Rohit Ravichandran ’21
Education: MS Management Information Systems Professional:
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Describe your career and what led you to your current position. I started the MIS program at A&M after completing an undergraduate degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering and having worked with Deloitte Consulting for two years as a Business Technology Analyst. I joined the MIS course at A&M with the intention of developing a strong foundation in technology and business. Courses like “Business Information Security” and “Advanced Database Management” helped me improve my technical knowledge, while other courses like “Project Management” and “Advanced System Analysis Design” furthered my business understanding. Looking back, it feels like all my past experiences were like pieces to a puzzle, which have come together in my current role as an Associate Product Manager for IoT Applications in Security at Silicon Labs. What was your favorite course at A&M? Negotiation in Competitive Environments” has to be one of the most useful and exciting courses I have taken at A&M. Dr. Bridgette Chambers offers the right mix of theoretical knowledge and practical simulation in her course. Lectures are discussion-based, while the assignments have a reflective element to them. This has helped me grow not just as a student, but also as a person. I would highly recommend this course to future Ags! What was the most beneficial course you took at A&M? I found the “Business Information Security” course offered by Dr. Ravi Sen to be a very beneficial course. The course provided me a strong foundation in cybersecurity which helped me quite a bit in my job interviews. The course also has a very practical element to it which required me to think and act like a cybersecurity professional to complete most assignments. Dr. Sen also invited cybersecurity experts from the industry to share their experiences and provide networking opportunities which I found quite useful. Why did you pursue a master’s degree? A Master’s degree was first and foremost an opportunity to learn. I wanted to be in a classroom with peers who shared the same curiosity for technology and business as me. The feeling of being in one of the top business schools in the country, learning new things every day, connecting with top industry professionals, and creating lasting memories for the future was too delightful an opportunity for me to pass up. There was also the added benefit of using this knowledge to fast-track my career by a few years. What advice do you have for someone who is considering returning to school to earn a master’s degree? Do it! Coming to Aggieland to pursue a Master’s education has been the greatest decision I have ever made. A&M has something for everybody. Do you enjoy sports? Aggies participate in every sport you can think of (and even those you can’t – A&M has an official Quidditch team!). Do you want to be a part of a community? Aggieland has more than 1,000 student organizations in areas like dance, art, drama, and politics. “But all I want to do is study!”; don’t worry, Aggieland has no shortage of state-of-the-art libraries. And if that doesn’t convince you, take a look at the long list of Aggie traditions. I came to A&M two years ago looking for a school, but a Master’s degree here has been one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. What is the biggest challenge you faced in graduate school? Time management. Graduate school is very exciting, but it can pass you by if you are not careful. I found the first semester to be the most challenging. I would recommend planning activities ahead of time, keeping up with coursework (don’t put it off until deadline day!), and most importantly, asking for help if you are stuck. One of the core values of an Aggie is selfless service, so remember to ask for help whenever things get out of hand! What is the biggest reward for earning your MS-MIS degree? I started the MIS program to acquire the latest knowledge in technology and business. By the end, however, I have managed to gain so much more out of the program. I secured a full-time job in an exciting industry, gained research and teaching experience through my role as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, but most importantly, I have managed to develop meaningful relationships with peers, professors, and staff whom I have had the privilege of sharing the last two years with. |
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