This dynamic leader is heading Meta’s India wing. After spending 17 years abroad, primarily in Singapore, she joined Meta and navigated a steep learning curve during her transition. Now serving as the Vice President and Managing Director of Meta India, she has played a pivotal role in driving Facebook’s remarkable growth in the Indian market.
Sandhya Devanathan joined Meta in 2016 as a Group Director, SEA – E-commerce, Travel, and Financial Services, in Singapore. In August, she took on a bigger role as the Managing Director for Meta’s Singapore business and the Business Head for Vietnam. Here is the inspirational story of this Indian woman who has taken on leadership roles alongside men in top Indian businesses.
Academic Background, Professional Journey, And Milestones
Sandhya completed her Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering from Andhra University during 1994–1998. She then moved to Delhi to pursue an MBA from Delhi University in 1998. Later, in 2014, she attended the University of Oxford for a leadership course, further strengthening her management skills.
Devanathan has 22 years of experience in the fields of banking, payments, and technology. She became part of Meta in 2016. She was instrumental in expanding the company’s presence in Singapore and Vietnam, shaping its operations and building strong teams. Her contributions also played a key role in driving e-commerce initiatives across Southeast Asia. In 2020, she took on a new challenge, leading the gaming division for the Asia-Pacific region.
She also worked with Citigroup, and Standard Chartered on several roles from May 2000 to December 2015.
How Meta Plans To Pull Profit From AI
Meta emphasised more on the transformative potential of AI. A few months ago, Devanathan highlighted the transformative potential of AI. Various reports suggest that Meta has been prioritizing AI in India, with a significant portion of its profits attributed to Indian developers. Additionally, messaging, particularly through WhatsApp, remains a key pillar of Meta’s strategy in the country.
Meta Lay Off
Meta’s upcoming layoffs will follow a different approach than previous rounds. This time, the company will keep its offices open on the day of the cuts and refrain from making a company-wide announcement. While the layoffs will occur globally, employees in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands will be exempt due to local labor laws. Affected employees across Europe, Asia, and Africa will receive notifications between February 11 and February 18.
