Some stories begin with a spark.
Rajashree Varma’s began with $100 and two audacious dreams: to work at Microsoft and to one day lead her own tech company. Today, she’s not only fulfilled both—she’s actively reshaping the future of healthcare operations through AI-powered innovation.
Rajashree’s journey took flight in 1999, arriving in the U.S. as a young woman from India with a computer engineering degree from an all-women’s engineering college and a bold determination to break new ground. At Microsoft, she became one of the first from her college to enter the tech giant’s engineering ranks. But she didn’t stop there. Eager to connect technology to business transformation, she transitioned into customer and partner-facing roles, gaining critical skills that would later power her entrepreneurial ventures.
In 2009, she founded Arth Systems, a Solution consultancy that leveraged Microsoft full stack to create scalable, impactful enterprise tech. As the business flourished, Microsoft became a pivotal partner, validating her belief that access to strong alliances can democratize innovation. When Arth Systems was acquired by Xoriant Corporation, Rajashree stepped in as VP and led a high-impact Microsoft alliance strategy, driving multi-million dollars of revenue growth and helping position the company among Microsoft’s top 4% global partners.
Today, as Founder and CEO of AffableBPM, Rajashree is building the next chapter of her legacy—an AI-powered SaaS platform designed to simplify and scale non-clinical healthcare compliance operations. With a no-code interface that empowers business users to manage contracts, compliance, and inventory, AffableBPM has improved operational efficiency by over 70%, reduced burnout, and ensured audit readiness for providers across the U.S. healthcare system with measurable ROI.
But Rajashree’s mission goes far beyond metrics. “Democratizing tech means paving the way for those who come next and solving real-world problems,” she says. Her work is proof that systems can be redesigned to empower, not exclude, and that leadership is strongest when it opens doors for others.
A passionate advocate for inclusive innovation, Rajashree actively mentors aspiring technologists through Ada Developers Academy and the UW Foster School of Business. She champions women returning to the workforce and continuously invests in building opportunities that extend beyond her own success.
From software engineer to CEO, Rajashree Varma exemplifies what happens when vision meets tenacity—and how a single dream, when matched with courage and community, can transform entire industries.
About #empowHER50 campaign
This campaign celebrates women leaders at Microsoft, past and present, who have been instrumental in democratizing access to technology, opportunity, and growth. By honoring their contributions over the last half-century, this campaign highlights stories of resilience, innovation, and inclusivity. Through digital spotlights, a commemorative coffee table book, live recognition events, and more, the campaign inspires collective action toward achieving equitable societal goals. To learn more about empowHER50, please visit https://womenincloud.com/empowHER50
To learn about Microsoft 50th celebrations: https://news.microsoft.com/microsoft-50/
