At SPS, Purya...
- Developed his strategic thinking skills
- Fine-tuned his management style
- Learned to view his profession from a broader perspective
- Received mentoring from a practicing CIO
- Changed his mindset and advanced his career as…
You already had an impressive resume, including a stint as a VP for Citi. Why did you decide to come back to school?
I wanted to develop my strategic thinking skills and gain a broader perspective of how to be a leader of an organization. When I joined the program, I was the head of an IT solutions group at a mid-sized commercial bank. I was leading a key business transformation program from inception to implementation. I was also responsible for ensuring that our information was used as a strategic asset to deliver profit and a better customer experience. As my career progressed, so did my desire to advance further by going to school.
Why did you choose the SPS Technology Management Program instead of an MBA?
I almost applied for an MBA, but I did not want to change my career from technology to finance or some other discipline. The program gave me a big-picture view. With that mindset, I was able to fine-tune my thinking. This helped me deal with global teams, overcome cultural barriers, and change my own behavior to accommodate others’ needs. The SPS program provided a unique learning experience where every student receives mentorship from a practicing CIO.
You were working at a demanding job and raising a family while you attended SPS. How did you balance it all?
SPS was challenging, but the courses were a bright spot every day. I had that spark.
You recently received a promotion, didn’t you?
One year after joining my present company, KPMG (one of the four big accounting firms), I was promoted to Director of Advisory Services. The SPS program offers exposure to a broad spectrum of tools—it helped me advance my career.
