Sri Saikumar S.
MBA+ MS in Digital innovation* Engagement Manager, TRINITY“The MBA+ MSDi program enabled me to make the transition from technology to business while equipping me with the critical skills to analyze varied perspectives and make informed choices for all stakeholders.”
*Renamed the MBA+ MS in Digital Technology in Fall 2019.
Sri Saikumar S. has never been especially fond of mushrooms—that is, until Questrom introduced him to their potential business value.
Sri was a member of a Global Ventures Consulting team at Questrom that traveled to Guatemala to work on a mushroom farm. “I was amazed by the innovative technology the farmer managed to develop on his own with little assistance. While we went to Guatemala to help his business, it was more of a learning experience for my team.”
Sri previously worked in Southeast Asia as a solutions architect and technology consultant in the transportation sector, with a focus on implementing ERP solutions and migrating legacy IT systems into the cloud. “As a full-on geek, I am passionate about technology, from games to cloud computing, but without an MBA I had very little understanding of business,” says Sri. Yet he often witnessed misalignment between companies’ strategic objectives and their technology transformations. “I wanted to be at the forefront of this digital disruption wave, bringing IT and business alignment into perspective."
During his visit to BU, Sri says he observed a refreshing level of camaraderie among peers. “An MBA is a scary prospect for most people, given the intense competition amongst students vying for academic laurels and the same coveted jobs. But I got the feeling BU was different and thrived on students encouraging one another."
At Questrom, Sri recognized enormous career potential in applying his technology skills to the healthcare sector. “The MBA+MS in Digital Innovation allowed me to make this transition while equipping me with critical skills that would help me analyze varied perspectives and make informed choices for all stakeholders."
Sri completed an internship at Zillion Health (now Restore Health), where he worked with individuals at every level of the organization, from the CEO to the health coaches. He focused on ROI and financial modeling and used data analytics to improve member engagement. His most challenging task, he says, was assigning dollar amounts to clinical outcomes.
After Questrom, Sri will head to Silicon Valley to work alongside entrepreneurs and thought leaders to understand what is shaping the digital transformation in the valley, preparing him for the next opportunity—whether in the mushroom industry or elsewhere—that sprouts up.