The Bridge - Issue 2, 2023 - 35

Professional Profile
"
Today as a leading technologist,
HKN's core values and volunteer
experience strongly shaped my
vision and passion towards serving
underserved communities globally. "
HKN President Sampath Veeraraghavan with IEEE President (and HKN
member) Saifur Rahman
Why did you choose to study the engineering field
(or the field you studied)?
As a kid, science and math were my favorite subjects.
As a student, I was fascinated with problem solving
and applying my learned skills to solving real-world
problems. During my high school years, I was exposed
to computer programming and was thrilled to develop
software applications. This motivated me to pursue a
bachelor's degree program in computer science and
engineering from Anna University, India. After working
in the computer industry in India for a few years, I
pursued my Master of Science in electrical engineering
from Tufts University, Massachusetts, in the USA,
with a research focus on advanced computer vision
technologies.
What do you love about the industry?
As part of my journey in the industry, I enjoy solving
complex technological problems and delivering
innovative solutions that have broader positive
impacts on end-users. Throughout my career, I have
led business-critical strategic R & D programs and
successfully delivered cutting-edge technologies in
the areas of conversational artificial intelligence (AI),
natural language understanding, cloud computing, data
privacy, enterprise systems, infrastructure technologies,
and assistive and sustainable technologies. Currently, I
work in the area of conversational artificial intelligence,
where I lead a portfolio of key strategic programs. It's
fascinating to work on complex technology programs
and deliver solutions that touch the lives of millions
of people.
Have IEEE and HKN played a role in your career?
How? What does IEEE mean to you?
IEEE-HKN has been an integral part of my
professional and leadership journey. Throughout my
career, IEEE and HKN provided a strong pathway
to follow my passion in serving differently-abled
children, impoverished students, and women in
developing nations. Today, as a leading technologist,
HKN's core values and volunteer experience have
strongly shaped my vision and passion for serving
underserved communities globally. My journey
with IEEE started as a student member involved in
developing technological solutions to assist children
with autism. As a student, IEEE helped me find
mentors and like-minded people to guide my passion
to serve underserved communities through technical
solutions. As I grew in my career, IEEE-HKN provided
me with opportunities to spearhead several major
IEEE humanitarian programs and global committees
in engineering and science, which enabled me to
strengthen my leadership skills and expand on my
professional network. It is amazing to work with
key leaders from diverse cultures and technical
backgrounds. Most recently, I served as the global chair
of the IEEE Special Interest Group on Humanitarian
(SIGHT) program (2019-2020) and IEEE Humanitarian
Activities Committee (2021-2022), and led the
programs to record-breaking growth and impact.
What advice can you offer recent graduates
entering the field?
Never give up on your dreams. Be persistent. IEEEHKN
offers a portfolio of global resources to equip
yourself with the right skills and networking to become
a global citizen. Find a mentor who can guide you
toward your career aspirations. IEEE-HKN alumni are a
strong network of great leaders from different domains
and a great place to find your mentor. It's always day
one; keep learning new technologies in your field of
expertise and having fun with what you do.
HKN.ORG
35
https://hkn.ieee.org/
The Bridge - Issue 2, 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Bridge - Issue 2, 2023
