Kishokanth Jeganathan
Kishokanth Jeganathan: A graduate of Innovation Management and the Doctoral School, a researcher, and a full-stack software engineer with over 5 years of experience. As an expert in building AI tools and high-performance web applications, I work on software products used globally. With my PhD, I am also pursuing my curiosity by conducting research on online consumer behavior, with publications in prestigious journals such as the Journal of Consumer Behaviour, Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, and Technology in Society.
1. What was the most breakthrough moment in your career?
Realizing that I don’t need to have everything figured out and that the best workplace is one that allows for mistakes and encourages learning from them. That is the culture I should seek in an employer, and I must always ensure that I pay it forward to anyone who is starting out, just as my colleagues supported me.
2.What has been your biggest professional success?
Getting my first job as a software engineer without a traditional technical background. Once you get that foot in the door, more doors start opening up. The second would be obtaining my PhD, due to the many lessons, skills, and opportunities that came my way through it.
3. If you could go back to the starting point of your career, but with all the knowledge and experience you’ve gained, what would you do differently?
Perhaps be a bit kinder to my failings, and it’s okay not to have it all figured out.
4. What’s your recipe for success? How to achieve it? What to focus on? What to avoid? What competencies gained from your studies at PUEB turned out to be the most important?
If you’re starting, I suggest doing some self-reflection and leaning into your strengths, and then identifying a gap in the market that you can fill. Then say yes to all the opportunities that come your way and work diligently at them. Learn as much as you can from diverse people, increasing the depth and breadth of your knowledge. Building a reputation as someone responsible, diligent, accountable, and who creates value takes time, but it will bring in the returns you expect. Finally, try to find a good mentor who can guide you through the initial and subsequent phases of your career, where you will need to be more strategic with time and the opportunities you say “yes” to.
PUEB sparked my curiosity, taught me how to learn, and how to think. It provided me with the grounding I needed for my career as both an engineer and a researcher, and I am very grateful for its support.
5. What advice would you give current students who are at the beginning of their careers?
- Be curious, and say “yes” to opportunities.
- It’s okay not to have it all figured out. Be strict with your goals, but maintain a healthy dose of kindness in there for your failings.
- Make friends wherever you go, and build a reputation. This is an asset that will reward you many times in the future.