Some entrepreneurs build companies. Others build cultures. And a rare few build legacies that extend far beyond business. For Lalitha Nandyala, founder and CEO of SmartFolks, purpose has been the guiding force behind every chapter of her journey, from a young girl growing up in Bangalore, India, to leading a global technology staffing and workforce solutions company with nearly 800 employees across the United States, India, Mexico, and soon, Canada. Long before she became an entrepreneur, Lalitha knew she wanted to lead. “I was in middle school when I first thought I wanted to build something of my own,” she recalls. “I wanted to grow along with other people and help them grow, too.” That desire to elevate others has never left her. After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in personnel management, Lalitha immigrated to the United States in 1998. Like many newcomers, she faced challenges adjusting to a new culture, language, and way of life. Unable to work initially, she volunteered at her local public library in Scranton, Pennsylvania, using the opportunity to learn, connect, and build confidence. “I didn’t want to sit at home,” she says. “I wanted to learn about people.” Those early experiences shaped the people-first philosophy that would later define SmartFolks. Years later, while working in human resources and business systems roles including a position at Ford Motor Company, Lalitha continued to nurture a dream she had carried since childhood. One morning in Detroit, having tea with her husband, Ram, she shared her dream to start her own company. “He told me, ‘Let’s build it together.’” The couple launched SmartFolks from their basement. In the beginning, Lalitha wore every hat imaginable, recruiter, salesperson, administrator, accountant, and business developer. But what makes their story unique is how they viewed the company itself. “We have two daughters and a dog,” she says with a smile. “SmartFolks became our fourth baby.” Like devoted parents, Lalitha and Ram nurtured the company with patience, discipline, values, and care. Today, that “fourth child” employs hundreds of people around the world. Yet the most defining chapter of Lalitha’s story occurred not in a boardroom, but in a hospital. Nearly three years ago, she suffered a catastrophic brain hemorrhage. Doctors later told her she had only a three percent chance of survival. As she was rushed to emergency care, Lalitha believed she was saying goodbye to her husband and daughters forever. Then something extraordinary happened. She recalls having a vision of her late brother, who had passed away when she was young. “He told me, ‘This is not your time.’” When her daughters arrived at her bedside, she made a decision. “I want to live.” After two weeks in intensive care and a long recovery, Lalitha emerged with a renewed sense of purpose. Today, she begins each day with meditation, yoga, prayer, and gratitude. “This is my second chance,” she says. “I am grateful for every day.” That gratitude has become central to her leadership philosophy. Even while recovering in the ICU, one of her first requests was that her daughter send a message to an employee about a promised salary review. Her concern was not for herself but for someone depending on her. That commitment to service continues to shape her vision for the future. Through SmartFolks, Lalitha is expanding internship opportunities for students, supporting educational initiatives, and creating pathways for young people who may lack access to opportunity. She hopes to develop future technology products while continuing to invest in the next generation of talent. Ask her how she wants to be remembered, and her answer reflects the values that have guided her entire life. “We are hungry, not greedy,” she says. It is a simple phrase, yet it captures the essence of her leadership: ambitious but grounded, successful yet humble, focused on growth while never losing sight of people. For Lalitha Nandyala, legacy is not measured by revenue alone. It is measured by lives impacted, opportunities created, and the courage to keep serving others even after being given a second chance at life. EOP Member Legacy Spotlight Lalitha Nandyala This is not your time How Lalitha Nandyala turned a second chance at life into a legacy of purpose enterprising Women 67
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