Chirag Chinmay

University of Washington, Foster School of Business

“Passionately curious problem-solver, perpetually powered by coffee, cultures, cuisines, and clunky quips.”

Hometown: Bhubaneshwar, India

Fun fact about yourself: I have a personal library of over 200 books—almost exclusively fiction, with a strong bias toward science fiction. It’s eerie how stories that once seemed like pure imagination are slowly becoming reality, and that sense of possibility keeps me hooked. Reading sci-fi isn’t just entertainment for me; it’s a way to stimulate my mind and explore ideas beyond the present.

And when I’m not lost in books, I’m probably deep into an anime binge. With over 6,000 watch hours under my belt, I like to think of it as my version of “active recovery”—strictly for de-stressing, of course. (If watching an entire season in one sitting counts as self-care, I’m practically a wellness guru!)

Undergraduate School and Degree: Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology – Bachelor of Technology: Information Technology

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Micron Technology, Singapore – Storage Security Firmware Team

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? Amazon Web Services: Senior Product Manager – External Services, Seattle

Where will you be working after graduation? Amazon Web Services: Senior Product Manager – External Services, Seattle

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• VP of Technology, MBA Association
• VP of External Communications, Foster Net Impact
• VP of Professional Development, Foster Technology Club
• First-Year Representative, Foster Consulting Society
• MBA Ambassador, Foster School of Business (2023-2025)
• Contributing Writer, Foster Blog and Magazine
• Recipient of the Evert McCabe Endowed Fellowship, Brian F. Dammeier Endowed Fellowship and Dean’s Merit Scholarship
• Leeds Sustainability Case Competition – University of Colorado Boulder – Finalist
• Tepper Innovation Challenge – Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh – Finalist
• Stock Pitch Competition – University of Washington Seattle – Third Place
• Foster MBA Case Competition – University of Washington Seattle – First Place

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school?  One of my proudest achievements during business school has been representing UW Foster in case competitions! Our team made it to the finals in both the Leeds Sustainability Case Competition at the University of Colorado and the Tepper Innovation Challenge at Carnegie Mellon University.

Competing alongside my teammates was an incredible learning experience. At the Leeds competition, we developed a strategic roadmap for sustainable energy sourcing, diving deep into renewable energy trends and corporate sustainability initiatives. For the Tepper competition, we designed an AI-powered recruiting solution, tackling challenges at the intersection of technology and talent acquisition.

Beyond the competition itself, the experience was invaluable—we met so many interesting people from MBA programs across the country and industry professionals, expanding our network while celebrating our successes. We also had a blast exploring the campuses, soaking in the vibrant atmospheres of both business schools, and sharing plenty of laughs along the way. Learning, presenting, and getting our pitches validated by judges across multiple rounds gave me the confidence, exposure, and insight to apply my transferable skills across industries.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Coming from semiconductor research at Samsung Research and Micron Technology, I don’t think there was a single dull project I worked on. We were constantly pushing the boundaries of cutting-edge technology, and my proudest accomplishment was securing two US patents for my ideas. In the race to develop more efficient, low-latency, and reliable storage solutions, innovation was everything. I collaborated with teams across India, the US, and South Korea—brainstorming, prototyping, and iterating to bring novel solutions to life.

There was no roadmap—just a vision—so I had to get comfortable with ambiguity, question everything, and think critically to drive innovation forward. Securing these patents wasn’t just about having ideas; it was about execution, problem-solving, and teamwork in a high-stakes, fast-paced environment. I have worked on multiple “world-first” products—some that are still not commercially available because the industry isn’t ready yet. The experience taught me resilience, adaptability, and how to navigate complex technical and business challenges—skills that have been invaluable in my career. Looking back, it’s incredibly rewarding to know that my work has contributed to shaping the future of storage technology.

Why did you choose this business school? If I had to sum up my choice in one word, it would be community. From the very beginning of my MBA journey, I reached out to current students to learn more about Foster, and the response rate was unmatched. This responsiveness wasn’t just about accessibility—it was a testament to Foster’s deeply ingrained pay-it-forward culture. Whether it was students taking the time to answer my questions, alumni offering career insights, or the admissions team reinforcing my cohort fit, I felt a strong sense of belonging even before applying.

The biggest pillar in my decision was my partner, Shivani Tripathi, who graduated from Foster in 2022. She was instrumental in my entire MBA journey, providing invaluable insights and encouragement every step of the way. Through her, I got my first inside view into what made Foster special. Foster MBAs are genuinely invested in each other’s success, openly sharing their knowledge and supporting one another’s growth. Since joining, that sense of connection has only strengthened. Learning alongside classmates from diverse backgrounds and experiences has been one of the most enriching aspects of my MBA, broadening my perspective and deepening my understanding in ways I never expected.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? My favorite MBA professor was Elizabeth Blankespoor, who taught my core Financial Accounting class. With no background in accounting, I was initially intimidated, but her passion for teaching and commitment to ensuring we understood the material made all the difference. She encouraged us to ask questions no matter how trivial they seemed (believe me, I had plenty!), integrated real-world examples from the FASB and Fortune 500 companies, and designed assignments grounded in practical applications. Her course not only gave me confidence in accounting but also proved invaluable during my internship, where I created a P&L for my project. Her class truly had a lasting impact on my MBA journey.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite course was Consumer Marketing and Brand Strategy by Professor Mark Forehand. I was literally on the edge of my seat every single class. The course explored consumer psychology and brand strategy, which resonated deeply with my fascination with the human psyche and how the minds of consumers work. We explored how emotions, affiliations, and psychological triggers shape consumer behavior and influence decision-making. This deep dive into consumer psychology helped me understand how brands can leverage these subconscious drivers to build more authentic and impactful connections with their audiences. The course not only sharpened my marketing skills but also deepened my ability to think strategically about creating human-centered brand strategies that resonate on a deeper emotional level.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Looking back, I wish I had taken advantage of more of the incredible courses and programs Foster offers—especially in the venture capital space. Not because I regret what I did, but because there was so much more I could have explored. Foster has fantastic opportunities like the Venture Fellows program, where students work with VC firms, and Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), where startups seek incubation support. Many of my friends participated in these, and hearing about their experiences made me realize how much I could have learned (and how much fun they had!).

What is the biggest myth about your school? Foster is a “Product School.” Oh no—Foster is so much more! While product management is a strong path, students pursue careers in consulting, operations, strategy, finance, VC, marketing, investment banking, retail, healthcare, and more. Many start thinking they’ll go into product but discover a better fit elsewhere. And it’s not just tech—Foster grads land in CPG, sustainability, biotech, oil & gas, banking, and beyond.

The support at Foster extends far beyond the classroom. Career Management helps students navigate different recruiting pipelines, while student-run clubs provide hands-on preparation through case prep, mock interviews, networking events, and mentorship across industries. Whether through coursework, career coaching, or peer support, Foster equips students to thrive in a variety of roles and industries.

What movie or television show best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? Silicon Valley best reflects the realities of business in the tech startup world. It humorously portrays the challenges of product development, securing venture capital, scaling a business, and navigating competition. The show emphasizes resilience, adaptability, and the importance of a strong, aligned team. It also highlights how crucial timing and the right investors are to success. While exaggerated, the show provides valuable insights into the fast-paced, high-risk world of startups.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? Foster has done a fantastic job integrating AI across the curriculum. While we have dedicated courses like Machine Learning in Business and Business Applications of LLMs and Generative Models, where we learn to build and apply AI models to solve business problems, AI is also woven into nearly every subject. Professors actively discuss its use and impact, making AI a core part of the learning experience.

I’ve explored how AI accelerates design and reduces waste in fashion (Global Business Forum class), optimizes supply chains for dynamic planning and sourcing (Operations class), and enables cost-effective customer segmentation (Customer Analytics class). Foster provides countless opportunities to not just understand AI but to evaluate, apply, and leverage it—an essential skill for the future of business.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Gabriel Yeung. How often do you meet someone who is meticulous in research, brilliant in design, deeply understands tech, delivers flawless presentations, solves big problems with creativity, builds intricate financial models in no time, juggles ten different projects at once, is friends with everyone, and still finds time to grab a beer with you?

Gabe and I met on the first day of the MBA program as first-quarter teammates, and we’ve done so much together—solving cases, winning multiple case competitions, and supporting each other through recruiting. He gives 200% to everything he does, openly shares his knowledge, and always finds ways to help the community. I deeply respect how he manages so many priorities while still lifting up those around him. I’ve learned so much from him, and I’m grateful to call him a friend.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1) Build a product from 0 to 1 and launch it at AWS re:Invent. Bringing an idea to life, iterating through customer feedback, and finally seeing it unveiled on a global stage is a dream I want to achieve.

2) Start a free, community-powered product network for MBA students. I want to create an open platform where MBAs can learn, explore, and (if interested) transition into product management—without barriers. A space where mentorship, knowledge sharing, and real-world insights help make product careers more accessible to everyone.

What made Chirag such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“Chirag’s commitment to helping others succeed made an enormous impact in his time at Foster. He helped open new career paths to classmates by leveraging his tech industry experience in multiple volunteer leadership roles. He wrangled an exceptionally well-attended and highly-rated workshop series for aspiring product managers, and spent countless hours conducting mock interviews to help classmates get much-needed practice.

All this, and yet Chirag was able to be an impactful and sought-after teammate as well, whether in case competitions or in class project groups.

Chirag embodies the three traits I most seek when hiring in industry: hungry, humble, and smart. I’ll be cheering him on as he embarks on his career at Amazon, and expect he’ll continue to serve others wherever he goes.”

Jenne Pierce
Affiliate Instructor – Strategic Product
Foster School of Business, University of Washington

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2025

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