Sribharat Mathukumilli
I currently lead GITAM Deemed to be University as President. Our goal is to build GITAM into a global top-100 University by 2040. Along this journey we started an exciting new school of public policy, Kautilya, that aspires to develop the future leaders and policymakers of the country.
The other boat I sail in, is public life. I currently serve as Member of Parliament, 18th Lok Sabha from Visakhapatnam (Vizag) on behalf of Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Vizag is the largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh and among the ten largest cities in the country by GDP. My goals for the city include helping transform the city into a major IT hub, enhancing road-rail-air connectivity, job creation for youth, addressing pollution and working with the central government on a few issues of strategic importance for the city.
Q: What is your position title(s)?
Member of Parliament – Lok Sabha, Visakhapatnam Constituency, Andhra Pradesh
President, GITAM Deemed-to-be University
Q: Academically, what made Purdue stand apart from other colleges you considered attending?
I don’t think I really thought that deeply when I was applying to college. I wanted to go to a top 10 engineering school and Purdue was one of them.
I loved my Industrial Engineering program at Purdue, and what I learned while there is an integral part of how I think and operate to this date. How to find a problem quickly? How to optimize? How to focus on quality and quantity in a balanced way? How to ensure that people are empowered so that they can be productive? How to pay attention to minute details? I can go on.
Q: How would you describe Purdue’s personality beyond its academic offerings?
Purdue welcomed me at a time when I was at a low point in life. It was a new beginning and a place where I rebuilt my confidence. Purdue provided the space and comfort for me to be free. A place where I made friends for life. I loved the small-town setting and the kindness I encountered with so many people who live and work there. Purdue took in many who applied but only those who worked hard and smart came out shining.
To this day when I visit campus, it’s a home away from home.
Q: What are four words that describe your Purdue experience?
Freedom, Transformative, Comfort, Special
Q: What advice would you give to other Indian students who are thinking about applying to Purdue?
While admissions has become much more selective, Purdue continues to have one of the highest Indian populations of U.S. universities. For those who want a place to learn and grow but be in an environment that is welcoming, familiar and diverse, think no further than Purdue. Get prepared to work hard, build deep friendships for life, and have fun that you may never have in life the same way again. Purdue has frozen tuition for over a decade so that cost isn’t a deterrent for deserving candidates to apply. And with the pay-it-forward approach, I hope those who go there repay the trust that Purdue has placed in them.
Q: If you could do it all over again, would you do anything differently?
If I think about the minute details, there may be many things I would do differently. I was a very different person back then. But those experiences and that special time is what has made me into who I am today. Some things that have changed me into who I am were due to the mistakes I made - laziness, being introverted, and sticking to a close group of friends, which were lessons for the future me.
So no, I don’t want to go back and do it again. Let that time remain as fond memories.
Q: Do you have any advice for the graduating class this year?
Embrace lifelong learning, curiosity, and adaptability. Prepare for an AI-driven future by honing skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, creativity, and interpersonal communication, as AI takes over routine and logical tasks.
Humanity will define the ethics and boundaries of AI as it disrupts the world - and I hope you all play a key role in shaping how that future will look. There is a scarcity of ethical, moral, and capable leadership across the board - please walk the path less taken and stand up for what is right and good.
Q: In your experience, what are the attributes of individuals who are most successful in your field?
In Higher Education, an ability and vision to foster leadership, cultivate a strong culture, and establish effective governance that attracts, develops, and supports exceptional faculty, students, and staff is helpful in the long run, rather than focusing excessively on short-term metrics and rankings.
In politics, I feel it is important to have a steady financial footing and an established career before deciding to venture into politics. And once in politics, the following attributes will serve one well:
The ability to empathize with and connect across a wide cross-section of citizenry.
Skill in networking and negotiating with political leaders, administrators, the private sector and citizens to address and expedite issues of public importance.
Staying informed on societal, economic, and technological developments and leveraging them to improve law-making.
In both spheres - always being open to feedback and ensuring that there are enough channels where people can reach you and feel that they are heard is critical. Being a bold decision maker and having an acquired instinct to lean in the right direction without falling prey to bias and fear will be critical too.
Q: Are there any courses at Purdue that you would recommend taking as part of preparation?
I can’t remember the specific course titles, but my freshman English course on writing, all my math courses, Engineering 126 on problem solving, the courses on optimization, quality control, ergonomics, and industrial economics, among a few others, were all courses in which I learned a lot.