Breaking Barriers: Ambiga Subramanian, the First Woman to Head an Indian Unicorn Start-up

Ambiga Subramanian is an innovator in the Indian start-up ecosystem, breaking barriers and setting new milestones as she navigates the world of entrepreneurship. She is the first woman to head an Indian Unicorn start-up, Mu Sigma, and one of the youngest self-made women millionaires in India as per 2017 Hurun India’s rich list. Ambiga Subramanian’s net worth stood at Rs. 2,500 crores in 2017, making her rank 4th on the Hurun list. Her journey is an inspiration to aspiring business leaders everywhere.

Led by Ambiga Subramanian, Mu Sigma is a $1Billion start-up and an American data analytics firm, established in 2004, with its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. As the COO and CEO of the company, she served Mu Sigma for over a period of 10 yrs.

Ambiga Subramanian’s Education and Career Trajectory

• Born in Chennai, Ambiga did her Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical domain) in 1992-1996 from Anna University.
• After her Bachelor’s from India, she moved to the United States for a Master’s in Science degree (Computer Engineering) in 1996-1998 from Wayne State University.
• While serving as COO at Mu Sigma, her remarkable publications, namely “Develop Leaders the Montessori Way,” and “Big Data, Big Analytics: Emerging Business Intelligence and Analytic Trends for Today’s Businesses,” were published in Harvard Business Review in 2012 and Wiley, 2013 respectively.
• Below is her career trajectory since the beginning of her career.

Year	Position	Company
1998-2006	Research Lead	Motorola
2006-2007	Senior Member of Technical Staff	Kirusa Inc.
2007	Director of Innovation	Mu Sigma
2010	Head of Talent Management	Mu Sigma
2012	Chief Operating Officer (COO)	Mu Sigma
2016	Chief Executive Officer (CEO)	Mu Sigma

Ambiga Subramanian’s Journey

Ambiga Subramanian and Dhiraj Rajaram jointly managed Mu Sigma as the founder chairman and CEO, respectively, until they parted ways in 2016. Ambiga stood through a series of ups and downs in her personal life. After her divorce from her ex-husband, Dhiraj, she sold her share of 24% of her stakes in Mu Sigma to him. Further, she invested in several companies worldwide, such as Box8, Piper Biosciences, ICE Creative Excellence, Innov8, CarterX, etc.

Ambiga’s excellence is remarked by her 15 yrs+ experience in product development and services. Her quest for knowledge has made her well-versed in the Global Delivery Model that runs most Fortune 500 companies.

Subramanian rose to prominence as the former CEO of Mu Sigma, a leading data analytics firm. Under her leadership, the company experienced remarkable growth and became one of the most successful start-ups in India. Her strategic vision, innovative thinking, and ability to navigate complex market dynamics were instrumental in positioning Mu Sigma as a global leader in the data analytics space.

Ambiga Subramanian – Breaking Glass Ceiling for Women

Breaking gender stereotypes, Subramanian shattered the glass ceiling and proved that women could excel in the male-dominated tech industry. Subramanian’s ascent to the top empowered other women and showcased the immense potential for gender diversity in corporate leadership. Her dedication to creating a more equitable society extends beyond her role as a business leader, making her an actual role model for aspiring entrepreneurs and change-makers.

Ambiga Subramanian’s remarkable journey serves as a motivation for the transformative potential of women in leadership roles. Her achievements have broken myths and further simplified ways for greater gender diversity in the Indian start-up ecosystem and have inspired countless individuals to challenge societal norms and pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. Her legacy will undoubtedly continue to shape the future of business and empower future generations.