Ramprasad Sivaprakasam - Bringing out his best
Back when he was working as a systems engineer in India, Ramprasad Sivaprakasam knew he was a competent programmer. But that was not enough for him. His ambition was simple: He wanted to be a good programmer.
To achieve that dream, he enrolled in the Master of Technology (Software Engineering) programme at ISS.
By the time he graduated, he had achieved that dream. “My conversion from a competent programmer to a good programmer came about when I chose the research elective, which tested my algorithmic skills. It started me off on my way to become a master in it – a journey that I am still on today.”
The course also honed in him a quality that’s key for IT professionals – adaptability. “To be successful in the IT industry, you have to face many challenges and overcome them intelligently. This course sharpened my ability to tackle problems in a smart manner and solve them efficiently. By the end of the course, I had become someone who can multi-task and adapt myself to a dynamically changing environment, which is what the industry demands.”
The course didn’t just improve his skill set, it brought out the best in him. For along the way, he also found that he was a leader and natural networker. It all started when Ramprasad volunteered to be the president of the student chapter. This meant a lot of hobnobbing with CEOs and CTOs of IT firms, which allowed him to discover a knack for networking.
His network of contacts paid off big time; it helped land him the dream job of software engineer with a new research initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology called SENSEable City Laboratory.
What’s keeping Ramprasad busy at work these days is an exciting project called LIVE Singapore!. The project involves building a real-time digital picture of Singapore so that residents and visitors in Singapore will be able to see their city from entirely new perspectives and make decisions based on real time information, in synch with what is actually happening around them. Ramprasad’s job is to develop a platform that processes incoming feeds by enriching them with meaningful information and delivering this to the visualisation experts. “To be more technical, I am in process of becoming a specialist in the real- time processing of big data.”
Life could not be better for the 25-year-old. Ramprasad can’t wait to get to work each day, knowing that he will be working with the best of the best at MIT. Said Ramprasad emphatically, “Oh yes, I am enjoying it!”
The last word from Ramprasad? “Technology is not permanent. In fact, change is the only permanent thing in the IT world. The fact that I am no longer afraid of that demonstrates that I have made the right choice in enrolling in the Master of Technology programme at ISS.”
Sandeep Vissamsetti - Living his dreams
For Sandeep Vissamsetti, securing his place in the Master of Technology programme at ISS was both “a dream come true and a life-changing opportunity”.
Working as a software programmer in Tata Consultancy Services in India, Sandeep knew he was acquiring experience in the corporate world. But the ambitious 25-year-old knew he needed more than that to realise his dream of becoming an entrepreneur.
Enrolling in the master programme was a huge step in the right direction, said Sandeep.
“The course at ISS has made me more confident of realising my goal of entrepreneurship because the modules are focused and you have the liberty to choose the path you wish to take based on your interest. I’ve chosen a few research modules that focus on innovation in the technological industry. This gives me the chance to work with cutting-edge technology under expert guidance.”
Another plus? “The course teaches me the best practices to follow at work. This gives me an edge over others in the highly competitive software industry.”
Sandeep is now serving out his internship as an android developer with a mobile startup called Tawkon in Israel. He is currently working on developing a mobile application that tracks the contributing factors that raise cellular radiation while the users are using their phones.
“The work is exciting and challenging. And this experience will strengthen my skill set and help take my career to the next level.”
What plans does Sandeep have after he graduates?
“I would love to stay in Singapore as long as I can,” said Sandeep. “Singapore is well developed, disciplined, secure, multicultural and rapidly growing – all of which attracts me to stay here to work towards my goal of becoming an entrepreneur.”
This article is first published in NUS-ISS quarterly e-newsletter, Issue 3 (Jul-Sep 2013).