ThePMGeeks

About Me

Hi, I’m Kusuma Kalyani Akkireddy

Engineering Leader | Program & Product Management | PMP® | SAFe® Product Owner/Product Manager | MBA Candidate at Michigan Ross

I’m an engineering and program management professional with a background spanning software engineering, automotive technology, product development, and technical program leadership.

Throughout my career, I’ve enjoyed working at the intersection of technology, people, and business — helping engineering teams turn complex requirements into practical solutions and successful outcomes.

Today, I lead engineering programs in the automotive software space, working across embedded software architecture and engineering platforms. My work involves bringing together architecture, development, quality, product, and business stakeholders to move initiatives from requirements and planning through execution and delivery.

From Software Engineer to Technical Leader

My career began in software development and gradually evolved into engineering and program leadership.

I’ve worked with technologies and engineering environments including Java, Spring Boot, Oracle, SQL, Git, Gerrit, Maven, Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Rhapsody, and MDWorkbench. That technical foundation continues to shape how I lead programs today.

It allows me to participate meaningfully in architecture and engineering conversations while also translating technical complexity into information that business leaders and stakeholders can use to make decisions.

My professional journey has included roles with Tata Consultancy Services, Populus Group, and General Motors, progressing from IT Analyst and Embedded Software Engineer to Software Tools Development Engineer and Senior Software Engineer.

How I Approach Leadership

I believe successful technology programs require more than good technology.

They require clear communication, thoughtful planning, collaboration, and the ability to connect people with different perspectives.

A large part of my work involves translating between teams — understanding what engineering teams need, helping platform teams turn those needs into solutions, and giving leadership the right information to make informed decisions.

My areas of focus include:

  • Technical Program & Project Management
  • Product Ownership & Product Management
  • Automotive and Embedded Software
  • Agile, Scrum & SAFe
  • Engineering Platform Strategy
  • Process Improvement & Workflow Design
  • CI/CD and Engineering Automation
  • Cross-functional & Global Team Leadership
  • Stakeholder Communication
  • Business & Technology Strategy

Continuing to Grow

I am a Project Management Professional (PMP®) and a Certified SAFe® Product Owner/Product Manager.

I’m also currently pursuing my MBA at the University of Michigan – Stephen M. Ross School of Business, with an expected completion in 2028.

I’m particularly interested in bringing together my engineering background with business strategy and product management. Rather than treating my MBA as something separate from my career, I look for opportunities to apply what I learn directly to the programs, products, and decisions I work on today.

What Drives Me

I’m most energized by challenges where technical understanding and business judgment need to come together.

Whether I’m coordinating a complex engineering initiative, improving a development process, working through a product decision, or helping stakeholders understand a technical challenge, I enjoy creating clarity and helping teams move forward.

As I continue my career, I’m especially interested in opportunities across product leadership, technical program management, strategy, automotive technology, mobility, and industrial software.

Beyond the Job Title

Technology has been an important part of my career, but I believe long-term leadership is ultimately about people.

I value continuous learning, thoughtful communication, collaboration, and being willing to understand a problem from more than one perspective.

My journey from hands-on software engineering to technical program leadership — and now business education — continues to shape how I think about building products, leading teams, and solving meaningful problems.

Let’s Connect

I’m always happy to connect with professionals interested in technology, engineering leadership, product management, automotive innovation, and business strategy.

Whether you’d like to exchange ideas, discuss an interesting challenge, or simply expand your professional network, feel free to reach out.

Kusuma Kalyani Akkireddy, PMP®, MBA Candidate
Detroit Metropolitan Area