Women of Matterport: Meet Satya Muralidharan
Our Director of Quality Assurance considers herself a team player first, manager second, lifelong learner always.
Satya Muralidharan, Director of Quality Assurance at Matterport, comes from a long line of passionate women who all share a resounding commitment to education and continuous self-improvement. Born in the scenic Indian town of Pollachi, best known for its bustling market and beautiful scenery, Satya is a lifelong learner who has committed herself to doing everything she can to push herself and her peers to strive for excellence.
Inspired women inspire women
Satya first received her Bachelor of Science in Information Technology in India before continuing her education and acquiring her Master of Science in Computer Engineering from the University of Kansas in 2007. While growing up with her grandmother in Ettayapuram, the birthplace of revolutionary poet Subramania Bharati, Satya was not only raised based on the empowering themes of equality featured in Bharati’s body of works, but also on the inspiring life story of both her paternal grandmother and own mother.
A symbol of "leadership, love and strength" for Satya, her grandmother went on to raise Satya's father as a young, widowed mother while also continuing her education and becoming a teacher, which was practically unheard of in their highly orthodox community. Satya's own mother, who holds two Bachelor degrees as well as a Master of Science, raised her three daughters to hold fast to two core values: education and family. After recently overcoming her battle with cancer, Satya's mother, a retired principal, decided her next challenge is to receive a certificate in computers — six months before her initial diagnosis, she had just acquired another certificate in accounting.
Learning to lead
Satya's comfort zone has always been the classroom. She was first in her class of 240 men and women for eight semesters in a row during her undergraduate program and awarded a gold medal. And she encourages her own children to pursue their education, describing the opportunity to learn as the "most beautiful part of anyone's life.”
When she was first promoted into a management position early in her career, Satya found that “technology was the easy part.” Thrust into a new role, she was expected to lead the very same people she called her peers just weeks prior. Satya committed herself to earning the respect of her team, reading countless books on leadership and management theory, lessons she carried with herself and brought to Matterport years later.
Satya says one of her favorite aspects of life at Matterport is the strong team culture. She’s passionate about finding ways to make processes easier and more efficient with automation, and for the first time in her career, she’s able to pursue that goal. When leading, she strives to maintain an open dialogue with her team. Satya is deeply invested in working through problems with her team as a peer as empathy and respect are at the foundation of her leadership style.
Choices matter
The most important thing to Satya aside from her family and education? Choice.
“Life can throw many things at us. We can't choose what those are, but we can choose what we make out of it. The choices we make represent who we are, not the situation we find ourselves in.”
Motivated by the strength of her grandmother and mother, Satya holds herself responsible for instilling the importance of choice in her own child while also emphasizing the importance of equality and respect for one's peers.
While her transition into management was one of her most challenging professional leaps, Satya attributes the decision as one of the most poignant moments in her career. After all, it brought her to Matterport, where she is excited and empowered by the work she does every day.
When asked the one piece of advice she would like to share? Satya says: “Never stop learning.”
Stay tuned to learn more about the hardworking and talented women of Matterport in our next installment. In the meantime, enjoy Satya’s favorite Matterport space - a 3D capture of Knightwood Primary school in the UK. “I love that Matterport is helping schools reopen with confidence.” Learn more here.
