Distinguished Visiting Scholar MediaX, at Stanford University
Senior Research Fellow, Stanford Digital Vision Program 2006-2008
Former Director, Strategic Planning and Imaging Systems Lab, Hewlett-Packard Labs
Awards and Honors:
2010: Women of Influence – Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal
2009: Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business- American Business Development Center (AABDC)
2008: Outstanding Technical Achievement: Indian American Women Empowered (IWE) and Recognition Certificates from California State Senate, State Assembly
2006: Distinguished Citizen: Federation of Indo Americans (FIA)
2005: Hall of Fame: Leadership - Women In Technology International (WITI)
2004: Featured author WITI Expo "Books that Empower Women"
2006-2008: Served on Advisory Committee for Cyber Infrastructure (ACCI), National Science Foundation
Neerja Raman, recognized author, inducted into the Hall of Fame, Women in Technology International, is an executive in research management with experience that spans universities, start-ups and corporations. Currently, at Stanford University, Ms. Raman is researching business models and metrics for technology-based solutions in the interest of humanitarian, educational, and sustainable development goals. Till February 2006, she was Director, Hewlett Packard (HP) Labs, responsible for strategic planning and innovation in the field of Imaging and Printing for HP’s flagship products. Her technical expertise includes digital imaging, distributed systems design and architecture and social multimedia.
In addition to driving leading edge innovation in the field of Imaging Systems, Ms. Raman has spearheaded industry transforming applications such as digital publishing. At HP Labs, her team developed prototypes and conducted studies to understand the beneficial effects of multimedia and internet technology in education. Ms. Raman led HP’s Art and Science initiative where digital imaging is applied to preservation and dissemination of art to enhance cross cultural understanding.
Ms. Raman’s career leverages her expertise in two disciplines, Chemistry and Computer Science. Early in her career, at HP Scientific Instruments Division her team designed and developed the earliest software systems that enabled the growth of routine chemical analyses using GC, LC and Mass Spectrometry. Among other initiatives, under her leadership, HP pioneered official drug testing at the Olympics.
Neerja has experience in building partnerships between public and private sectors and setting policy. From 1997 to 2004 Ms. Raman was the technical representative for Hewlett Packard in working with U.S. government agencies in designing programs and technologies to dissuade unethical applications of digital imaging such as currency counterfeiting.
Ms. Raman delivers workshops and seminarsin defining strategy, investments to drive business growth and change management. She has cultivated partnerships around the world and managed research teams across Europe, Asia and Latin America. She works equally well with businesses, academics and government officials to develop highly respected programs of global impact. She has led corporate culture taskforces, was an official mentor for men and women at HP Labs and has developed and taught classes in technical management, leadership and self empowerment. Drawing on the traditional teachings of her upbringing in India and her experiences working as a manager of globally distributed teams, Ms. Raman published a management guide called “The Practice and Philosophy of Decision Making: A Seven Step Spiritual Guide.” She was featured at the authors' expo "Books that Empower Women", at the WITI annual conference, 2004.
Ms. Raman was the only woman on a board of twelve that reviewed higher level promotions on HP’s Technical Career Path program. In recognition of her leadership and support for women in science, the independent WITI panel of judges wrote, “Neerja Raman’s visionary and results-driven approach has created one of the most highly respected and motivated teams in HP’s central research laboratory for the company’s innovative camera and inkjet products. Her team is geographically dispersed, global, and a model of diversity.” Under Neerja’s leadership, her team garnered numerous patents for technologies that are in HP products directly contributing to business growth.
Ms. Raman is a graduate of the Executive Development Program at Kellogg Business School, Northwestern University and has a double Masters from S.U.N.Y. Stony Brook, New York and Delhi University. She resides in California. She is working on her next book while continuing her career as social entrepreneur, coach, mentor and speaker.