Kishan Chalumuri
University of California Berkeley, Haas School of Business
Age: 41
“Engineer, founder, and father working to make manufacturing smarter—shaped by lessons from my family’s factory.”
Hometown: Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India
Family Members: Wife and a 3-year-old son
Fun fact about yourself: I did a time study on the salad line in Apple’s cafeteria to cut employee wait times during lunch—then used the same methods to turn our parking lots into COVID-19 testing centers.
Undergraduate School and Degree: Texas A&M University-Kingsville, M.S. in Industrial Engineering; Andhra University, BE in Industrial and Production Engineering
Where are you currently working? I’m the founder & CEO of PlaSiV, a software that helps electronics manufacturers cut costs and work better with their contract manufacturers.
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work, and Leadership Roles: Mentor to aspiring industrial engineers, helping with careers, interviews, and real-world projects; volunteer advisor to early-stage founders in industrial and manufacturing tech.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I started business school not even knowing how to structure a pitch deck. Now, I’m graduating with pre-seed funding for PlaSiV and pilot partnerships with some of the world’s largest electronics manufacturers. Turning classroom frameworks into real-world traction has been the most rewarding part of my MBA journey.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I built Apple’s first industrial engineering team and led digital transformation that saved over $1.2 billion in under eight years. But what meant the most to me was using those same skills to help people—designing COVID-19 testing and vaccination systems, supporting Apple’s medical teams, and helping turn Levi’s Stadium into a mass vaccination site for Santa Clara County. I am especially grateful to Apple’s operations leadership for trusting me with such a wide range of meaningful challenges.
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? I was committed to launching a startup and seriously considered both Berkeley Haas and a top East Coast school. After interviewing with both, the choice was clear: It had to be Haas. It’s in my backyard, deeply connected to the startup ecosystem, and UC Berkeley produces more startup founders and companies than any other university in the world.
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? I was trying to figure out how to solve a complex problem through my startup at scale. I spent an immersion week with Professor Sara L. Beckman on systems design. By the end of that week, I had a clear framework for how to not only tackle the problem but speak about it. That clarity gave me immense confidence to move my startup forward. Later, in the Global Network for Advanced Management, Professor Yuri Romanenkov’s course on platform ecosystems helped shape my product vision. I’ve applied both of their teachings directly to my pitch deck and the core features of our software.
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family, and education: During one of our busiest weeks, I was taking meetings from parking lots on the way to class, finishing homework late at night, and balancing family life. What kept me going was how directly each subject added value to my startup—and knowing I wasn’t alone. Many classmates were pushing even harder than me, and that was my biggest motivation. When I lost my mom to cancer last year, my cohort truly showed up. Friends checked in, invited me to dinners, and made sure I never felt alone. Beyond academics, I found a family that lifted me when I needed it most.
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? Be intentional. Know what you want—whether it’s a career shift or launching something of your own—and build around that goal. The two years go by faster than you think.
Which MBA classmate do you most admire? It’s tough to choose just one—each of my 62 classmates showed their brilliance at different points over the past 22 months. I was constantly surprised by how much I learned from them, both inside and outside the classroom. But if I had to choose, I’d pick Vijay Ramakrishnan. His humility, selfless support, and constant willingness to give his time for the good of the class were truly inspiring. He exemplified Berkeley Haas’ “Beyond Yourself” principle in everything he did.
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? I wanted to quickly learn what I needed and start building my startup. The EMBA struck the perfect balance—it was intense, practical, and suited me well. I also preferred being in person, where I could build real connections and learn directly from professors—something that just isn’t the same with online classes.
How did you finance your EMBA and what did you do to make tuition and associated costs more affordable? I had been saving for years to pursue entrepreneurship, and I chose to invest part of that in my education. After the first two semesters, I realized the true value I was gaining; spending my savings on this experience made complete sense.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My parents ran a small contract manufacturing business and often faced inefficiencies and complexity. That experience shaped my goal: to solve these challenges at scale for small- and mid-size manufacturers. My education and 17 years of industry experience have all been focused on this mission. Building my startup to deliver simple, practical solutions to the manufacturing world is what I’m fully committed to doing. It’s the one goal that drives everything I do.
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