Our Lead(H)er series features impressive women leaders in the tech industry. In this Q&A, we are featuring Harinder Bhinder, VP of Engineering Applications at ZoomInfo.
Where did you grow up and how would you describe yourself as a child?
I grew up in India in a small city. As a child, I was generally reserved but wasn’t shy to participate in a lot of activities/clubs at school. My mom (who never attended school) was told that the daughter didn’t need the same standard of education as the boys. I’m glad she didn’t listen to that advice. My parents wanted me to have the same opportunities as my brothers, and that’s a big reason for where I am today.
What did you study in college and what was your first job out of school?
I moved to the US with my family after high school. I studied Computer Science and started programming for the first time in college and the idea of using logic for problem solving resonated deeply. I really enjoyed the concepts of Software Engineering, the idea of building small components and bringing them together to build a complex system. As I graduated, the DotCom bust led to a scarcity of software engineering jobs. My first job was at the R&D Center of a leading ceramics manufacturing company, writing scripts to automate analysis of various processes.
Can you share the details on your career path and what were the critical moments that got you to where you are today?
Prior to ZoomInfo, I was at Sterling Commerce where I worked on Supply Chain Management software. I left shortly after Sterling Commerce was acquired by IBM because I wanted to work at a small company. That’s when I joined ZoomInfo. At the time, there were about 70 employees.
Joining ZoomInfo was one of the best professional decisions I’ve made. It was the perfect fit - not a startup but a fast paced environment in a small company where you could make an impact in many ways. I grew with the company, working on various technical projects. I also gravitated towards taking on tasks like planning, cross functional communication, removing roadblocks etc. ZoomInfo was acquired by a private equity firm in 2018 and by DiscoverOrg in early 2019. These were pivotal moments that set us on the path to our hyper-growth journey and I had the opportunity to be part of this amazing experience. Today, we are a 2500+ employees company. There are many challenges ahead of us as we grow and scale and solving these challenges is yet another exciting phase.
What has contributed the most to my growth are the people around me. The passion and energy of the leaders and the amazing teammates is contagious and addictive. I am grateful that so many people believed in me and supported me. The 10 years at ZoomInfo have been very rewarding, personally as well as professionally, and the journey continues.
What is your current role and responsibilities?
Our product suite is growing rapidly and providing a unified experience across these products to our customers has a huge business impact. My team is focused on building the foundation for shared services and APIs that can be consumed by various products. Our goal is to help engineering be more efficient, reduce toil and duplication and provide the automation and tooling that makes development a rewarding experience at ZoomInfo.
Looking back, is this where you thought you’d be professionally? Was it always your goal to be in this position?
Our goal at ZoomInfo has always been to take the organization to the next level. We have strong leaders who constantly challenge us, and we strive to be better every day. I am fortunate to be working in a company where that effort is recognized and rewarded regardless of gender, race, background etc. I started at ZoomInfo to work with a smart group of people using cutting edge technologies to solve complex problems. The small company culture lent itself to various opportunities where I could wear multiple hats and grow into the leadership role.
For people who are looking to be in a similar position, what advice would you give to others in terms of helping them achieve their career goals?
Don’t be afraid to take on new challenges, especially ones that allow you to help the organization you’re part of succeed and not just your team.
What are the most important skills that you need to do your job well?
The ability to remain calm and help my team manage the constant pull in various directions that is part of the hyper-growth phase and can be overwhelming. In a fast growing company, it’s important to also always keep the bigger picture in mind and think long term and promote that culture as well.
What do you find most interesting/rewarding about your work? What’s the most challenging?
As we continue to grow exponentially, the biggest challenge is the scaling of our teams, processes and systems while building a culture that promotes individual growth and makes working at ZI a rewarding experience. Helping the teams work through these challenges and being successful is the most rewarding part of my job.
Q&A
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Spending time with my kids, gardening when weather permits. I love learning new languages.
How do you manage stress?
Over the last year and a half, I’ve tried to include workouts in my routine, whether it’s 10 mins of yoga or a 30 min run. Recently picked up swimming, which is a very relaxing workout. Meditating also helps whenever I can. Taking that time out for myself helps me recharge and be my better self at both home and work.
How many cups of coffee do you have in a day?
I mostly drink black tea twice a day. Some days I drink coffee, but no more than a cup.
Any book or podcast recommendations? (professional or fun)
Thinking in Systems, Sapiens (gifted by my amazing manager :)) - 2 books that I’ve read recently that I really enjoyed and learned from.
What advice do you have for recent college graduates?
Grab any opportunity you get to learn new skills. It’s ok to feel uncomfortable with what you don’t know. If you’re in your comfort zone, you’re probably not growing.
Find the right people to work with - who can challenge you and mentor you.
