POWER HOUSE Breaking Barriers: Inspiration and Innovation Dr. Ekta Nagpal Bhayana, with 22 years of diverse experience encompassing academia and industry, embarked on a journey with Lumax in 2018. She joined Lumax to provide Electronics training to the Mechanical R&D team and soon found herself presented with the opportunity to establish and lead the Mechatronics Division in 2019. Her involvement in the design and development of advanced Electronics gear shift levers, as well as her role in transitioning from discrete component-based to CAN-based SBW shifters, has been pivotal. In terms of academic background, Dr. Bhayana holds a Ph.D. in Electronics Engineering, which she earned in 2022. Her research focus was on Antenna Design for 5G Technology. She also holds a Master's degree (MTech) obtained in 2009 in Electronics & Communication, specializing in Digital Signal Processing. Furthermore, she has a Bachelor's degree from 2004 and a related Diploma. Dr. Bhayana's scholarly contribu- tions include 11 research articles published in various national and international journals, including Scopus Index Journals. Additionally, she has individually filed 2 patents in her research area in 2022. Managing the demands of a Ph.D. while maintaining a career changes reflect the relentless pursuit of innovation in was undoubtedly challenging. Dr. Bhayana navigated this by the automotive industry, enhancing both comfort and diligently managing her time, establishing priorities, and foster- eco-friendliness. ing clear communication with superiors and colleagues. Her successful balancing act not only aided her career aspirations Dr. Bhayana's commitment to education is a testament but also contributed to Lumax's growth in the field of Mecha- to her dedication to personal and career growth. “My tronics. Coinciding with her over 5 year tenure, Lumax transi- motivation stems from my family, especially my father, tioned significantly, moving from MT shifters to AT, AMT, DCT, Advocate Mr. G.C. Nagpal, who instilled the drive for and various CAN-Based SBW shifters. achievement from an early age. I was fortunate to get opportunities where my learning and its implementation went hand in glove.” Her background in education and the support provided by companies like Lumax have allowed her to continue learning and apply her knowl- edge eectively in her work. In her role at Lumax, Dr. Bhayana leverages her exten- sive knowledge of Electronics Engineering to meet customer needs and expand the Mechatronics portfolio. Her research experience has been vital in achieving the goal of designing and developing advanced electronic gear shift levers and related components. She express- es gratitude to Lumax for providing a platform to show- The automotive industry has witnessed rapid and transforma- case her expertise and for their support in helping tive changes in technologies, particularly concerning gear employees perform at their best and achieve their shifters. Traditional mechanical systems are giving way to career goals. cutting-edge electronic and automated solutions. Automatic transmissions are increasingly prevalent, utilizing advanced Notable projects successfully delivered by Dr. Bhayana algorithms and sensors for smoother shifts and enhanced fuel include lever-type Gear Shifters for various vehicles, eciency. Electric and hybrid vehicles have ushered in new including Titan EV, Switch Mobility EV, Tata DCT, Tata approaches to gear shifting, while technologies like dual-clutch AMT, Mahindra S220, W112, W601, W501, Z101, Maruti transmissions and continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) Suzuki Rotary Gear Shifter, and Mahindra Electric oer drivers diverse options for their driving experience. These Vehicles (E2O, E-Verito, K2O).