The chief executive officer of Fishers-based technology and business consulting firm Trident Systems LLC has been named the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Dynamic Leader of the Year. Rupal Thanawala, who is also a longtime community advocate, will be presented with the honor at the chamber’s annual awards banquet in November.
Thanawala is a professional service provider specializing in business strategy and digital transformation for supply chain and global financial compliance. Thanawala’s company employs 50 people and is rapidly growing its footprint, which currently spans more than 30 countries.
“When you think of leadership, you think of someone with initiative and striving to make things better for others,” said Indiana Chamber President and CEO Kevin Brinegar. “Whether working on behalf of her clients, serving as a mentor to her own employees or countless other groups – especially those that are underrepresented, or jumping in with both feet in any number of volunteer endeavors, Rupal displays those traits.”
The Mumbai native, who moved to the US three decades ago, has championed several underrepresented groups over the years. Thanawala has served as president of the Asian American Alliance, board member of BDPA, formerly of Black Data Processing Associates, and technology editor for the Indianapolis Recorder.
“I’m really a servant leader,” says Thanawala. “It is my personal call. As business leaders, we owe it to ourselves to give back to our community. It is imperative that we return to technology education, working on issues related to diversity and inclusion, and preparing leaders from diverse backgrounds for tomorrow.”
Last year, the chamber says Thanawala led efforts to equip Camp Atterbury with a commercial-grade computer lab for people uprooted from their Afghan homes. The digital literacy program started by Thanawala expanded to nine military bases turned refugee camps across the US and touched 94,000 people.
The recipient of the 2021 Indiana Chamber Dynamic Leader of the Year was Megan Glover of 120Water in Zionsville.
