Astha Batra, Field Marketing Manager, Middle East & Levant at Vertiv, on leadership, inclusion, and driving innovation in enterprise technology.
As part of Techitup Middle East’s International Women’s Day 2026 Leadership Series, we spotlight women leaders shaping the future of technology across the region. In this feature, Astha Batra shares her professional journey, leadership insights, and advice for women in tech.
We are entering a defining AI-driven era. How is AI changing leadership expectations for women in tech?
Astha Batra: What excites me most about AI is that it doesn’t see gender. The technology itself is neutral. That levels the playing field in a way we haven’t seen before. For women in tech, AI is less of a challenge to overcome and more of a companion to embrace.
And that is changing what leadership looks like. It’s no longer just about technical expertise or years of experience, it’s about curiosity, adaptability, and the ability to ask the right questions.
AI handles the processing while leaders provide the human insight and judgement. AI is changing leadership expectations and raising the bar for everyone equally. Keep learning, keep adapting, and your trajectory will follow.
What is one structural barrier that still needs to change for women to scale into more C-level and board positions in tech?
Astha Batra: Sponsorship. There is no shortage of talented women in tech. I have come across so many remarkable women in the data center industry who are excellent at what they do. The structural barrier is the lack of sponsorship. Women are often able to find the right mentors, but it is equally about having the right sponsors within the organisation.
These are people who have seen your work, appreciate it, and are willing to call your name in rooms you are not in. So, mentorship as well as sponsorship are invaluable for growth in a tech organization.
Was there a defining moment in your career that changed your trajectory?
Astha Batra: One of the defining moments in my career have been taking full ownership of my work and holding myself accountable for every detail. Few months after I joined Vertiv, I was given an opportunity to go beyond the initial scope of my role, and I grabbed it with both hands.
That decision shaped everything. Of course, I have made mistakes along the way. Each one taught me something I could not have learned otherwise. Working smart together with working hard has really made a difference.
And if I may, I think another defining moment is quietly taking shape. Having AI complement my work has been a revelation. We are all still learning, but the support I get from AI platforms today and the way it helps me think faster and work smarter is something I did not anticipate. And this is just getting started.
What leadership trait has helped you the most in navigating the tech industry?
Astha Batra: The trait that has helped me most is being led by leaders who share. I have been fortunate to come across so many such leaders at Vertiv who have shaped the way I think and work. They are never out of reach. They share their knowledge freely, in conversations, in emails and in passing.
In fact, making friends with AI was one such lesson I received from a leader early in the AI revolution, before most of us knew what to do with it. That nudge changed how I work today. The leaders I learn from most are never light years away. They are right there, generous with what they know, and that to me is the most powerful leadership trait of all.
Lastly, what practical advice would you give young women entering the AI and digital economy today?
Astha Batra: AI has proved one thing above all else. Adaptability and a quick learner attitude are paramount in this day and age. And that works on two levels for all of us. How we use AI to enable our work, and how our work in turn helps spread and shape this AI era. The two are deeply intertwined, which makes this moment personal for every one of us.
My advice to young women entering this space is to learn like AI learns. Improve with every iteration, do not wait to be perfect before you try. Identify your superpower the way every AI platform has its own distinct strength and then build on it.
Interesting times are ahead and we are not going forward without embracing AI, so you may as well make it your closest ally!
This interview is part of the Techitup Middle East IWD 2026 Leadership Series, for women leaders who continue to accelerate innovation, champion diversity, and redefine the technology ecosystem across the Middle East and beyond.
