Goodwill Industries of Kentucky Vice President of Information Technology Gauri Bhalerao has been named to the 2024 list of Top 50 Women Leaders of Louisville by Women We Admire, an organization comprised of accomplished women executives and leaders across the U.S. and Canada that provides members with powerful leadership insights and more.
Women We Admire compiles its awards and lists to celebrate the accomplishments of women in their respective communities. To see the full list, click here.
Bhalerao is a CIO/CTO and Senior Technology Executive with over 20 years of experience, recognized for driving large-scale digital transformations in Fortune 500 companies, and currently leading the transformation of a nonprofit organization. She is a strategic change agent skilled in aligning teams to execute impactful, value-driven initiatives, with a strong focus on talent development and empowerment. She employs a data-driven, value-based approach to deliver innovative and effective solutions.
Gauri’s versatile career began as a web developer at a startup, followed by impactful leadership roles at GE and Yum Brands. She has developed a rich expertise across industries, leveraging her knowledge to lead organizational transformations and drive measurable outcomes. At Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, a revenue-generating non profit organization, as Vice President of IT/CIO and Security, Gauri leads large technology initiatives dedicated to empowering individuals facing employment barriers through job training, education, and employment placement services. Funded through retail thrift stores and donations, Goodwill fosters sustainability and community well-being through tailored local programs.
Gauri’s areas of expertise encompass leading large-scale end-to-end digital transformation initiatives and driving process optimization through Lean Six Sigma methodologies. She excels in building high-performing teams and implementing cloud and collaboration solutions to enhance operational efficiency. With a focus on automation and AI-driven innovation, her expertise includes IT service management excellence, custom application development, and product design, development, and support. Gauri’s experience extends to infrastructure management, modern point-of-sale (POS) systems, and advanced retail technology solutions, ensuring seamless operations and exceptional customer experiences. Additionally, she has a strong background in cybersecurity, safeguarding critical systems and data in an increasingly digital landscape. She has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics, a Master’s in Computer Management, and a Master of Science in Computer Science.