick, and their experiences and expertise that have supported them in their careers so far.