Deepak Agrawal is a BITS Pilani (Goa, ’06) Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) graduate. He pursued his master's degree at UCLA, further enhancing his expertise in the field. After completing his education, Deepak gained significant industry experience, working for four and a half years at Oracle. He then worked at Goldman Sachs for three and a half years, a global leader in investment banking, securities, and investment management. Deepak is currently employed in the Market Risk Technology Department at Morgan Stanley, where he leverages his expertise in data and statistical analysis to develop new regulatory risk models and enhance existing ones.

BITS Pilani’s unique student-driven culture often fosters independence and innovation. Are there any specific moments or projects from your BITS Pilani days that resonate with you and have influenced your career?

BITS Pilani has always been very special to me. The atmosphere was amazing, with seniors and juniors constantly motivating each other. This shared inspiration made my time there much more rewarding. I also appreciated the freedom to choose electives, which allowed me to focus on the subjects that interested me most.

One of my best experiences was working on a project to build a high-performance cluster on Linux with Dr. Bharat M. Deshpande in distributed computing. His guidance was invaluable and taught me a lot about solving real-world problems. The knowledge I gained from these projects and his support were valuable and helped me grow academically and professionally.

BITS Pilani offers a range of clubs and departments that enrich campus life. Were you involved in any, and how did these experiences contribute to your professional journey?

I decided to step out of my comfort zone by participating in clubs related to communication. I participated in debates and wrote essays, and these experiences helped me improve my soft skills. I realized that strong communication skills are just as crucial for success as possessing good technical expertise. These activities allowed me to develop the confidence and ability to express myself more effectively, which has been valuable in my personal and professional life.

You’ve been part of several impactful roles in your career. Have you introduced any initiatives or strategies that made a lasting impact?

In my current role, one of my primary responsibilities is optimizing the computation time of our calculation engine. Through detailed analysis and targeted improvements, I have successfully reduced computation time by approximately 50%, leading to enhanced efficiency and faster result generation for risk managers. To accomplish this, my team and I focused on identifying system bottlenecks and pinpointing components that can be parallelized, addressing areas where performance is hindered or inefficient.

Additionally, I conducted comparative analysis by running multiple tests, often iterating through different configurations and methods. This process allowed me to evaluate various approaches and continuously refine the system, always moving forward with the best possible results to improve overall performance and meet the project's goals.

Given your experience in technology, how do you see technology driving business innovation, particularly in emerging markets like India?

With the help of generative AI, we can quickly create Proof of Concepts (POCs), which greatly speed up our process. This allows us to test whether an idea is feasible in a short amount of time and assess the potential market risk. Moreover, it makes prototyping much more manageable, enabling faster iterations and improving the overall efficiency of the development process.

How did your experience at BITS Pilani prepare you for the transition from College institution to professional work life?

BITS Pilani played a crucial role in teaching me how to balance multiple responsibilities, including being part of different clubs, handling internships, and maintaining a social life. The rigorous academic schedule and extracurricular activities meant I had to manage my time effectively to stay on top of everything. This experience helped me develop essential time-management and organizational skills.

Balancing so many different aspects of life taught me how to prioritize tasks, stay focused, and avoid feeling overwhelmed. It acted as a trial run for the real work-life experience, where managing multiple projects, meeting deadlines, and finding time for personal connections are all key components. The ability to juggle these responsibilities while remaining productive and engaged has been extremely valuable, and it's something I continue to rely on in my professional life.

How did you make use of your 4 years of engineering at BITS Pilani?

I knew that pursuing a master’s degree was my next step, as I had a clear vision of where I wanted to go. During my time at BITS Pilani, I became a teaching assistant for two courses, strengthening my understanding of the subjects and giving me the chance to contribute to the academic environment. I focused only on projects that genuinely interested me, keeping me motivated and engaged. One of the projects I worked on was based on distributed computing, and another involved the design of operating systems. Both projects gave me valuable hands-on experience and helped me align my work with my long-term goals.

Having progressed into a leadership role, how do you mentor and guide younger professionals to excel in their careers?

I advise anyone starting to focus on getting your basics clear. A solid foundation in the fundamentals is crucial, as it will support everything you learn and do moving forward. Once you have your basics down, it is essential to keep an open mind. The tech industry is constantly evolving and being flexible and receptive to innovative ideas will help you stay ahead. Also, be open to criticism - view it as an opportunity for growth rather than a setback. Constructive feedback enables you to refine your skills and improve your performance.

One of the most important things I have learned is the importance of continuous learning. The world of technology never stops changing, so staying updated with new tools, techniques, and trends is key to remaining relevant. Participating in competitions, like hackathons, is an excellent way to challenge yourself. These events push you to think on your feet, work under pressure, and collaborate with others, which helps you develop your technical (hard) and interpersonal (soft) skills.

Focusing solely on solving coding problems may enhance your technical skills, but it won’t teach you how to collaborate effectively or address real-world challenges. It is vital to go beyond theoretical exercises and start building something tangible. Collaborate with others to create projects and start looking for solutions to real-world problems. This will give you a much broader perspective and practical experience, which is essential in the real world.