6 Questions With Leadership Graduate Lakshmi Rangarajan

Throughout her career, Lakshmi Rangarajan’s role has always incorporated some aspect of leadership—whether it was in a software developer role, transitioning into project management, helping teams shift to Cloud technology or providing overarching guidance to working groups to build efficient infrastructure to support reliable systems and software.
For Lakshmi, it’s the fusion of tech and leadership that makes her shine.
“These experiences helped me discover my passion for driving key business outcomes, enhancing team efficiency and fostering organizational growth—principles that have shaped my career,” Lakshmi enthuses. “This passion has been a consistent thread throughout my work, guiding my contributions to projects and organizations. I thrive on driving meaningful progress and spearheading initiatives that directly impact organizational growth and objectives.”
She brings all of these skill sets—and additional leadership expertise thanks to completing our Certificate Program in Leadership and Management—to her current role as head of technical program management at Rocket Lawyer, a legal tech company dedicated to making legal help accessible and affordable for everyone.
You started our certificate in 2021. What were you looking to achieve?
After the pandemic, I was eager to sharpen my leadership skills and business acumen. When I discovered your certificate in leadership and management after an online search, I was immediately drawn to it. The program curriculum was thoughtfully designed, offering a diverse range of courses and multiple electives to choose from.
What was your experience going through the certificate?
My experience was fantastic and one I will cherish for a long time! The courses were interesting and highly interactive. Credit goes to the instructors for making the sessions lively and engaging. I thoroughly enjoyed the coursework, recommended reading, assignments and case studies that were integral parts of the curriculum.
The majority of my courses were held online and quite effective. At this point, we were all accustomed to working remotely, so it felt similar to attending an in-person class.
Lakshmi’s Course Menu
Business Negotiating
Effective Leadership and Management: Understanding and Influencing the Dynamics of Organizations
Managing Change and Ambiguity in the Workplace
Organizational Communication Strategies for Managers
Power and Influence in Organizations
Organization and Management
Essentials of Business: Building a Professional Foundation
Essentials of Management
You were working at Rocket Lawyer when you started the certificate. Were you able to bring new leadership skills to your work?
I truly enjoyed learning about the art of communication and handling difficult conversations in the Business Negotiation class—valuable life lessons, I would say. The instructor for that course was amazing.
Another enlightening course was Managing Change and Ambiguity in the Workplace, which helped me understand the process of change and how to accelerate it within organizations.
What does earning this certificate mean to you?
I enjoyed the course interactions and formed meaningful connections with my peers—many of whom I still stay in touch with today.
Professionally, the certificate significantly boosted my confidence in my leadership and communication skills, which have played a key role in refining my career and leadership principles.
What advice would you give to a student who is starting the certificate?
Enjoy the learning experience and dedicate time to the take-home assignments and case studies. Reflect on how to apply the concepts to your career—this shift in perspective will transform your approach to learning.
Where can we find you in five to 10 years from now?
Teaching—something that has always been a lifelong passion. Most likely, I’ll be teaching students about project management, leadership and communication!