By Neha Kalsekar (’25SPS, Technology Management)
Moving to New York to start Columbia’s M.S. in Technology Management (TMGT) program in fall 2024 came with high expectations, yet the energy, pace and depth of learning throughout the year exceeded anything I had imagined. One of the courses I looked forward to most was the Capstone, where students solve a real-world business challenge using technology.
As the following summer began, we were introduced to our Capstone partner: Celonis, a global leader in process mining. The journey began with meeting the Celonis team at their World Trade Center office and hearing an overview of their platform. Seeing the platform’s capabilities firsthand was a moment of clarity for me. I was struck by how seamlessly Celonis integrates with enterprise systems to process data and create a digital twin of business operations. The ability to visualize processes end-to-end, surface inefficiencies and unlock tangible value made the concept of process mining feel both powerful and practical.
For our Capstone project, our team, which included Shivank Pahwa, Pranav Raut and Paarth Shah, was tasked with developing a solution for a consumer retail company that faces shrinking profit margins. Rising operational costs and growing customer dissatisfaction pointed to underlying process inefficiencies, but pinpointing their source was far from straightforward. We analyzed the company’s dataset, uncovered the root cause and identified meaningful opportunities for improvement.
On paper, the problem seemed deceptively simple in Week 1. In practice, once we began working with the data, the complexity quickly became clear. The datasets were large, fragmented and deeply interconnected — mirroring the reality of enterprise operations. Throughout the summer, we worked closely with our Capstone mentor, approaching the problem through multiple angles to uncover the drivers behind the company’s challenges. Celonis became our anchor in this process, helping us analyze event logs, trace deviations and connect operational behavior to business impact. Even smaller subsets of the data proved far more complex than we initially expected.
By mid-semester, there were moments when it felt like we were wrestling with the problem — exploring, testing, retesting and questioning assumptions. What kept me grounded and motivated during this phase was my team. I was fortunate to work with a group where each member brought a different background and perspective. Those differences became our strength. Together, we moved beyond surface-level fixes to design an efficient, scalable solution that not only addressed the retailer’s immediate challenges but also had broader applicability.
As the semester came to a close, I reflected on how each concept, tool and discussion shaped my thinking — piece by piece — into a more structured, analytical approach to complex systems and value creation. This Capstone experience wasn't just about delivering a final solution; it was about learning to navigate ambiguity, collaborate across perspectives and translate data into decisions.
As I move forward in my professional journey, I’m certain of one thing: this experience has deeply influenced how I approach problem-solving. I’m grateful for the opportunity and look forward to staying connected with the inspiring community of peers, mentors and industry partners who made it possible.
About the Program
The Master of Science in Technology Management at Columbia University prepares graduates to lead digital transformation, and align technology and business strategy with an ethical lens. Through experiential learning, industry partnerships, and Columbia-supported research, students gain fluency in digital platforms and emerging technologies, and learn to design human-centered solutions that drive innovation and sustainable impact.
The program is available for part-time or full-time enrollment online or on campus in NYC. Learn more about the program here.
