Building a Career in Responsible Tech: A Leader’s Journey
When Anamitra first landed in Vancouver Island as a teenager from India, he couldn’t have predicted that his path would lead him to becoming a champion for responsible technology at one of the world’s most innovative philanthropic organizations. But looking back, the throughline is clear: a deep-seated desire to make large, opaque systems more transparent and accountable to the people they serve.
“I think there are big powerful systems that are mostly arbitrary and unaccountable, and I hate those systems,” he shares with refreshing candor. Today, as a leader at Omidyar Network, he’s tackling perhaps the most powerful and least accountable system of all-Big Tech. But his journey there wasn’t a straight line. Like many young professionals, he started in management consulting, seeing it as a way to gain skills while figuring out his next move. “Consulting would give me some skills to go into development work,” he explains, reflecting on his early career decisions. That strategic first step eventually led him to where he is today, working at the intersection of technology, society, and impact.
What makes Anamitra’s story particularly relevant for young professionals is his practical approach to building a meaningful career. Rather than immediately diving into social impact work, he advocates for what he calls “the third way” -finding opportunities to create change within established systems while building financial security. “To go against the grain, you have to have a certain amount of security, and you have to have a certain amount of confidence,” he observes. This might mean taking that first job in consulting or tech, but always with an eye toward where you want to go next.
The field of responsible technology that Anamitra now works in didn’t exist when he graduated. In fact, many of today’s most impactful roles haven’t been invented yet. His advice? Focus on developing transferable skills and maintaining a clear sense of purpose. “Technology should work in service to the ideals of the kind of society you’re trying to create, not the other way around,” he explains. This principle has guided his work on everything from data privacy to AI ethics, showing how a strong moral compass can help navigate emerging fields.
For those looking to make their mark in tech while driving positive change, Anamitra’s path offers a valuable blueprint: build your skills, maintain your values, and always keep an eye on the bigger picture. The problems worth solving rarely come with a straight path to the solution, but that’s exactly what makes the journey worth it.
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Georgi
As the visionary founder of Work That's Worth It, Georgi specializes in unearthing the unique inspiration and career desires of those seeking significance, both for themselves and for the world.
