TANUVI ETHUNANDAN | AI PRODUCT MANAGER
The early bird may catch the worm, but the dedicated one builds a legacy. Whether it’s nudging the needle on her team’s tech, creating a company from the ground up, or gliding a gig across open water, she has everyone pulling in one direction. A founder, a trailblazer, a community champion - Tanuvi knows that the best way to predict the future is to invent it.
Hear from Tanuvi about how she forged her pathway into the tech world.
Firstly, tell us a bit about yourself.
My name’s Tanuvi, I’m a product manager at an AI company based in Cornwall called Hertzian, and I’m a previous founder of a tech company.
How did you get into the tech sector?
I moved down to Cornwall to be part of an incubator programme which was absolutely fantastic. I founded a business called Data Duopoly where I used geo-location technology to understand visitor flow and optimise it using data. Since then I’ve stayed within the tech sector here in Cornwall, and I’m now with Hertzian, working on AI semantic and sentiment analysis for the games industry and exploring new market options.
What made you choose a career in tech?
I actually started off life as a chartered accountant in London at the Big Four, and I moved into tech because I was really passionate about how digital technologies can be used to make people’s lives better. I founded a tech company using location data to help people explore more and I was really excited about being in such an interesting space, and I've stayed in the tech sector since.
Why is it so important that Cornwall has a tech scene?
It’s so important that Cornwall has a tech scene because it brings together so many people and it develops new technologies. I think actually one of the many things that are forgotten about Cornwall is that it’s always been at the forefront of tech and telecommunications, with the Marconi site leading the way and that’s a natural progression for Cornwall - to solidify its role in technology in England.
Tell us a bit about your current role.
I’m currently a product manager. I’m trying to work with users to understand what they want, to develop the product to be as good as it can be. It’s really exciting, I get to speak to clients and users, I get to do a lot of market research to identify new opportunities. Ultimately I’m figuring out how we can use tech for good, to make the biggest social and positive impact.
What would you say to someone thinking of entering the tech world?
What’s really interesting about the technology space is that it’s so collaborative and it’s burgeoning on new technologies, and there are so many exciting roles. I actually think tech applies to almost every single industry. In this day and age, even service-based industries like legal firms and accounting firms are becoming tech firms - they’re using data to achieve what they want. So it’s not a question of ‘do you want to enter the tech sector?’ it’s ‘how do you want to apply tech in your chosen field of impact?’
What would you say to someone looking to take part in the Digital Futures programme?
What’s really exciting about the Digital Futures skills programme is that it’s actually putting Cornwall on the map. It’s cementing and highlighting the Duchy’s approach to technology, and the opportunity it provides to people in the area, and I think that’s so exciting about the upskilling that’s happening, the training and the awareness of the opportunities available here in Cornwall.
How were you able to transfer your skills to the tech space?
I started off in the accountancy sector, and I think what I was able to bring was my data-driven mindset. That’s something that’s so important is that you can bring your existing skills and apply them to the tech sector which is so exciting. It’s a growing sector and it's really cementing what can be achieved here in the South West.
What are your experiences of being a female in tech?
Being a female entrepreneur and a female in the tech sector, I think especially here in Cornwall, doesn’t make a difference. It’s been so open and collaborative and I’ve felt so welcome here, but I also think what’s really exciting is how many organisations support females to enter the tech sector. There are fantastic ones through the Digital Futures programme that people can get involved with, but also there’s a lot of support, there are communities, there are meetups and that makes it really easy to get involved.
What are the advantages of working in Cornwall?
You don’t need to move out of the county to have the opportunities at your doorstep. I think an unexpected advantage of working in tech in Cornwall is the fact that you’re not in a big city where you’re one in a number. Here it’s actually community-driven - it’s large enough that there is innovation happening and a lot of opportunities, but small enough that people know each other, support each other, and it also means you can move a lot faster.
What made you choose Cornwall specifically?
Very stereotypically, I had been in Cornwall on a half term break and then I chose to move down here. I’ve stayed for about five years already and no plans to leave any time soon! I think the reason that it made me stay is that you have the opportunity to work in cutting-edge technology, but you also have the sea right in the background. You can get involved with other activities - myself, I love gig rowing. What’s really unique about Cornwall is that you have fantastic opportunities in technology, but you also have the opportunity to explore what the countryside has to offer.
What do you love about gig rowing? Why do you put yourself through the pain!?
Honestly, it’s a lot of fun! There’s a real sense of camaraderie in the gig rowing team, people here are so friendly and it’s a great way to get to know people, and Mevagissey Rowing Club has been absolutely fantastic. The reason I stay is the people, and that’s true across Cornwall whether it’s personal or professional, the clubs and societies you can get involved with are absolutely fantastic and so warm and welcoming.
Are there any parallels between gig rowing and your work?
I think the key parallels between being a product manager and founder and gig rowing are three things.
Resilience to keep going. Gig rowing can be extremely tough, especially when you’re in a race. Your hands are aching, your legs are aching and you’ve got to keep going, your team’s pulling you through. That’s exactly the same with a product or being a founder, that drive to make things better and keep going.
The second thing is having a fantastic team around you. You can only go so far by yourself, but you can go so much further as a team. That’s the same in rowing, you’ve got to be in time with the people around you, identifying your own strengths and weaknesses to find people to support you.
And finally, it’s just showing up - taking one step at a time and always learning. Whether it’s developing new techniques for rowing, and also developing new and innovative ways to drive the product forward in my line of work. In technology, being a product manager or even being a founder, it’s all about how you drive that product forward.
Digital Futures is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Cornwall Council has been chosen by Government as a Lead Authority for the fund and is responsible for monitoring the progress of projects funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK by investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus.
Comments