'What I'm doing today is down to the skills I acquired in Sheffield'

Kiran Kulkarni profile picture
Kiran Kulkarni
Head of Products, Otomeyt.ai
Software Systems and Internet Technology MSc
2012
Entrepreneur Kiran has forged a successful career in tech since graduating from the University of Sheffield, and is now Head of technology at a global company. Kiran explains his role, and how he uses the skills he learnt in Sheffield every day:

What are your main responsibilities?

Everything tech! Right from architecture to product cycle, cloud management, data security, testing.

Can you describe a typical day?

Working with investors, clients and internal teams in taking a stock of how the platforms are performing. Roadmap of releases. Cloud stats, client calls, integrations etc.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your current role or your greatest career achievement so far?

The innovations I am able to bring in.

Are there any challenging aspects? If so, what are they?

A lot - tech hasn't evolved as much as I would like. User acceptance is limited to necessity and not as a quality standard.

What skills/qualifications from your degree or other training do you make use of in your job?

Everything. My degree and the internship I got at the University of Sheffield helped me a lot in design thinking and its applications.

How have these skills or your course made a difference in your career?

Whatever I am doing today is all down to the courses I took and the skills I acquired.

Why did you choose to study at Sheffield rather than another institution?

It's one of the top universities with a reputation as a safe city.

Did your time at Sheffield meet your expectations?

Yes, absolutely.

What were the best things about studying in the Department?

Access to study material. One of the best I've come across.

Please give a brief history since leaving University

I started my entrepreneurial journey as soon as I finished my master's. After 6 years, had a successful exit from my company and one of my clients wanted help with their digitization projects. I started working with them 5 years ago. Very soon we will be a unicorn.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

More innovations and more success.

If you could give one piece of advice to current students or recent graduates, what would it be?

Apply your skills, your brain will sort out the rest for you.

Four students laughing while sat at a bench, outside the Students' Union

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