A Day in the Life – Seetabai Shastri

Meet Seeta Shastri, Director of Product Development at Clinisys. Seeta is one of the prominent technology leaders in the organization. She has a commendable background in Platform Engineering, Product Development, Cloud Infrastructure, as well as DevOps and Client Delivery. In her professional career covering 25 years, she started with product development and then moved to strategic leadership to drive digital transformation. We had a quick chat with Seeta to know about how she has been able to curve out fulfilling technology career in the laboratory informatics.

Can you tell us about your career journey?

I have over 25 years of rich experience in the IT Industry. Over the years I have been able to work across various domains including Platform Engineering, Product Development, Cloud Infrastructure, as well as DevOps and Client Delivery. My career trajectory began in development, from which I advanced through the ranks, embracing diverse technologies and roles. I have lead successful digital transformation of large-scale international firms, enhancing my acumen in Cloud and ITSM infrastructure development. My professional path has cut across various industries, including Healthcare, Telecom, Financial Services/Banking, Logistics, and Automotive.

What attracted you to your current role at Clinisys? 

Three major factors attracted me to this role.

The first being Innovation Opportunity. The initiation of Clinisys’ Cloud and SaaS venture presented an ideal opportunity for me to apply my extensive Cloud and DevOps expertise, positioning me at the core of technological advancement.

The second being Social Impact. Clinisys’s focus on the healthcare and laboratory sector resonated with my desire to contribute to a noble cause that positively affects countless lives worldwide.

Another major factor was Industry Shift. Transitioning from the global professional services sector to the international product development arena offered a refreshing change and new professional horizons to explore.

What are some of the exciting projects you are working on?

I currently lead the DevSecOps, Cloud Infrastructure, and the SaaS transition of Clinisys Laboratory Solutions (CLS) within the Engineering division. Our team is actively working on several product releases, including CLS Core and Scientific, CLS Healthcare, Analytics, Specimen Processing, and Diagnostic Reporting, aligning with our strategic roadmap. My team is responsible for designing and building deployment automation for these products. We build infrastructure as code (IaC) to facilitate seamless end-to-end deployment automation, ultimately culminating in a one-click deployment process.

Our deployment scenarios are intricate, encompassing on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments, presenting us with numerous challenges and opportunities for automation development.

We are at the helm of advancing product security. Our design philosophy prioritizes security, and we’ve integrated “Shift-Left” security practices and tools throughout our Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).

As part of Clinisys Laboratory Solution Modernization, we’re building a SaaS platform that ensures security, high availability, and scalability in the cloud.Furthermore, we’re enhancing user experience and crafting a new, responsive user interface utilizing React and Material-UI, leveraging cutting-edge technologies.

This journey is a continuous learning curve, encompassing processes, tools, technology, architecture, product development, and automation. Each aspect presents its own set of challenges and thrills.

What do you enjoy the most about your current role?

In the past two and a half years, I’ve played a pivotal role in implementing DevSecOps across our suite of global products and in the development of our Clinisys Laboratory Solution SaaS platform. Our efforts in DevSecOps have significantly enhanced our automation capabilities, security measures, and overall maturity. This is an ongoing process, and we anticipate reaching the highest level of maturity in the near future. Each day presents my team with fresh challenges, fueling our drive to devise creative automation solutions. I find great satisfaction in tackling problems, mentoring, and steering my team through these obstacles.

What has been your experience with the Clinisys culture?

Clinisys embodies a global work environment that is open and transparent. The leadership is highly accessible, and many employees had the inspiring opportunity to meet with the CEO one-on-one during his recent visit to India. 

The organization is driven by its core values: Customers, Promises, Simplicity, and Teamwork. Each product team operates like a close-knit family, sharing strong bonds and celebrating successes together. 

Embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion, Clinisys offers platforms like Women@Clinisys, which provide valuable opportunities for meeting women colleagues worldwide and exploring different cultures. 

The company places a strong emphasis on professional development, offering access to educational platforms such as Udemy and FranklinCovey, which facilitate the acquisition of new skills and personal advancement. 

Innovation is at the heart of Clinisys, with significant investments in cutting-edge technologies like Cloud, DevSecOps, Analytics, and AI/ML. The adoption of GenAI tools like GitHub Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot has been a positive experience for the staff. 

I take pride in being a part of this vibrant and forward-thinking organization.

How do you see your career developing at Clinisys over the next 5 years?

We have a clear vision and goal set for the future. We are transforming the future of laboratories through innovative solutions. My aspiration is to contribute meaningfully to Clinisys’ vision of enhancing healthcare delivery while also fostering professional growth and fulfilment for our team. 

I am excited about the journey ahead and the opportunities it presents for both My team and me.