Chitra Sivanandam: Maven Gray on Immigrant Community and Being an Artistic Engineer (pt 1)

On this very special season of Iron Butterfly Podcast, we’re going inside our first documentary feature film, titled The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies. This film features 10 of the most powerful women you’ve never heard of, and this season, we’ll get up close and personal with each of them. Each month, we’ll highlight a different woman, with each episode presented in two parts.

In this episode, we sit down with Chitra Sivanandam, whose path into the national security community is anything but conventional. With more than 25 years supporting the Intelligence and Defense sector, Chitra explores her favorite roles across a career spanning industry giants, startups, and small businesses, as well as the lessons she's learned bridging private-sector technology with government missions.

We also discuss her passion for art and creative mediums, and how embracing creativity has helped her approach problems from new angles, challenge assumptions, and think beyond traditional solutions. Along the way, Chitra offers a look into life outside of work, including managing a household with an impressive number of animals, and reflects on how curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to forge an unconventional path have shaped both her career and perspective.

Follow us on social media to catch us on the road this year as we travel to film festivals across the world. We might be coming to a city near you!

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