Category: Technology

In a world that thrives on innovation, technical brilliance, and resilience, few have journeyed as far and as diligently as Pankaj Kumar. A trailblazer in the realm of Business Analytics and Information System (BAIS), Pankaj has tirelessly scaled the walls of adversity to cultivate a path of success. His tale is one of resolve, aspiration, and undeniable expertise, a testament to the power of a driven mind in the rapidly evolving landscape of information technology.

Born into a working-class family, Pankaj was no stranger to the challenges life threw at him. Despite this, he charted a path of academic excellence, guided by an insatiable curiosity for knowledge. He excelled in mathematics and computer science during his school years, achieving a stunning 95 and 92 respectively in his Higher Secondary Certificate Examination and securing an overall score of 90.12%. These remarkable accomplishments earned him a well-deserved scholarship from Tata Steel, enabling him to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering at Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Odisha. 

While he relished academic success, Pankaj also found joy and value in the arts of debate, drama, and story writing. His knack for language earned him the ‘Best Speaker Award’ in English, while his leadership skills saw him rise to the post of school captain. These experiences instilled in him a set of core values that would later become instrumental in shaping his career. 

Pankaj’s fascination with technology led to a passion for coding, and he took it upon himself to share this knowledge with others. During his undergraduate program, he tutored fellow students in various programming languages, and even trained them in coding for autonomous robotics. This not only provided him with financial self-sustainability, but also sharpened his skills and deepened his understanding of the subject. His work in autonomous robotics led to state-level recognition when a robot he designed clinched a podium finish in a state-level race.

His accomplishments did not stop there. After graduation, Pankaj joined Oracle, India, and in the three years since, he has accrued significant IT experience, overseeing a total of 14 implementation projects of Oracle Fusion HCM. He leads a team of five associates, managing clients, consulting on best practices, and enhancing functionality requirements. His expertise has earned him the prestigious title of “Oracle Fusion HCM 11g HR Certified Implementation Specialist.”

As a technical consultant and team leader, Pankaj has demonstrated his proficiency not only in technology but also in the art of leadership and teamwork. His stellar performance has won him several letters of appreciation from clients and managers alike, a testament to his commitment to his role and his relentless pursuit of excellence.

After his commendable role at Oracle, Pankaj’s next journey was with the consulting giant, Deloitte. Joining in February 2017 as an Oracle HCM Technical Consultant, he was exposed to a different dimension of the technology world. Here, Pankaj played an instrumental role in translating intricate business goals into appropriate HR solutions. With an extraordinary acumen to assess feasibility and optimize solutions, he integrated inbound conversion using HDL and outbound integration using HCM Extracts and BIP for a Healthcare industry client. During his tenure, Pankaj worked extensively with two key modules of Oracle Fusion HCM: Core HR and Benefits. His meticulous nature and attention to detail are evidenced in his creation of technical specification and unit testing documents, as well as his participation in SIT and UAT phases of the project. This stint at Deloitte further sharpened his technical skills and fostered his managerial acumen.

In January 2019, Pankaj took another leap forward in his career and joined IBM as an Oracle Cloud HCM Technical Lead. Here, Pankaj was entrusted with an array of responsibilities, including advising clients on HR transformation projects leveraging Oracle HCM Cloud and assisting client stakeholders in defining business requirements. His role also involved carrying out end-to-end implementation activities for clients, which included planning, configuration, development, testing, and delivery. Leading the technical development team, Pankaj guided them through technical conversion and integration activities. His technical prowess was displayed in the mass data conversion of client’s data from the legacy system to Oracle Cloud HCM using Oracle’s proprietary tools. Moreover, he generated analytical reports using Oracle Cloud Analytics tools, demonstrating a knack for insightful data interpretation.

In his latest endeavor, Pankaj has taken up the role of Manager Advisory at KPMG US. In this capacity, Pankaj leads the Technical development team and is responsible for designing the technical architecture for the Oracle Cloud HCM Implementation project. His impressive work includes carrying out business requirement gathering sessions, planning and executing end-to-end implementation activities, and developing proofs of concept as and when required. Apart from these, Pankaj has also been successful in migrating mass data from the legacy system and loading them onto Oracle Cloud HCM. His exemplary performance and leadership skills have earned him the responsibility of leading and supervising a team of 20 associates, encouraging them to be great team players while fostering continuous improvement and innovation. Pankaj’s trajectory of roles demonstrates his impeccable blend of technical expertise and managerial acumen, making him a true stalwart in the world of Business Analytics and Information Systems. 

Pankaj’s journey across hardships and inspiring roles at TCS, Oracle, Deloitte, IBM, and KPMG encapsulates the essence of resilience, dedication, and a burning desire to excel. His technical prowess combined with his drive to inspire and lead make his journey a remarkable and truly inspiring one. Through every transition and achievement, Pankaj continues to shape his narrative, proving that no challenge is too large and no detail too small in the pursuit of innovation and excellence.

But Pankaj’s success isn’t confined to his professional pursuits. He is a dedicated social worker with a mission to make the world a better place. An active blood donor, Pankaj has donated blood eight times so far and aims to reach a half-century in his lifetime, a goal inspired by his father’s words, “Leaders Save Lives.”

From the corridors of a humble school to the boardrooms of Oracle, Pankaj Kumar’s journey has been nothing short of inspiring. His story embodies the quintessence of perseverance, dedication, and an unwavering pursuit of excellence. His indomitable spirit serves as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring technologists around the world, demonstrating that with the right combination of hard work and passion, one can transcend any adversity and reach unimaginable heights.

Layoffs in tech are gutting the industry and placing progress on pause for thousands of workers. 

According to techcrunch.com, tech industry downsizing in 2023 already includes:

• Meta—Announced in April expectations of laying off 10,000 jobs over the coming months. This comes on top of 11,000 positions cut in November.
• Amazon—27,000 job cuts.

With uncertainty landing hard on the tech sector, the need to sharpen job skills and navigate the job market has rarely been more important. 

This is where Product Gym is playing a game-changing role as a gateway to tech career triumphs. With extensive experience in a range of skills related to finding a job and succeeding in that position, as well as planned partnerships, the Product Gym team has embarked on a mission to help individuals succeed in tech careers. 

Led by visionary founder Cody Chang, Product Gym has differentiated itself from the competition with its two simple goals—to teach clients how to thrive in a tech job, then help them secure a tech job. 

Individuals transitioning from more than two dozen fields into tech will find that Product Gym delivers support, guidance and results. These fields include chemical process engineering, management consulting, marketing and mortgage underwriting. And in a testament to Product Gym’s resiliency, students have continued to receive interview and job offers despite the downsizing and hiring pause in tech.

Cody was inspired to launch Product Gym because he could not find a marketplace option that met his needs for skills instruction and job placement. Available options only offered instruction on skills that would be relevant after landing a job. And none of the available options featured instructors or a curriculum for someone who transitioned into tech from a non-technical background. 

So, Cody decided to launch a startup for those seeking a strategy, skills instruction and career training to change careers or get a job. Ensuring success as much as possible is the background of this thought leader and his partners—who have worked in tech, from junior individual contributors all the way to senior leadership responsible for hiring. 

As Product Gym differentiates itself from the competition by laying the groundwork for its clientele to secure a job, it operates on two parallel tracks. These are Skills Development and Career Acceleration, which complement each other.

The Skills Development track emphasizes the mindset, knowledge and skills needed to succeed on the job. The Career Acceleration track offers support and provides the tools needed to communicate values to employers, as clients generate, secure and negotiate job offers. 

Both learning tracks fit in nicely with circumstances established by Product Gym’s recent merger with Technosoft Academy. 

Product Gym’s expertise in Product Management jobs and Technosoft’s expertise in QA Automation set the stage to build out multiple verticals, including Full Stack Engineering, AR and VR, data science and a tech management immersive. All of this is supplemented by AI adaptive learning technology built in-house, with plans in the works to expand into additional verticals. The Product Gym’s AI learning platform not only allows its coaching staff to 10X their output, but also improve participant learning and engagement, allowing them to vastly accelerate their speed to interviews and offers. 

Product Gym’s classes are offered in live and recorded formats and offer a breadth of learning with more than 20 product, business and career courses. Classes are taught by industry leaders. And throughout the months-long program, Product Gym offers feedback on resumes, and interview and negotiation coaching, as it tracks the progress of all participants.​

Expanding Product Gym’s reach as an educational institution is its plan for accreditation. 

“Once we are accredited,” Cody said, “what we want to do is approach other universities and educational nonprofits and say, ‘We can offer this Full Stack Engineering or product management program, and because we’re accredited, and you’re accredited, we can partner with the university for these credits.’” 

Cody expects Product Gym to become an accredited educational institution in 2023. 

Another type of partnership Product Gym is pursuing is with other tech boot camps and tech member organizations that also provide educational services. Cody is proud of Product Gym’s high placement rate when it comes to jobs, and believes this can play a pivotal role in establishing partnerships.

“We can partner with other educational companies, colleges and universities, nonprofits, to let them do what they do best—focus on the instruction and teaching,” Cody said. “But why not let us handle all the placement for you—per student, per cohort, at a B2B level?”

So what do Product Gym’s members think of the operation?

“In my case, I had done so much in my career that I had a hard time showcasing the skills that mattered,” said Randal Romell, now a Principal Product Manager with True ML. “I was too spread out. 

“Product Gym helped me improve my pitch in terms of what I brought to the table, depending on what the interviewer or company that was hiring me wanted. It’s that ‘less is more’ philosophy. I really think having that help, by talking to other members, coaches and mentors, really helped me refine my strategy, add that finesse in terms of showcasing what matters, and really sticking with the ‘less is more’ philosophy.”

Visit productgym.io to learn more. 

Chinmay Sahu, a prominent computer vision research scientist at Thales DIS USA, Inc., has become a leading authority in the field of computer vision, particularly in the domain of biometric algorithms. With his innovative research work in iris recognition, latent fingerprint identification, and facial recognition bias mitigation, Chinmay has established himself as a distinguished researcher and innovator. His contributions have not only advanced the field but have also fostered fairness and inclusivity in biometric identification systems. 

Chinmay’s notable contribution to the field of iris recognition has garnered widespread recognition for his employer. His pivotal role in enhancing the performance of single-eye-based iris recognition for identification, as demonstrated in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) organized IREX-10 submission, secured his organization the second rank among more than 14 vendors and 30 participating SDKs on an ongoing NIST-organized evaluation. Through his dedicated focus on iris recognition, a contactless and exceptionally precise biometric modality, he has played a pivotal role in advancing the development of a secure and dependable solution for iris-based recognition and identification objectives.

In addition to his work on iris recognition, Chinmay’s expertise extends to the crucial area of latent fingerprint recognition and identification. This field plays a vital role in crime scene investigations. His research techniques have paved the way for more accurate and efficient latent fingerprint identification, aiding law enforcement agencies and forensic experts in their quest for justice.

Chinmay’s impact in the field of biometric identification extends beyond individual modalities. He has played a significant role in the biometric algorithmic development of the iris-based recognition system, a crucial part of the Multimodal Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), that caters to a wide range of applications, including law enforcement agencies, defense and intelligence organizations, criminal justice services, border control units, attendance management systems, and Fly2gate services within the aviation industry. The ABIS empowers field officers with rapid identity verification, enabling informed decision-making in critical scenarios.

Chinmay’s Ph.D. research at Clarkson University focused on mitigating bias in facial recognition algorithms.  His research endeavor involved the development of an interpretable skin tone estimate, which promoted fairness and reduced performance disparities across different demographics. By enabling facial recognition applications to foster inclusivity and equity, Chinmay along with his fellow researchers has instilled public trust in these systems, ensuring they serve all individuals fairly and accurately.

In addition to his work in biometric modalities, Chinmay explored keystroke dynamics as a unique method for identifying multiple users accessing shared applications. By leveraging typing keystroke patterns, Chinmay developed an innovative approach that provides continuous user authentication, complementing existing security systems such as password schemes. This unobtrusive method simplifies the login process, enhances the customer experience, and eliminates the need for users to navigate complex authentication procedures.

Chinmay Sahu’s unique contributions to the field of computer vision and biometric algorithms have solidified his position as a prominent researcher and innovator. Through his work in iris recognition, latent fingerprint identification, facial recognition bias mitigation, and keystroke dynamics, Chinmay has made notable contributions in the field and paved the way for secure, fair, and efficient biometric identification systems. His dedication to fairness and security sets a remarkable example for researchers and practitioners in the field, emphasizing the importance of ethics and inclusivity in cutting-edge technology.

Chinmay’s accomplishments include developing a top-ranking iris recognition algorithm evaluated by NIST, USA, which has significantly improved the accuracy and reliability of identification systems. His expertise in latent fingerprint identification has enhanced the capabilities of law enforcement agencies and forensic experts, aiding in criminal investigations. Moreover, his research on mitigating bias in facial recognition algorithms has addressed a crucial issue, ensuring that these systems treat individuals from all demographics fairly and without discrimination.

His contributions to the biometric domain showcase Chinmay’s commitment to providing comprehensive solutions for various industries. His contributions to versatile biometric systems have empowered field officers in law enforcement, defense, and intelligence agencies, among others, enabling rapid and reliable identity verification.

Chinmay’s innovative approach to user identification through keystroke dynamics has simplified the login process and enhanced security for shared applications. By leveraging typing patterns, he has created a continuous user authentication method that eliminates the need for complex password schemes and improves the overall customer experience.

Chinmay’s journey to becoming a renowned computer vision researcher began with his early experiences as a software designer at Alstom Transport India Ltd. His proficiency in C# programming was instrumental in the success of projects related to off-board security management tools for metro train systems. This experience, combined with his master’s program in process control and HVAC systems, has provided him with a diverse skill set and a deep understanding of various domains.

In summary, Chinmay Sahu’s exceptional contributions to the field of computer vision and biometric algorithms, combined with his dedication to fairness and security, have solidified his position as a distinguished researcher and innovator. His work in iris recognition, latent fingerprint identification, facial recognition bias mitigation, and keystroke dynamics has not only advanced the field but has also fostered inclusivity, equity, and trust in biometric identification systems. Chinmay’s passion for ethics and his commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology make him a true pioneer in the field of computer vision.