Exploring the Unknown: Meet Ritu Ratra, Senior Design Manager at NXP

Ritu Ratra is one of more than 30,000 people at NXP who are working toward developing breakthrough technologies to make the connected world better, safer and more secure. Her unique experiences and skills are invaluable to her team. From being the first woman engineer in her family to her current role as Senior Design Manager at NXP India, Ritu’s journey so far has been enlightening, exposing her to a wide range of transformative experiences in her personal and professional life.

In her role, Ritu leads digital implementation flow and methodologies, which provide solutions that enable system-on-chip place and route (SoC P&R) for automotive, industrial and commercial applications. She has an extensive 23 years of experience in the very large scale integration (VLSI) domain, and is an active member of the Women in NXP (WiN) team, a company-wide diversity, equality and inclusion (DE&I) initiative.

Exploring an Uncharted Path

Ritu’s current role demands exceptional project management skills and the ability to oversee the implementation of multiple high-priority projects simultaneously, doing so across various sites and time zones. But her journey to where she is today all started with a decision to explore an uncharted path.

When Ritu was a teenager, engineering was not the preferred choice of profession for women in India. However, Ritu had a strong desire to pursue the field and eventually went on to become the first female engineer in her family.

“I remember vividly the feeling of being the only girl in a classroom full of boys and embracing the challenge of taking the road less travelled very early in life.”

Ritu Ratra

It eventually turned out that her decisive choice gave her some sort of ‘super power’. Ritu explains, “The good thing is that the experience I had in my early years also instilled in me the confidence to overcome any obstacles.”

Pathway to Accomplishment

Ritu firmly believes in the power of optimism and hard work, knowing that these qualities can lead to success. She also recognizes that integrity and transparency are essential to achieving long-term success.

“As part of my reflection process, I often ask myself if I am adding value to the organization's goals, if I learned something new that day, if my work is making a difference, and if I am utilizing my potential to the fullest.”

Ritu Ratra

She says she feels fortunate to have had great mentors in her career who recognized her potential and provided challenging opportunities that helped her grow professionally and personally. This trust motivates her to go above and beyond and always give her best. When it comes to accomplishments, Ritu is a big-picture person.

“I believe that to succeed, one always has to keep an eye on the long-term and not fall for short-term gains. I also do my best to encourage my team to focus on the big picture and connect with the organization's vision and mission while working toward delighting the customer each day.”

Ritu Ratra

Ownership: The Need of the Hour

According to Ritu, ownership can have critical influence on a project’s success, and even if it is completed at all. It is one of the skills in Ritu’s toolkit which enables her to juggle several priorities.

Over the years, her ability to own and power through projects has been pivotal for her, her team and the organization. A good example of that ‘super power’ was when NXP’s site in Brazil shut down and the work was moved to India. “I led a critical role in that transition and despite the tight timeframe of only a month and the additional responsibility of regular projects, I took charge of the situation and inspired the team to extend themselves and work in two different time zones. Despite other priorities outside of work, I helped ensure a smooth transition, which enabled the new team in India to establish itself successfully”

The Dividends of Teamwork

In all, Ritu is a true champion of SoC development and a great teamplayer. Her team's primary goal is to ensure the successful tape-out of high-end products using the latest technology nodes and she works closely with each member. Her ownership and commitment have set her and her team on the pathway to success. “In the previous year, I was charged with the task of spearheading the enablement of flow for five SoC tape-outs, all of which included ultra-low power features. These projects presented a host of implementation and signoff challenges, but together with my team members, I helped ensure that they were all completed successfully. Through daily sync-ups and collaboration with various groups, a new process that positively impacts KPIs was deployed.”

Formula for Success

Success comes in various shapes and sizes, and its true meaning may depend on who is asked.

“I believe that perseverance is the cornerstone of success. It is important to keep moving forward despite all the obstacles that may come one’s way and to never give up on one’s goals. With unwavering determination and a positive attitude, one will eventually find one’s unique path and the years of hard work will speak volumes for themselves.”

Ritu Ratra

At NXP, we not only appreciate the unique experiences of our team members, but also provide the right opportunities for them to utilize the abilities that come with those hard-won experiences. Ritu’s contributions since joining the company have been invaluable and are proof of the importance of identifying and nurturing leadership potential.

Explore our career page to join Ritu and other like-minded people defining tomorrow’s innovation.

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