


Are you someone who constantly plays it safe in life or are you more of a risk taker? Whether it's trying out a new restaurant or moving halfway across the world to start a new career, stepping outside your comfort zone can be frightening, but magical. "Once you take a risk, everything else...
Are you someone who constantly plays it safe in life or are you more of a risk taker? Whether it's trying out a new restaurant or moving halfway across the world to start a new career, stepping outside your comfort zone can be frightening, but magical. "Once you take a risk, everything else in life seems to just fall into place" - says Smitha Prasad, Senior Manager of Product Development at F5 Networks. As someone who's taken plenty of risks in her career, she knows the value of a calculated risk, and wants to empower you to make more "risky" decisions in your career. Ask Smitha anything in this live, virtual Q&A!
Smitha got her Undergraduate degree in Health Sciences from St Mary's College, Moraga, CA and then pursued her Masters in Telecommunications from Cal State East Bay. She started her career as a software engineer and now manages an engineering team at F5 networks, focusing on product development while building high performance teams.
As a manager do you find it challenging to stay up to date with the latest technologies?
What is the one thing you would ask leaders NOT to do?
I am unable to login. Is the meeting taking place? Is anyone else having issues?
Any tips for managing work/life balance? Or for getting your employer to give you the flexibility you need to manage your work/life balance?
Is it possible to have a work-life balance in the current competitive world. I struggle with it for sure. How do you stay relevant and improve yourself as well as enjoy life?
Any tips on managing a good work - life balance ?
I am entering a new face on my career after working with the same company for my entire career. How do I push my limits and step out of my comfort zone.
How to self motivate to push your boundaries?
What do you consider to be the most challenging thing about being a manager?
What has been the most defining moment for you in your career so far?
What was the biggest challenge you faced getting out of your comfort zone? How did you overcome that?
How to categorize something as high or low risk?
Any tips for dealing with the stress of my decisions affecting my partner's career? He is working with me on this, but the additional layer of complication is causing analysis paralysis. (Moving...
How do you carve out time to work on your personal passion projects that will help you get out of your comfort zone?
What is your most pragmatic and specific definition of 'calculated risk'?
I tend to play things safe and worry what’s others think / may feel instead of doing what’s best for me at times. Sometimes it leaves me afraid to truly speak my mind. Have you experienced this?...
Did you have financial stability at times of big jumps?
How can you tell which risks to take and where the line is between brave and foolish?
What is the greatest advice you'd like to tell your younger self?
What are the biggest impediments to taking risks in your career?
What made you transform from being an engineer to a manager? How was the transformation?
Have your friends and family been supportive of your risk taking?
How have you made the determination in your life that a risk was calculated and would be most likely to pay off?
What are things you need to consider and prepare for when taking a risk?
What’s the biggest risk you took and why?
What made you change your interest from health sciences to telecom to Software engineering.
How do you get so far since your original major is not in software?
Is there a specific question you have for the speaker? Let us know!