Winner. Business Leader of the Year 2024

Mridula Dileepraj Kidiyur

Position: Principal Product Manager
Company: Walmart
City: New York, NY
Country: USA
Economic/Business Sector: Software & IT Services / Retail and E-Commerce

Mridula Kidiyur, a Principal Product Manager at Walmart, is a seasoned professional with a career spanning over 14 years in technology and business management. She holds an Engineering degree complemented by extensive professional development in data science, product management, and leadership. Her journey began in technical consulting and evolved into senior roles in program and product management, focusing on eCommerce and financial services.

At Walmart, Mridula plays a pivotal role in the Returns Product team, where she leverages her technical acumen and strategic leadership to enhance customer experiences and streamline operational processes. Prior to joining Walmart, she served as a Senior Technical Program Manager, excelling in cross-functional program management and proactive defect reduction strategies. Her tenure at Ernst & Young as a Technology Manager in Financial Services Advisory further honed her expertise in technology-driven solutions, where she led the development of advanced data governance frameworks and automated reporting systems for large financial institutions.

A dedicated advocate for continuous learning and industry engagement, Mridula has significantly contributed to thought leadership in her field. She has authored six journal articles on topics such as eCommerce and data, participated in two industry podcasts discussing AI and product management, and acted as a judge for over 250 industry award applications, including the prestigious IEEE Hackathon and Globee Awards. Her dedication to fostering innovation and excellence is evident in her consistent efforts to advance best practices within the business and technology sectors.

Throughout her career, Mridula Kidiyur has achieved remarkable milestones that underscore her expertise and commitment to excellence. At Walmart, she led the redesign of the Returns Trends Dashboard, enhancing its accuracy and performance. She spearheaded the implementation of an automated Supplier Billing Tool, significantly reducing manual efforts and costs, and developed a compliant recharge workflow that secured $27 million in savings.

Her earlier roles are equally noteworthy. At Ernst & Young, she designed end-to-end data solutions that streamlined risk management processes and established centralized data governance. Her work on automating reporting tools using SQL, PowerShell, and Python enabled real-time insights and improved efficiency for financial institutions. As a Senior Technical Program Manager, she successfully reduced customer defects by millions through proactive defect management and streamlined processes.

Beyond her corporate contributions, Mridula’s impact extends to thought leadership and community engagement. Her publications, podcast appearances, and judging roles in industry awards reflect her commitment to fostering innovation and sharing insights. These accomplishments highlight her ability to drive transformation, deliver measurable results, and contribute meaningfully to the tech and business communities.