At Amazon, artificial intelligence is at the heart of millions of daily customer interactions, from personalised recommendations to supply chain forecasting and voice-enabled services. Behind these powerful systems are leaders who are shaping the future of AI innovation, particularly in India, which has emerged as a key global technology hub for the company.
Among them, Gitanjali Bhutani, Payal Gupta and Swetha Shankar stand out for their contributions to building scalable platforms that power Amazon’s customer journey. Their work spans everything from product discovery to seamless checkout, demonstrating how AI is embedded across the entire shopping experience.
Gitanjali Bhutani, Director of Software Development, leads teams that build high-volume systems responsible for pricing and transaction processes. By leveraging generative AI, her teams have significantly improved system efficiency and scalability. She is also deeply committed to mentoring women engineers through initiatives such as AmazeWIT and Women in Leadership, fostering inclusive growth within the organisation.
Payal Gupta, Director of Software Development for Central Shopping Experience, oversees large-scale, multi-region systems that support millions of global transactions. Her focus lies in using generative AI to create hyper-personalised and seamless shopping journeys. Alongside her technical leadership, she actively promotes diversity and inclusion, mentoring women professionals and driving conversations around workplace equity.
Swetha Shankar, Director of Software Development, leads Amazon India Retail technology teams that develop high-performance platforms for real-time data processing and analytics. She plays a crucial role in advancing AI-led innovation, ensuring that customer experiences remain fast, reliable and intuitive. Her leadership highlights the importance of combining technology with strong team-building practices to deliver consistent results.
Beyond individual achievements, Amazon has built a broader ecosystem to support women in technology. Programmes like Amazon Future Engineer and Amazon WoW help students and early-career professionals gain access to skills and opportunities in computer science. Initiatives such as Women in Leadership and Catapult enable professionals to grow into senior roles, while Amazon Saheli supports women entrepreneurs in building successful businesses.
Together, these efforts underline Amazon’s commitment to empowering women at every stage of their careers. As AI continues to transform industries, women leaders in India are playing a central role in driving innovation, shaping technology, and influencing the future of global digital experiences.
