Vidya Nayak, Yahoo’s Director of Product Design, recognizes the hurdles of being a prominent woman in the tech sector. However, she also believes that recounting her experiences can significantly influence others.

“Being transparent and genuine about my journey encourages fellow women to express their own,” Nayak shared with Mashable. “It creates a sense of belonging and unity, allowing women to feel acknowledged, listened to, and empowered to tackle their everyday obstacles with assurance.”

Nayak holds a pivotal position at Yahoo, which attracted 1.6 billion visitors in January, ranking as the eighth most-visited site in the U.S. She played a vital role in rolling out Yahoo’s latest AI-enhanced features, including a chatbot and AI-synthesized search summaries. These innovations, accessible to logged-in users, mark a substantial advancement in Yahoo’s mission to reclaim its standing in the search engine arena — a territory long held by Google.

“We’re adopting a more forward-looking strategy regarding search,” Nayak clarified. “By incorporating conversational interfaces and AI summaries, we aim to assist users in making quicker decisions and using search more intuitively.”

Prior to her arrival at Yahoo in 2023, Nayak built a notable career with leadership positions at organizations such as Disney Interactive, Rodale, iWin, and News Corp., where she contributed to the launch of the initial mobile applications for Fox News and Fox Business. Most recently, she acted as Design Director at SoFi, where she refined the company’s apps and helped mold its overall strategy.

Despite her achievements, Nayak speaks openly about the gender disparity she has faced.

“I wouldn’t claim to be the sole woman in the room, but the tech field remains heavily skewed male,” remarked the mother of two. “Although the industry has made strides, progress is gradual. Nonetheless, an increasing number of companies are acknowledging the importance of women in leadership roles, and we are witnessing more women stepping into executive and managerial positions.”

Nayak attributes her success to the encouragement she received from female mentors and firmly believes in giving back. She advocates for structured mentorship programs and internships that empower women to hone both technical and interpersonal skills, alongside clear career development pathways and actionable feedback.

“Mentorship and strong role models are crucial for opening doors for women,” she stated.

Even amid political resistance towards diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives — especially in higher education — Nayak asserts that advancing women in tech is not only ethically right but also makes sound business sense. Diverse teams develop products that connect with a wider audience.

“It’s vital to recognize that the gender gap is present at every level, particularly in education,” she remarked. “Boys are often encouraged to engage in STEM fields from an early age. If we initiate changes at the foundational level, more women will feel embraced in tech.”

Nayak is dedicated to fostering opportunities for others, similar to the support she received.

“I was fortunate to have influential female role models early in my career and during my graduate studies,” she shared. “They illustrated what was achievable and guided me through the particular challenges women encounter. Learning from the best made a significant impact.”

She further highlights the necessity of community and mutual support among women in technology.

“Building networks and a community of women is empowering,” Nayak noted. “And we should celebrate each other’s achievements. I appreciate the saying from Chelsea Handler: ‘I never blew out someone’s candle to make mine brighter.’ We should all act as each other’s supporters.”