I joined Smart Wires because I’ve always been fascinated by power flow control and how it can help integrate renewable energy into the grid. It’s something that I’ve been researching since my graduate days at Georgia Tech. In fact that’s where I first saw the distributed series reactor that Dr. Deepak Divan’s research team was working on (which later formed the basis for Smart Wires’ first commercial product), and realized the scale of impact that this type of technology could have on grids around the world.

Can you share more about your role as Product Development Director?

My role as Product Development Director involves cross-functional collaboration with the many teams across Smart Wires. I primarily work with our engineering, testing, manufacturing, sales, analytics and projects & services teams to define product and testing requirements for new products or features, and to help get them through the product development cycle and ultimately to the manufacturing floor so we can offer it to our customers. I also work closely with my manager Sugam Patel who also leads the commercial aspects of introducing new products, such as market sizing, program budgets etc. 

What aspect of your work are you most passionate about, and why?

I’m passionate about the role that we can play in supporting the transition to renewable energy and becoming less dependent on fossil fuels. We’re helping revolutionize transmission planning with our solutions, and that is exciting! Also as I mentioned earlier, I’ve always been drawn to power electronics and control systems. There’s something about the way energy flows and how it can be optimized with the right tools that resonates with me. It feels like I’m working on something that’s both technically challenging and incredibly important for the future.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

One of the biggest challenges of my role is negotiating between various internal teams that often have different constraints. For example, when aligning on which features to develop you have to understand the customers’ needs, analyze the costs and benefits, and the resources available across multiple different teams. However, once you collaborate effectively it’s possible to find the best path forward that satisfies everyone’s needs as much as possible.

On a personal level, it can be difficult to constantly switch between all the different teams, tasks, and technical disciplines that are involved in the diverse work streams I lead. Collaborative software and tools help me to stay organized and ensure that no critical tasks fall off my radar.

In your opinion, what sets Smart Wires apart from other companies in the industry?

We still have our Silicon Valley roots in terms of innovation and speed, which means that we have quite a different approach to product development than most legacy grid equipment providers. We move quite fast and that agility can be a huge advantage. Our culture is very collaboration-oriented and we have an amazing group of people working here which is really needed to become a leader in our industry.

Outside of your day-to-day work, what climate action inspires you?

As a new father, I’ve become more focused on what the future holds for the next generation, especially when it comes to energy concerns. I want to ensure my daughter grows up in a world where the grid is reliable and renewable energy is the norm. In my free time, my family and I enjoy exploring the parks, museums,  restaurants and cultural events around Durham, North Carolina. It’s a beautiful area!