Viswanath Vankadaru: Podcast Interview with Amish Munshi

In this insightful episode of The Mainstreet Minds Podcast, Amish Munshi sits down with Viswanath Vankadaru, a seasoned data engineering leader at Uber, to explore the transformative role of data in today’s tech-driven world.

Viswanath brings over 20 years of experience in the data space, having worked with major companies like Visa, eBay, and now Uber. He shares his journey from early data engineering days to leading high-impact finance data teams that influence major business decisions.

You’ll learn about the evolution of data, the real value behind machine learning and AI, and why governance is key as companies scale. He also shares advice for aspiring data professionals, including the importance of breadth over depth and why a growth mindset is critical in tech.

Plus, you’ll hear personal insights—from maintaining work-life balance in a global career to his love for travel and how he finds time to keep learning and evolving in a fast-changing industry.

Key Takeaways:

• How data has evolved from niche to necessity in every industry

• Why AI is a productivity enhancer, not a threat

• Key skills and tools to thrive in data engineering today

• The importance of governance in large tech systems

• Advice for career growth, lifelong learning, and staying adaptable in tech

• Thoughts on the future of autonomous driving and AI adoption

• Balancing family, travel, and a global tech role

About the Guest: Viswanath Vankadaru is a data engineering leader at Uber, where he heads critical finance data teams. With two decades of experience, he’s held roles at Visa and eBay and continues to influence how data drives decision-making in high-growth companies. He also teaches at Interview Kickstart, helping others break into the tech industry.

 

 

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