From a young age, I was fascinated by technology. I was captivated by an old typewriter my grandfather used in his typewriting business. Growing up in a family of engineers—my dad and two older siblings—immersed me in science and tech. This environment shaped my future and fueled my passion for technology.
Although technology was my primary focus, I explored other passions. I was part of a music band, singing and playing guitar at various events/competitions, and nurtured a love for poetry and songwriting. Photography, sparked by a documentary about a NatGeo photographer, became another outlet. I even worked on post-production editing for two short films during college. Tennis, is another new thing I'm starting to explore.
At 12, I came across my sister's C and Java books, which marked the beginning of my journey into the world of computers. The iPhone launch in 2007 further fueled my interest in technology. That year, I wrote my first code—“Hello World” in Turbo C—and knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I pursued a diploma after high school, followed by a degree in computer science.
Beyond technology, I was deeply committed to personal growth and giving back. I volunteered with the Art of Living Foundation, organizing yoga and meditation workshops in rural India. I continued online volunteering during the 2020 pandemic, offering wellness, leadership and personality development sessions to diverse communities. This has been a rewarding experience that has allowed me to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
In my final year of undergrad, I participated in a hackathon with over 100+ participants, followed by interviews, and landed my first internship at BMC Software. During my time at BMC, I worked with real-time massive amount of data to develop an AI chatbot orchestrator for their internal digital workplace. This exposure to the business side of tech was invaluable and solidified my desire to dive deeper into the field.
Afterward, I moved to US to pursue my Master's in Computer Science at Indiana University Bloomington. Studying under top-tier professors and competing with some of the brightest minds, I felt I was preparing myself for the next big leap in my career.
This preparation led me to my current role as a Software Engineer at The Raley's Companies, where I work on technology solutions for a network of over 500+ grocery stores for multiple brands - Raley's, NobHill, Belair, Basha's, AJ's, FoodCity including subscription service by Farm Fresh To You, Fullcircle.