She Didn't Wait for the Perfect Moment. She Kept Learning, Kept Building, and Kept Becoming!
She was nine months pregnant when an Asia-level conference on quantum technology, where she had been selected as a speaker, was approaching.
People around her told her to let it go. Rest. Focus on the baby.
She recorded her talk anyway.
That one decision captures Richa Kumari better than almost anything else - she has never waited for the “perfect” time to pursue what matters to her.
Today, she is a Senior Technical Architect at Wipro, a published author of two books, a community builder, a technology leader, and a mother.
16th years ago, stepping outside her hometown(Bodh Gaya, Bihar) to pursue education and build a career wasn't always easy. There were questions, concerns and plenty of uncertainty.
But her father said yes.That yes changed everything.
Richa chose technology because she genuinely loved understanding how things worked and solving problems. She completed her BCA and MCA, started her career as a software engineer, and went on to work with diverse organisations including Commdel, To The New, Société Générale and Harman, gradually growing into her current role.
But her story isn't just about a corporate career.
During COVID, she discovered another side of herself ... writing.
What began as a new exploration eventually led to the publication of two books in 2025, both recognised by the Asia Book of Records.
While raising her young son, she continued to invest in herself. She completed a nine-month-plus certified CTO programme from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and became a founding member of a CTO community India focused on solving real technology problems.
She started creating spaces for others to learn too.
She runs the AI Knowledge Circle & founded the Women of Bihar Network … a community focused on helping homemakers and students gain practical skills, confidence and opportunities.
In 2025, she was selected among the Top 3 finalists for the ABIE Award at Grace Hopper Celebration India (GHCI), one of Asia's largest women-in-tech gatherings.
And in 2026, her leadership journey was shortlisted once again through a HerRising Award nomination, celebrating women's leadership, growth and impact. But perhaps the most powerful part of her story isn't any award, title or designation.
It is that special moment in 2021. Nine months pregnant. A major conference ahead. Family concerns. Uncertainty everywhere.
And yet, she chose to go ahead.
Because for Richa, learning has never been something reserved for a convenient phase of life.
And to women, her message is even simpler:
Be fearless. Step outside your comfort zone. Try things out.
Sometimes, you just need the courage to take the first step.
Because the first step may not change your entire life overnight.
But it can influence the direction of your life.
People around her told her to let it go. Rest. Focus on the baby.
She recorded her talk anyway.
That one decision captures Richa Kumari better than almost anything else - she has never waited for the “perfect” time to pursue what matters to her.
Today, she is a Senior Technical Architect at Wipro, a published author of two books, a community builder, a technology leader, and a mother.
16th years ago, stepping outside her hometown(Bodh Gaya, Bihar) to pursue education and build a career wasn't always easy. There were questions, concerns and plenty of uncertainty.
But her father said yes.That yes changed everything.
Richa chose technology because she genuinely loved understanding how things worked and solving problems. She completed her BCA and MCA, started her career as a software engineer, and went on to work with diverse organisations including Commdel, To The New, Société Générale and Harman, gradually growing into her current role.
But her story isn't just about a corporate career.
During COVID, she discovered another side of herself ... writing.
What began as a new exploration eventually led to the publication of two books in 2025, both recognised by the Asia Book of Records.
While raising her young son, she continued to invest in herself. She completed a nine-month-plus certified CTO programme from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and became a founding member of a CTO community India focused on solving real technology problems.
She started creating spaces for others to learn too.
She runs the AI Knowledge Circle & founded the Women of Bihar Network … a community focused on helping homemakers and students gain practical skills, confidence and opportunities.
In 2025, she was selected among the Top 3 finalists for the ABIE Award at Grace Hopper Celebration India (GHCI), one of Asia's largest women-in-tech gatherings.
And in 2026, her leadership journey was shortlisted once again through a HerRising Award nomination, celebrating women's leadership, growth and impact. But perhaps the most powerful part of her story isn't any award, title or designation.
It is that special moment in 2021. Nine months pregnant. A major conference ahead. Family concerns. Uncertainty everywhere.
And yet, she chose to go ahead.
Because for Richa, learning has never been something reserved for a convenient phase of life.
And to women, her message is even simpler:
Be fearless. Step outside your comfort zone. Try things out.
Sometimes, you just need the courage to take the first step.
Because the first step may not change your entire life overnight.
But it can influence the direction of your life.
This story was told by Richa Kumari and published with their permission by the What's Your Story editorial team.
