Jayni Thankachen
Chief, Information and Communications Technology
What brought you to a career in technology at the United Nations?
Technology is a field that is constantly evolving and pushing boundaries, which stimulates me constantly ﾑLearnﾔ and Un-Learnﾔ and use this passion to be an enabler to solve problems like climate change, poverty, social inequalities in access to education and women empowerment.
What has been your favorite technology project or initiative at the United Nations and why? What was your contribution?
Emergency Relief Operation during Bhuj, India earthquake in Jan 2001. As Chief, Information Technology, for World Food Programme, I set up the VHF/UHF solution in Bhuj, at WFP temporary office, for commodity tracking of the vehicles carrying relief supply.
What advice would you give women interested in pursuing a field in technology?
Develop your Positive Psychological capital which is a positive state of development of an individual, characterized by Hope, Efficacy, Resilience and Optimism or (HERO). These are Personal traits that can be developed through training and conscious self-improvement efforts. ﾓNuture, the HERO in you to Succeed, Success begins with HERﾔ Secondly, making a successful career in technology as a woman requires a combination of keeping abreast with recent developments in technology, soft skills and experience. One has to constantly ﾑLearnﾒ and ﾑUn-Learnﾔ.