Empowering The Next Wave of Digital Leaders With Technology Masters

Keisha Johan’s startup pivoted. Archana Tatavarthi wanted a career change. Baargav Duggirala needed to understand the technical advancements impacting his clients.  

Their careers found new direction, thanks to Purdue University’s innovative business and technology master’s program, the Master of Business and Technology (MBT).

Described as “the intersection of business and technology,” the MBT combines elements of the classic MBA with emerging technologies, programming, code writing, advanced cybersecurity protocols and website design. The program, offered online and at both the West Lafayette, Indiana, and Indianapolis campuses, is designed to allow participants to customize both sides of the equation to meet their career goals.   

A SHIFT IN MINDSET  

Rob Elliott, the assistant clinical professor of management who teaches the MBT’s Industry Experience course, calls the MBT “a shift in mindset.”  

“The biggest difference with MBT is that we are looking at this from a technology-first perspective,” Elliot said. “What is the latest and greatest emerging technology and how does that fit into a business? Whereas MBA people are thinking about it from a business perspective: how can I maximize value and increase ROI? Is there a technology that can help me do that?” 

“I fully believe the MBA students could identify a problem, break it down, identify the solution, prepare all of that documentation and justification, budget, resources, all that kind of thing,” he said. “MBT students do all of that and execute it.” 

FROM STALLED STARTUP TO CONFIDENT RELAUNCH 

Keisha Johan had long dreamed of following in her father’s entrepreneurial footsteps. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in finance, years of consulting experience and the capital to launch her startup, she thought she had everything she needed to succeed. 

But within weeks, her business stalled, forcing Johan and her team to pivot. 

She said she understood the business side of entrepreneurship but lacked the technical knowledge to bring her ideas to life. 

“It was the cost and the time, plus my lack of technical knowledge during project management,” Johan said. “I realized what I was missing. I’m mostly a management-operations-strategy, but I wanted to know how to actually build things.” 

That realization led her to the MBT, where she learned how to code and build websites and apps securely.   

While studying at the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Johan put those skills into practice, revising her business plan and rebuilding the website herself. She and her business partner also secured a round of funding, laying the groundwork for a successful relaunch. 

Two months after graduation, they relaunched Habita, a web-based platform that helps people relocating to Los Angeles screen potential rentals. With the website up and running, Johan and her business partner are already planning to expand into other major cities. 

“I’m now equipped to build what I need with extra efficiency and plentiful resources at way less cost. Previously, app development took 6 to 12 months with a team of engineers. Now, I spearhead that development, have my engineers work more efficiently managing AI, and cut down time to 3 months.” 

OPENING THE DOOR TO DOORDASH 

For Archana Tatavarthi, the MBT program was the key that unlocked the door to her dream job in strategy and operations at DoorDash.    

An on-campus internship at a research center gave her experience in solving business problems with real companies, including a major company in Indianapolis.  A student support professional helped her do numerous mock job interviews, preparing her for multiple, intensive rounds of interviews at DoorDash. And in her DevOps course, a group project involving role play helped her understand different business roles and the tech side of business strategy.  

Those skills helped her navigate the strenuous hiring process at DoorDash, where she competed against numerous qualified candidates and completed multiple rounds of interviews.  

Tatavarthi described the  MBT as a critical experience that helped her “take ownership” over new tools and processes. Now, she leverages AI tools at DoorDash to integrate workflows with tech and get insights that help her execute business strategy.  

She attributes many factors to her success — her years of experience working in investment banking and financial tech in India, her preparedness while she was looking for a position, a bit of luck and her decision to earn a graduate degree.   

“My advice would be to focus on getting real-world experience in your program,” Tatavarthi said.  

“Work with real companies and leverage your time on campus to pursue opportunities. Grab any opportunity that you can get. And think from a recruiter’s perspective — think, ‘why should I be hired for this role?’ and try to answer that question.”  

UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF TECHNOLOGY 

It was curiosity that prompted MBT grad Baargav Duggirala, a self-described “guy who’s been on the business side of tech companies,” to enroll in the MBT program. 

Duggirala began his career as an analyst at an international consulting firm in 2013. Participating in the Stanford Ignite program for innovation and entrepreneurship introduced him to the startup ecosystem and changed his career path. He helped early-stage startups get innovative products to customers.  

As AI began transforming the technology landscape, Duggirala said he realized a deeper understanding of technology could be powerful, even in roles focused on business.  

“I wanted a business degree, but I was not fully convinced,” he said. “Having that technology element felt like I’d have that edge and understanding.” 

Duggirala, who knew Purdue’s reputation from friends who attended over the years, discovered the MBT program as he was researching his options.  

“I understood the implementation of technology at a very abstract, very high level (before the program),” he said. “But I was able to go deeper and understand the nuances of it.”  

 “These experiences offered an opportunity to explore and apply technologies that were still emerging. A year later, many of those applications have become increasingly common in the business world.” 

In a venture fund elective, he and his classmates worked with venture capitalists to evaluate startups. Duggirala developed an AI application that identified promising, but unknown startups to help investors evaluate and prioritize deal flow. That experience prepared him to build even more sophisticated apps  and gave him skills he still uses today. 

“This was a good balance between the business world and understanding technology, which I believe is going to be super important as we move forward,” Duggirala said. “This gave me an edge.”  

Now based in San Francisco, Duggirala works on go-to-market strategy and strategic partnerships for an international company that provides billing and monetization infrastructure for software businesses. 

He said the technical knowledge he gained through the MBT helps him engage “more deeply” with customers and apply AI in his own work, scaling initiatives and workflows that previously required substantial time and effort. 

HEAR FROM MBT STUDENTS AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS 

As AI, data and emerging technologies continue to reshape industries, professionals are looking for ways to develop the skills needed to navigate these changes. 

Join Purdue University’s Master of Business and Technology program on November 12 at 7 p.m. ET for Leading Through Digital Transformation: How AI, Data & Emerging Technology Are Changing Business. 

Hear firsthand perspectives from MBT students and industry professionals as they discuss emerging technologies, real-world business challenges and the skills needed to lead in an evolving digital landscape. 

Register for the Free Webinar

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