CEG Connect

CEG C-Level Connect Series #30– Mr. Manjunath Chennerappa, Consul General of India in Houston, USA
2024-01-20 20:00 - 21:00 (Asia/Kolkata)
Program Details

Mr. Manjunath Chennerappa, CEG 1999 Mech and Consul General of India in Houston, USA.
Manjunath joined the Indian Foreign Service in 2004. Before assuming charge as Consul General of India in Houston in July 2023 he was
Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi heading the Global Estate Management Division.
In his earlier diplomatic assignments, he has worked in Indian Missions abroad in Moscow, Astana, Colombo and at the Permanent Mission of India to the UN in New
In various capacities, York handles political, commercial, Development Cooperation and Multilateral work among others.
In his stints in the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, he has served as Officer on Special Duty to External Affairs Minister and Director in UN Political and Americas
Divisions and as Joint Secretary heading the Establishment Division and Rapid Response Cell.
A UN Disarmament Fellow of the Year 2012, he is interested in Peacekeeping and Security Council matters. Executing medium to large scale construction projects, he
has specialized in Project Management.
Manjunath is a Mechanical Engineering graduate and Distinguished Alumni Awardee from the College of Engineering, Guindy, Chennai. Prior to joining the Service, he briefly
worked in TVS Motor Co Ltd, Hosur, and is also a non-matric Alumni of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.
He is married to Ms. Arpana Manjunath, an Educator, and they have two sons.
He speaks Russian apart from English, Hindi, Tamil and Kannada.
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Host – Mr. Vish Viswanathan, CEG 1985 Mech, CEO, Anikode Management Consultants
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Technical Support – Mr. Partha Sarathy, CEG IT, 2021
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CEG C-Level Connect Series #33 - Dr. Shantha Mohan Adjunct Faculty, Integrated Innovation Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, USA.
2024-04-28 20:00 - 21:00
Program Details

Dr. Shantha Mohan, CEG 1971 ECE and Adjunct Faculty, Integrated Innovation Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, USA.
Dr. Shantha Mohan, an alumna of Tepper Business School, Carnegie Mellon University, is an adjunct
faculty member at Carnegie Mellon Integrated Innovation Institute who teaches “Leadership & Teams”
and “Strategies for Your Industry Career” to master’s students in software management and is also a
mentor and project guide.
She is a global software engineering leader and entrepreneur with a proven track record of growing and
mentoring technical teams and generating customer ROI globally. Retail Solutions Inc., the company she
co-founded, is a leader in retail analytics in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) domain. She ran
product development for the company and was responsible for scaling the product development team
worldwide and delivering multiple analytic applications. Before Retail Solutions, Shantha had over 20
years of experience focusing on mission-critical systems to support semiconductor and other high-valueadded manufacturing. At Consilium, now part of Applied Materials, she managed the development of three generations of manufacturing execution systems. Such software systems are mission-critical, highly scalable, and highly available, and companies such as Intel and Infineon depend upon them for
their manufacturing.
Outside CMU, Shantha mentors start-ups and students from CEG and CMU. She provides career advice
to new graduates and those making career transitions. She is a member and volunteer of the Society of
Women Engineers (SWE). Shantha is also a member of The Carnegie Mellon Women’s Association
(CMWA) and is active in the Barbara Smith Women’s Mentoring Program. Her book “Roots and Wings –
Inspiring stories of Indian Women in Engineering” was published in 2018. She co-authored
“Demystifying AI for The Enterprise,” published in 2021. Her most recent book on leadership,
“Leadership Lessons with The Beatles,” was published in May 2022 by Routledge Press/Taylor & Francis.
The Indian edition of the same is published this year.
Shantha is a CEG Distinguished Alumnus 2020 and a Distinguished Toastmaster.
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Host – Mr. Vish Viswanathan, CEG 1985 Mech, CEO, Anikode Management Consultants
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Technical Support – Mr. Partha Sarathy, CEG IT, 2021
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CEG C-Level Connect Series #35- Dr. Samiullah Khan, CSO of Fakhruddin Holding, CEO of Saif AIR Tech & COO of Fakhruddin Integrated Services.
2024-06-30 21:00 - 22:00
Program Details

Dr. Samiullah Khan, CEG 1994 Mech & CSO of Fakhruddin Holding, CEO of Saif AIR Tech, COO of Fakhruddin Integrated Services.
Samiullah Khan, the Chief Strategy Officer of Fakhruddin Holding, CEO of Saif AIR Tech, and COO of Fakhruddin Integrated Services, has a rich career history that includes serving as the General Manager of IBV and Managing Director of Euka International, an innovation-focused company dedicated to advanced technology projects in sustainability, net zero, direct air carbon capture, and renewable energy. He is a trained design thinking and innovation expert and the former CEO of The Island (Lebanon Island), one of the world’s most exclusive destinations.
Samiullah was also the Vice President and Head of SRM University, where he established and promoted SRM University, SRM Technologies, SRM Constructions, SRM Media, SRM Institute of Medical Science, and SRM Hotels. He has counseled over 35,000 students across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. His previous role as Country Head of Tata Motors saw him establish the brand as a market leader in Saudi Arabia and involved collaborations with Mercedes Benz (India), Daewoo (Korea), Hispano (Spain), Hispano Marabi (Morocco), Tata ACGL (Goa), TATA NITOL (Bangladesh), and Jaguar and Land Rover (Saudi Arabia).
With experience in over 52 countries, he is a passionate learner, sportsman, and team leader known for amplifying the potential of his colleagues. Featured in the book “Top 100 Iconic NRIs in UAE,” he has spoken at COP 27 in Egypt and COP 28 in UAE. His accolades include the DEWA Global Water Award, EGBC Product of the Year Award (Carbon Capture), Innovation Award (Carbon Capture) from Climate Control Magazine, ADDA Rise High Award for Sustainability, FEDA Sustainability Award, Sustainability Leader Award from His Royal Highness Sheikh Rashid Al Nuaimi, NDTV Green Developer Award, and the Her Highness Sheikha Mariyam Al Maktoum Award.
Samiullah holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, a master’s degree in Business Administration, and has advanced training from the Tata Management Training Centre, XLRI, Harvard (strategy), MIT (innovation and design thinking), University of Minnesota (special needs education), University of Edinburgh (carbon capture and storage), DelftX (comfort and health in buildings), Harvard (health effects of climate change), and Cambridge (net zero emissions). He also holds a PhD in Sustainability.
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Host – Mr. Vish Viswanathan, CEG 1985 Mech, CEO, Anikode Management Consultants
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Host – Mr. Jaytesh Calpakkam, CEG 2016 Mech, Co-Founder of “The Internet Generation”
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Technical Support – Mr. Partha Sarathy, CEG IT, 2021
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CEG C-Level Connect Series #36 - Mr. Andi Giri, CEO of Softsquare, Salesforce Solutions, Services and Customer AppExchange Products.
2024-07-28 20:00 - 21:00
Program Details

Mr. Andi Giri, CEG 1986 ECE & CEO of Softsquare, Salesforce Solutions, Services and Customer AppExchange Products.
Andi Giri is a technology entrepreneur with 30+ years of experience. He completed his BE degree at College of Engineering, Guindy, Chennai, India and a MS degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park. He launched Softsquare in 1998 as an IT services firm and pivoted the company towards CRM implementation services in 2008. Currently, he is driving AI transformation initiatives for his customers. He served as the President of Greater Washington Tamil sangam in 1998 and also served as the Founder-President of AIMS India Foundation 2000-2003. Recently, he has been involved in the RISE Tamil Entrepreneur organization building a trusted network of global Tamil entrepreneurs. He has been mentoring and investing in startups since 2020 via Native Angel Network, Madurai, Guindy Alumni Angel network in San Francisco, CA, USA, and American Tamil Fund in San Jose, CA, USA.
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Host – Mr. Vish Viswanathan, CEG 1985 Mech, CEO, Anikode Management Consultants
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Host – Mr. Jaytesh Calpakkam, CEG 2016 Mech, Co-Founder of “The Internet Generation”
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Technical Support – Mr. Partha Sarathy, CEG IT, 2021
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CEG C-Level Connect Series #37- Ms. Vanitha Venugopal, CEO of Tamil Nadu Technology Hub (ITNT).
2024-08-25 20:00 - 21:00
Program Details

Ms. Vanitha Venugopal, CEG 1994 Mech & CEO of Tamil Nadu Technology Hub (ITNT).
Vanitha Venugopal is the CEO of Tamil Nadu Technology Hub (ITNT) With a stellar educational background, she holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the College of Engineering Guindy, complemented by a master’s degree in engineering acquired in Ohio. She further honed her skills and knowledge by obtaining an Executive MBA from Stanford.
Vanitha’s journey before returning to India five years ago was marked by outstanding leadership. As the Director at Dell Computers, she played a pivotal role in driving business strategy and spearheading digital disruption across multiple industry verticals. Her remarkable career also boasts C-level executive positions with several startups and government institutions, both in India and on the international stage. She actively fosters startup growth in Tamil Nadu by facilitating grants, funding, and critical market connections.
Currently based in Chennai, her contributions extend beyond her role asITNT’s CEO. In her earlier role, she served as the Chief Strategic Advisor to the Chief Minister’s flagship program, Naan Mudhalvan.
This program, designed for upskilling the youth of Tamil Nadu, demonstrates her dedication to the state’s development.
With an impressive 25-year track record in global business, Vanitha has accumulated experience working with renowned Fortune 50 companies. Her leadership, educational qualifications, and diverse experience make her an influential figure in the fields of technology, startups, and government
initiatives, contributing significantly to the growth and development of Tamil Nadu.
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Host – Mr. Vish Viswanathan, CEG 1985 Mech, CEO, Anikode Management Consultants
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Host – Mr. Jaytesh Calpakkam, CEG 2016 Mech, Co-Founder of “The Internet Generation”
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Technical Support – Mr. Partha Sarathy, CEG IT, 2021
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CEG C-Level Connect Series #38- Mr. A.J. Balasubramanian, Director of India Operations, Agilix Health
2024-09-22 20:00 - 21:00
Program Details

Mr. A.J. Balasubramanian, CEG 1984 Mech & Director of India Operations, Agilix Health
A. J. Balasubramanian, commonly known as AJB, is a Mechanical Engineer who graduated from the College of Engineering, Guindy, Chennai, in 1984. He began his career as a Scientist in Defence Research & Development (R&D) before co-founding multiple high-tech startups in the mid-1980s. These ventures were at the forefront of innovation, introducing microcontroller/PC-based solutions and pioneering chip-on-board technology in India.
With extensive experience in senior leadership roles, AJB has been instrumental in building organizations from the ground up, particularly in venture capital-backed technology startups. He has successfully led startups in electronic hardware manufacturing, dot-com ventures, IT services, and IT product companies. His expertise lies in forming and scaling startup teams. He also served as the Head of the VIT-Technology Business Incubator, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
Currently, AJB is a Board Member and Whole-Time Director at Aigilx Health Technologies Private Limited, a company focused on building an innovative IT product stack for health data interoperability. In addition, he mentors three startups, including an AI company developing cutting-edge technology solutions.
AJB’s commitment to continuous learning is reflected in his completion of the Senior Management Program at IIM Calcutta. He is also an active member of the Executive Committee of the CEG Alumni Association and serves as the Convener for the CEG Alumni Incubator. AJB has played a key role in organizing the first two editions of the CEGAM – Global Alumni Meets as well as the 4th Edition of CEG Global Alumni meet to be held in Jan 3 and 4, 2025
A prolific writer, avid reader, and public speaker, AJB resides in Chennai with his wife and two daughters.
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Host – Mr. Vish Viswanathan, CEG 1985 Mech, CEO, Anikode Management Consultants
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Host – Mr. Jaytesh Calpakkam, CEG 2016 Mech, Co-Founder of “The Internet Generation”
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Technical Support – Mr. Partha Sarathy, CEG IT, 2021
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CEG C-Level Connect Series #39 - Mr. Ravichandran Purushothaman, President of Danfoss India
2024-10-26 20:00 - 21:00
Program Details

Mr. Ravichandran Purushothaman CEG 1985 ECE & President of Danfoss India
Ravi is the President of Danfoss India Region, a 11 Billion Euro leading global Danish family-owned company in energy-efficient technologies & Electrification. With over three decades of experience in the industry, Ravi has been instrumental in driving Danfoss’s growth and innovation in India. Under his leadership, Danfoss India has expanded its footprint and strengthened its commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency. Danfoss today has close to 4000 employees , with 4 Global Competence Centres and 6 factories in India.
Ravi is known for his visionary leadership, strategic thinking, People focussed business transformation and dedication to building a greener future. He has been a strong advocate for energy-efficient solutions, which align with Danfoss’s mission to engineer tomorrow’s sustainable solutions. His work focuses on bringing advanced technologies to India, innovating with startups in India, promoting energy eff and driving industrial decarbonization.
Ravi is deeply involved in industry associations which covers Food supply chain , Cooling and Energy + Water efficiency areas like CII Food and agriculture center , CII Green business center, CII Water Mission , CII TN and CII South , RAMA , AEEE , ISHRAE , WEF and Madras Management Association has been a prominent voice in shaping India’s policy advocacy for sustainable development. His expertise spans across various domains, including business strategy, technology innovation, and organizational development.
His commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and sustainability continues to inspire the Danfoss team and the industry at large. He is actively involved in mentoring early stage startups and has invested in several startup which are in TRL 1-4 stages .
Ravi is an ECE Alumni of College of Engg Guindy and is Independent board member in listed and several unlisted companies . He is based out of Chennai .
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Host – Mr. Vish Viswanathan, CEG 1985 Mech, CEO, Anikode Management Consultants
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Host – Mr. Jaytesh Calpakkam, CEG 2016 Mech, Co-Founder of “The Internet Generation”
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Technical Support – Mr. Partha Sarathy, CEG IT, 2021
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CEG C-Level Connect Series #40 - Ms. Janaki Akela, Independent Director of companies including Fractal.AI, Salli Mae, avrerq.inc and Southern Company.
2024-12-01 20:00 - 21:00
Program Details

Ms. Janaki Akela, CEG 1982 ECE, Independent Director of companies including Fractal.AI, Salli Mae, avrerq.inc and Southern Company
Janaki Akella is a distinguished Digital Transformation Leader, celebrated for her ability to seamlessly bridge the realms of technology and business. With a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership in global organizations and boardrooms.
Currently, Janaki serves as an Independent Board Director for Southern Company, a $85 billion market cap public utility, where she chairs the Business Security & Resilience Committee and contributes as a member of the Audit Committee. Additionally, she holds board positions at Sallie Mae, overseeing Operational Compliance Risk & Audit, and at Fractal.ai, a pioneering AI services company transforming enterprises through innovative technologies.
Janaki’s illustrious career includes leadership roles at Google, where she spearheaded initiatives across Ads, Cloud, and organic Search—three of the company’s largest product areas. As the first woman globally elected Partner in McKinsey & Company’s Business Technology Office, she directed over 100 consulting engagements for Fortune 100 C-Suite leaders, specializing in high-tech growth strategy and digital transformation across North America, Canada, and Asia.
Her journey began at Hewlett Packard Labs as an Engineer Scientist and at the System Technology Division, where she honed her technical expertise. Recognized for her contributions, she has been named among the Top 100 AAPI Board Members in the U.S., honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award by her undergraduate alma mater (College of Engineering, Guindy), and acknowledged as a leader in initiatives such as Google Women in Ads and McKinsey’s Women in Technology.
Janaki’s global perspective, technical prowess, and strategic acumen continue to make her a trailblazer in the fields of business and technology. She is passionate about fostering innovation and empowering organizations to achieve their digital transformation goals.
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Host – Mr. Vish Viswanathan, CEG 1985 Mech, CEO, Anikode Management Consultants
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Host – Mr. Jaytesh Calpakkam, CEG 2016 Mech, Co-Founder of “The Internet Generation”
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Technical Support – Mr. Partha Sarathy, CEG IT, 2021
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CEG C-Level Connect Series #41-Mr. Ajit Chordia, Managing Director, Olympia Group, India
2024-12-29 20:00 - 21:00
Program Details

Mr. Ajit Chordia CEG 1985, Mech. and Managing Director, Olympia Group, India,
Mr. Ajit Kumar Chordia is the Managing Director of Olympia Group, a prominent real estate developer with significant presence across Chennai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. A third-generation entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience, he has established himself as a pioneer in multiple industries including automobile retail through the Khivraj Group and renewable energy ventures. He currently serves as the Chairman of CREDAI National’s Environment Committee and Vice Chairman of CII Chennai Zone. A passionate advocate for sustainable development, Mr. Chordia is a Senior Fellow of the Indian Green Building Council and has spearheaded numerous green building initiatives. Through the Khivraj Foundation, he actively champions education, healthcare, and rural development, including the establishment of schools in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. An alumnus of the College of Engineering, Guindy, Mr. Chordia brings deep expertise in family business governance, corporate strategy, and environmental sustainability to his speaking engagements.
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Host – Mr. Vish Viswanathan, CEG 1985 Mech, CEO, Anikode Management Consultants
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Host – Mr. Jaytesh Calpakkam, CEG 2016 Mech, Co-Founder of “The Internet Generation”
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Technical Support – Mr. Partha Sarathy, CEG IT, 2021
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CEG C-Level Connect Series #42-Dr. Maruthi Prasad Tangirala, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Govt of India
2025-01-26 20:00 - 21:00
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Mr. Maruthi Prasad Tangirala, IAS, CEG 1985 Civil and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Govt of India
Shri Maruthi Prasad Tangirala is a 1990 batch officer of the Indian P&T Accounts and Finance Service. He joined service after obtaining a BE in civil engineering from College of Engineering, Guindy, and a PGDM from IIM Calcutta. He also holds an LLB (Osmania University, Hyderabad) and an MPhil (Panjab University, Chandigarh). His PhD is from the Centre for the Study of Law and Governance, JNU, New Delhi. He has published articles in scholarly journals, and is the author of Telecom Sector Regulation in India: An Institutional Perspective, published by Routledge in 2019.
He has earlier worked in the Department of Telecommunications, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, and Union Public Service Commission.
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Host – Mr. Vish Viswanathan, CEG 1985 Mech, CEO, Anikode Management Consultants
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Host – Mr. Jaytesh Calpakkam, CEG 2016 Mech, Co-Founder of “The Internet Generation”
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Technical Support – Mr. Partha Sarathy, CEG IT, 2021
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CEG C-Level Connect Series #43-Dr. Kavitha Velusamy, Senior Vice President at Robust.AI
2025-03-09 20:00 - 21:00
Program Details

Dr. Kavitha Velusamy, CEG 1992 ECE and Senior Vice President at Robust.AI in Silicon Valley.
Kavitha Velusamy, Ph.D., has over 20 years of experience building and shipping impactful products such as Amazon Echo, NVIDIA’s Computer Vision Libraries, Cisco’s Telepresence, Bossa Nova and RobustAI’s autonomous mobile robots, and Leia’s 3D Light Field Display products. She is currently a Senior VP of Engineering at Robust.AI, a human-centric autonomous mobile robotics company. Previously, she has held leadership roles at Amazon, NVIDIA, Bossa Nova Robotics, iMerit, and Leia. She also teaches a course on AI for Robotics at University of California, Santa Cruz (Silicon Valley Extension). She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Engineering from the College of Engineering, Guindy, and a Doctorate from the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. She holds over 20 granted patents.
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Host – Mr. Vish Viswanathan, CEG 1985 Mech, CEO, Anikode Management Consultants
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Host – Mr. Jaytesh Calpakkam, CEG 2016 Mech, Co-Founder of “The Internet Generation”
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Technical Support – Mr. Partha Sarathy, CEG IT, 2021
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CEG C-Level Connect Series #44-Ms. Meena Balakrishnan, Vice President, Finance Transformation at Danaher Life Sciences and Bio Technology, Washington DC, USA.
2025-04-06 20:00 - 21:00
Program Details

Ms. Meena Balakrishnan, CEG 1985 Mech and Vice President, Finance Transformation at Danaher Life Sciences and Bio Technology, Washington DC, USA.
Meena just completed 20 years with Danaher (DHR) in a variety of progressive finance roles and has been with the Life Science (LS)/Biotechnology (BTG) platform Opcos since the Pall acquisition. She joined DHR as the Sales and Marketing Finance Manager for Jacobs Chuck Manufacturing Company. She currently is VP – Finance Transformation supporting DHR LS/BTG. She was part of the DHR acquisition integration team at Pall (~$14.0B acquisition) and served as its Corporate Controller until she was selected to be the DHR Finance Transition lead for the acquisition of Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), a Coralville, IA based company. After the successful finance integration of IDT early 2019, Meena was named as the DHR Finance Transition lead for the acquisition integration of Cytiva, formerly known as GE Biopharma (~$21.0B deal). She has also helped support finance integrations of Cytiva’s bolt-on acquisitions and recently was the lead for the financial integration of Pall Life Sciences with Cytiva to create the Biotechnology segment. Together with her Cytiva responsibilities she is also assisting the integration of Genedata, a recently announced DHR acquisition.
Meena believes her engineering degree together with her accounting/finance experience has helped her to continue to add value to integrating large acquisitions. Being able to “think outside of a box” is a much-needed skill to navigate through the complexities of diverse acquisitions.
As an Asian Descent associate in the US, and her unconditional passion for helping others, Meena has been actively involved with the volunteer based, DHR’s Asian Descent and Friends (AsD+F) ARG for many years. She served as a Steerco Member in Cytiva’s Global DEI Council after previously serving as the Chair of the DHR AsD+F ARG Steering Committee. She continues to serve as a mentor for many Cytiva/DHR associates both formally through Cytiva’ s mentoring programs and informally through those who reach out to her directly.
Meena in her own words, “I have been very fortunate and privileged with the career opportunities and mentorship, DHR has given me, and I believe it is now my time to pay forward”.
Meena enjoys listening to Indian Classical music and enjoys traveling to exotic places with her family. She currently resides in Falls Church, Virginia.
Meena has a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from College of Engineering, Guindy in Chennai, India, and an MBA (Accounting and Finance concentration) from Tulane University, New Orleans, LA.
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Host – Mr. Vish Viswanathan, CEG 1985 Mech, CEO, Anikode Management Consultants
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Host – Mr. Jaytesh Calpakkam, CEG 2016 Mech, Co-Founder of “The Internet Generation”
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Technical Support – Mr. Partha Sarathy, CEG IT, 2021
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CEG C-Level Connect Series #45 - Mr. Ravi Radhakrishnan, Chief Information Officer (CIO) at American Express, USA.
2025-04-27 20:00 - 21:00
Program Details

Mr. Ravi Radhakrishnan, CEG 1992 Mech and Chief Information Officer (CIO) at American Express, USA.
Ravi Radhakrishnan is Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO) of American Express. In this role, he oversees the Technology organization, which partners with the business to enable, support, and drive the company’s business growth and innovation. His responsibilities include leading the delivery and operations of technology capabilities, platforms, and services globally, as well as technology risk and information security and enterprise data governance and platforms.
Ravi is a member of the American Express Executive Committee, which is responsible for developing the company’s strategic direction and determining key policies affecting the company overall; he also serves as an officer of the company. In addition, Ravi serves as the CIO and as an officer of American Express National Bank.
Ravi came to American Express in 2022 from Wells Fargo, where he most recently served as CIO for Commercial Banking and Corporate & Investment Banking, as well as interim Chief Information Security Officer for the firm. Since joining Wells Fargo in 2012 as the CIO of Capital Markets, he held a series of senior technology leadership roles, including Enterprise CIO, where he led application development teams that provided technology solutions for all lines of business (Consumer, Wholesale, and Wealth & Investment Management) and enterprise functions across the company. Throughout his tenure, Ravi’s strategic impact included attracting, developing, and retaining strong senior technology talent; enabling business transformation through innovation, digitization, and automation; and establishing the operating model for key technology domains such as Digital, Payments, and Capital Markets. Ravi also led academia and industry research partnerships, including with the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, Stanford Platform Lab, and MIT-IBM Watson Artificial Intelligence Lab. In addition, he served as one of the leads for the firm’s Technology Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council.
Previously, Ravi worked at Citigroup for 18 years, during which time he held various technology roles in Capital Markets and Investment Banking, including global head of Equities Technology & Electronic Trading Infrastructure; global co-head of Equities and Prime Services Technology; and global head of Markets Operations Technology.
Ravi holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering from College of Engineering, Guindy in Chennai, India, and a master’s degree in computer science from Rutgers University. He and his wife reside in New Jersey, and they have two adult daughters.
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Host – Mr. Vish Viswanathan, CEG 1985 Mech, CEO, Anikode Management Consultants
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Host – Mr. Jaytesh Calpakkam, CEG 2016 Mech, Co-Founder of “The Internet Generation”
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Technical Support – Mr. Partha Sarathy, CEG IT, 2021
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CEG C-Level Connect Series #47 - Mr. Srinath Ravichandran, Co-founder and CEO, Agnikul Cosmos
2025-07-12 20:00 - 21:00
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Mr, Srinath Ravichandran, CEG 2006 EEE & Co-founder and CEO, Agnikul Cosmos.
Srinath Ravichandran is a space technology leader and AgniKul Cosmos team member in Chennai, passionate about advancing India’s access to orbital space. With robust academic credentials from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign—specializing in orbital mechanics, spacecraft propulsion, electric propulsion, and attitude control—he brings deep technical expertise to 3D-printed rocket development. An FAA-certified private pilot, he blends aerospace engineering with hands-on aviation. Srinath is an active voice in India’s deep-tech ecosystem, engaging in events like French Space Days and VC round tables. With 46K+ followers, he’s recognized for thought leadership and a commitment to innovation.
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Host – Mr. Vish Viswanathan, CEG 1985 Mech, CEO, Anikode Management Consultants
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Co Host – Mr. Jaytesh Calpakkam, CEG 2016 Mech, Co-Founder of “The Internet Generation”
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Co Host – Swetha Maran, CEG 2016 ECE, Assistant Vice President at Citi
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Co Host – Satya Priya A, CEG 2009 Printing Technology, Independent Brand Consultant & Trainer
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Technical Support – Mr. Partha Sarathy, CEG IT, 2021
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CEG C-Level Connect Series #48 - Mr. Uma Coppa, SVP Engineering at Remitly
2025-08-03 20:00 - 21:00
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Mr. Uma Coppa, CEG 1997 EEE, SVP Engineering at Remitly.
Uma Coppa is an executive in risk management and analytics with a career spanning over 25+ years across various companies including Capital One, PayPal, Groupon, Meta, Chime and currently at Remitly. Uma is an industry recognized leader and participates in various conferences and forums as a speaker. Uma has experience merging technology and business towards delivering values for customers. Uma lives in Washington state in the USA with a family of 2 kids and one furry friend named Token. Uma holds an MBA from Yale School of Management and Bachelor of Electrical & Electronics degree from College of Engineering, Guindy in Chennai.
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Host – Mr. Vish Viswanathan, CEG 1985 Mech, CEO, Anikode Management Consultants
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Co Host – Mr. Jaytesh Calpakkam, CEG 2016 Mech, Co-Founder of “The Internet Generation”
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Co Host – Swetha Maran, CEG 2016 ECE, Assistant Vice President at Citi
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Co Host – Satya Priya A, CEG 2009 Printing Technology, Independent Brand Consultant & Trainer
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Technical Support – Mr. Partha Sarathy, CEG IT, 2021
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CEG C-Level Connect Series #49 - Mr. N. Raghavan, President at Lucas Indian Services Ltd.
2025-08-31 20:00 - 21:00
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Mr. N. Raghavan, CEG 1987 Mech, President at Lucas Indian Services Ltd
Raghavan is currently President of Lucas Indian Service Limited, an Aftermarket Solutions company from the Lucas TVS group. A Mechanical Engineer from the College of Engineering, Guindy (B.E. 1983–87), he is also an alumnus of IIM Calcutta (2004–05), Great Lakes (2014–16), a Certified Executive Coach from the Coaching Foundation of India (2012–13), and a Certified Independent Director (2020) empaneled by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India in their Independent Directors Database (IDDB). With over 20 years of P&L leadership experience, he has led business transformations across private and public sector companies in Oil & Gas, Automotive Components, Industrial Consumables, and Capital Equipment across South East Asia, Africa, China, the Middle East, Europe, and India. A firm believer in technology as a transformational and equalizing tool, Raghavan drives digital transformation, innovation, and process improvements to build agile, customer-focused businesses. A practitioner of Total Quality Management, he has worked closely with Japanese sensei Professor Washio, Dr. Yukihiro Ando, and Dr. Kano, focusing on people development, process excellence, and execution. He has successfully handled business turnarounds, improving profitability, expanding market share, and internationalizing operations. A Fellow Life Member of the Institute of Directors, India, he is also deeply engaged in ESG initiatives as part of business transformation, holding certifications from IOD and IICA as an ESG Impact Leader, and is part of the National Association of Impact Leaders. Raghavan lives in Chennai with his family and is an avid reader.
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Host – Mr. Vish Viswanathan, CEG 1985 Mech, CEO, Anikode Management Consultants
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Co Host – Mr. Jaytesh Calpakkam, CEG 2016 Mech, Co-Founder of “The Internet Generation”
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Co Host – Swetha Maran, CEG 2016 ECE, Assistant Vice President at Citi
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Co Host – Satya Priya A, CEG 2009 Printing Technology, Independent Brand Consultant & Trainer
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Technical Support – Mr. Partha Sarathy, CEG IT, 2021
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CEG C-Level Connect Series #50 - Mr. Siddharth Sridharan, Co-Founder and CEO of Spendflo
2025-10-05 20:00 - 21:00
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Mr. Siddharth Sridharan, CEG 2015 Mech, Co-Founder and CEO of Spendflo
Siddharth is the co-founder and CEO of Spendflo.
He was a former investment banker with Axis capital and worked in hyper-growth environments at companies like Volta Charging from seed to IPO.
He graduated from CEG with a mechanical engineering degree in 2015 and a Master’s from Northeastern university.
Sid is passionate about helping finance and procurement leaders simplify and optimize procurement within companies.
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Host – Mr. Vish Viswanathan, CEG 1985 Mech, CEO, Anikode Management Consultants
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Co Host – Mr. Jaytesh Calpakkam, CEG 2016 Mech, Co-Founder of “The Internet Generation”
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Co Host – Swetha Maran, CEG 2016 ECE, Assistant Vice President at Citi
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Co Host – Satya Priya A, CEG 2009 Printing Technology, Independent Brand Consultant & Trainer
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Technical Support – Mr. Partha Sarathy, CEG IT, 2021
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CEG C-Level Connect Series #51 - Mr. Shan Shamugavel, Co-Founder and COO at Namma Yatri
2025-11-02 20:00 - 21:00
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Mr. Shan Shamugavel, CEG 2003 CSE Co-Founder and COO at Namma Yatri
Co-founder & COO of Moving Tech Innovations, the company behind building Namma Yatri – India’s pioneering open mobility platform – and Chennai One, the all-in-one app for public transport.
An alumnus of CEG (CSE) and IIM Bangalore, he played key roles at Trilogy, Kearney, Cult.fit, and Juspay. Building large-scale, people-first technology solutions that empower drivers, connect people, and create sustainable transportation.
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Host – Mr. Vish Viswanathan, CEG 1985 Mech, CEO, Anikode Management Consultants
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Co Host – Mr. Jaytesh Calpakkam, CEG 2016 Mech, Co-Founder of “The Internet Generation”
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Co Host – Swetha Maran, CEG 2016 ECE, Assistant Vice President at Citi
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Co Host – Satya Priya A, CEG 2009 Printing Technology, Independent Brand Consultant & Trainer
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Technical Support – Mr. Partha Sarathy, CEG IT, 2021
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CEG C-Level Connect Series #52 - Mr. Alwyn Joseph, President and COO at Sasken Technologies Limited
2025-12-07 20:00 - 21:00
Program Details

Mr. Alwyn Joseph,
Proud CEGian – ECE, 2005 Batch
President & COO, Sasken Technologies Ltd
I am a proud CEGian from the 2005 Electronics and Communication Engineering batch. Today, I serve as President & Chief Operating Officer of Sasken Technologies, a publicly listed engineering and digital solutions company, where I lead global operations, growth, and transformation across key industries.

Career & Leadership
Before joining Sasken, I spent eight years at FPT Americas, part of the multi-billion-dollar FPT Software group. As Deputy CEO, I was responsible for strategizing and growing the Americas business across the US and LATAM, scaling it from roughly $30 million to over $400 million in annual revenue in eight years.
Earlier in my career, I held leadership roles at ITC Infotech and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which gave me a strong grounding in global delivery, large-scale transformation programs, and enterprise technology services. Across these roles, my focus has consistently been on building high-performing teams, trusted client relationships, and sustainable, profitable growth.

Boards, Startups & Ecosystem Involvement
Alongside my corporate role, I stay deeply engaged with the startup and innovation ecosystem:

Non-Executive Chairman, Kimiyaa.ai – an AI-powered 3D modelling and content creation platform.
Board Director, IICM International – a world-class culinary school with global ambitions.
Advisor and partner to multiple AI startups and non-tech ventures.
Active member of the Georgia CEO Council and the American Tamil Entrepreneurs Association, engaging with founders, CXOs, and investors shaping the next wave of growth businesses.

Social Impact & Non-Profit Work
Giving back to society has been a core part of my journey since my days at CEG. In my final year, I founded Hope India Foundation, initially leveraging the Right to Information (RTI) Act to fight corruption and drive transparency. Over time, that work evolved to focus on hunger, especially child hunger.
During COVID, together with friends and my co-founder Clement, we supported families of daily wage workers with essential groceries. That initiative eventually shaped Abundance Kitchen, which today feeds underprivileged children and destitute individuals across 45 slums and villages.
We are now venturing into clothing support on a Salvation Army–style model and looking to expand into education support for underprivileged children, with the vision of creating a more dignified, opportunity-rich life for them.

Education & Roots
I completed my Executive Education in Strategy and Innovation at the MIT Sloan School of Management. But the foundation of everything I do today—my curiosity, confidence, and ambition to build global, values-driven institutions—was laid at College of Engineering, Guindy.
As a CEGian, I carry that identity with pride into every boardroom, startup conversation, and social initiative. Coming back to the CEG alumni community is not just nostalgia—it’s a way of reconnecting with the place where it all began
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Host – Mr. Vish Viswanathan, CEG 1985 Mech, CEO, Anikode Management Consultants
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Co Host – Mr. Jaytesh Calpakkam, CEG 2016 Mech, Co-Founder of “The Internet Generation”
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Co Host – Swetha Maran, CEG 2016 ECE, Assistant Vice President at Citi
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Co Host – Satya Priya A, CEG 2009 Printing Technology, Independent Brand Consultant & Trainer
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Technical Support – Mr. Partha Sarathy, CEG IT, 2021
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CEG C-Level Connect Series #53 - Dr. P. Hariharan, Dean, CEG.
2026-03-08 20:00 - 21:00
Program Details

Dr. P. Hariharan, Dean, CEG.
Dr. P. Hariharan is a Professor in the Department of Manufacturing Engineering at the College of Engineering, Guindy (CEG), Anna University, Chennai, where he currently serves as the Dean of the College of Engineering, the principal seat of Anna University with a distinguished legacy of over 231 years. He earned his B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, M.E. in Production Engineering, and Ph.D. in Materials Processing, all from CEG.
With over four decades of experience, Dr. Hariharan specializes in Electronics Packaging, Composite Materials, CNC Machine Tools, Micromachining, Surface Engineering, and Robotics. He has guided 20 Ph.D. scholars and is guiding five more, with over 200 publications. He has modernized CEG laboratories, led DST–FIST and AICTE projects worth several crores, co-authored Manufacturing Technology–I, and serves as Co-PI of a DRDO project, organizing programs on CNC Machines, Smart Manufacturing, Digital Twin, and IoT.
Dr. Hariharan has undertaken academic and research visits to several countries, including the USA, Germany, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, Muscat, and Israel. His extensive administrative experience at Anna University includes serving as Head, Department of Manufacturing Engineering; Director, Centre for Student Affairs; Director, Centre for Constituent Colleges; Executive Warden (CEG Hostels); and Additional Controller of Examinations.
A significant achievement of his leadership is securing ₹2 crores in CSR funding, with over ₹15 crores currently in progress, reflecting his strong ability to mobilize external support for institutional development. Overall, Dr. Hariharan has made outstanding contributions to academia, research, administration, and industry engagement, significantly enriching Anna University and the broader engineering community.
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Host – Mr. Vish Viswanathan, CEG 1985 Mech, CEO, Anikode Management Consultants
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Co Host – Mr. Jaytesh Calpakkam, CEG 2016 Mech, Co-Founder of “The Internet Generation”
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Co Host – Swetha Maran, CEG 2016 ECE, Assistant Vice President at Citi
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Co Host – Satya Priya A, CEG 2009 Printing Technology, Independent Brand Consultant & Trainer
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Technical Support – Mr. Partha Sarathy, CEG IT, 2021
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