Pavan Golla — Portfolio

Applications Manager & Engineering Leader

Nearly 19 years of experience across development, technical leadership, and people management, currently leading backend engineering teams at Victoria’s Secret & Co. in Columbus, Ohio.

Account & AuthenticationPersonalization & CommunicationsLoyalty Platforms

Current RoleSince 2014 at Victoria’s Secret & Co.

Managing backend development teams responsible for customer identity, personalization, marketing and operational communications, and loyalty. Combining deep technical expertise with people leadership to deliver stable, scalable platforms.

About Me

I am very passionate and curious about technology and problem solving. These have been my key strengths to grow from developer to Applications Manager over nearly two decades in the IT industry, and they continue to guide how I lead and deliver today.

I am highly adaptable to new situations and challenges and always strive for better outcomes, even in complex or constrained environments. I think strategically, but stay close to the details where it matters, consistently driving for results that create meaningful impact for customers, teams, and the business.

As a people manager, I focus on creating a strong sense of belonging and trust within the team, where individuals feel safe to share ideas, ask questions, and challenge assumptions. My goal is to bring out the best in people—both personally and professionally—by setting clear expectations, aligning on goals, and regularly checking in on progress and development.

Core Competencies

Tech-savvy and deeply hands-on with modern platforms
Effective communication and collaboration with technical and non-technical stakeholders
Strategic mindset with a focus on long-term impact
Situational adaptability and calm decision-making under pressure
Building and growing high-performing teams
Driving results with clear goals and accountability
Data-based decision making

Professional Experience

Applications Manager

Victoria’s Secret & Co. · Columbus, Ohio, USA

2021 – Present

Lead backend teams for Account & Authentication, Personalization and Marketing, Operational Communications, and Loyalty.
Partner with cross-functional business and technology teams to deliver multiple programs in parallel without impacting timelines.
Design and architect solutions for complex business challenges across high-scale, customer-facing systems.
Guide and mentor engineers, ensuring engineering quality, robust processes, and consistent team growth.

Senior Developer / Technical Lead

Victoria’s Secret & Co. · Columbus, Ohio, USA

2013 – 2021

Led backend development for several critical initiatives in digital, loyalty, and customer platforms.
Collaborated closely with architecture and product to evolve systems while maintaining stability and performance.

Senior Developer

NCR Corporation · India

2011 – 2013

Delivered software for enterprise-grade solutions, collaborating with distributed teams.

Developer

Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTS) · India

2010 – 2011

Contributed as an application developer on large-scale client engagements.

Developer

HCL Technologies · India

2007 – 2010

Started my career as a developer, building a strong foundation across the application development lifecycle.

Skills

Languages & Backend

Go (Golang)

Cloud & Platforms

Microsoft AzureKubernetes

Data & Messaging

MongoDBRedisKafka

Observability

PrometheusGrafanaGoogle Cloud Logging

Leadership

Technical leadershipPeople managementCross-functional collaborationStrategic planningData-driven decision making

Projects & Programs

Customer Identity & Access Platform

Applications Manager / Technical Lead

Modernized and led backend services for customer account and authentication, supporting secure, scalable identity flows for a global retail customer base.

Impact: Improved reliability and customer experience while enabling faster delivery of new features.

GoAzureKubernetesMongoDBRedisKafka

Personalization & Marketing Communications

Applications Manager

Oversaw backend platforms powering personalized communications and campaigns across channels.

Impact: Enabled more relevant, targeted messaging while maintaining operational resilience.

GoEvent-driven architecturesKafkaObservability tooling

Loyalty & Customer Engagement Backend

Applications Manager

Led teams developing and evolving loyalty backend capabilities to support customer engagement and growth.

Impact: Delivered features that strengthened customer loyalty and supported business growth strategies.

GoCloud-native servicesData platforms

Contact

I’m open to conversations about engineering leadership, backend platforms, customer identity, personalization, and large-scale delivery. Feel free to reach out.

pgangadhar@victoria.com

View profile