Careers at PSI I was amazed at how many people can talk so enthusiastically about production management

Akriti, what I always wanted to ask you, is it true that you helped organize a flash mob dance at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin?

I’m astonished at how many people are jogging on the streets in Berlin. I think it’s nice but it’s not for me. I prefer Bollywood Dance. These dances are influenced by Indian movies. It’s a good workout and a lot of fun! Yes, in summer, we even organized a Bollywood Dance flash mob with a few people at the Brandenburg Gate.

Let's start from the beginning. Where are you from?

Difficult to say – I lived in multiple cities and meanwhile I feel like a digital nomad. Is my home where my parents come from – Kashmir? Or where I was born – Udhampur? Where I grew up and studied – Jammu, Delhi? Where I started to work – Delhi (multiple cities in India) or in Berlin where I am living now? I honestly don’t know! Yet to find a place I can call my home.

Did you already taste the famous Berlin “Curry Sausage”?

Yes, my colleagues told me that an old woman created this sausage years ago. She needed to sell the burned sausages so she put on a spicy curry sauce to hide the burned flavor. For my Indian taste and my experience with chicken, lamb and mutton, it's not really spicy but interesting. I actually liked the curry more than the sausage itself.

How did you come to Berlin?

Sachin, my husband and I’ve studied Computer Engineering and had interesting jobs in India. I’ve already managed a team of developers and founded a startup. However, we have so many more opportunities in Europe. When Sachin got a good offer from a company in Berlin, we moved here without knowing much about the city.

I fear your mother was not happy when you decided to move to Berlin…

My mother is the most open-minded person I’ve ever met in my life! We were three girls and my mother ensured that we had a pleasant childhood and that all of us were able to make a gratifying career – two of us outside of India & one handling a successful business in India.

How did you hear about PSI?

I noticed the PSI office during a walk through downtown Berlin. The walnut logo and the big screen in the entrance hall caught my eye. It’s amazing that a software company is located in the very center of Berlin. 

And I've never had an interview before where the people read and checked my CV so carefully. None of the interviewers before were so interested in my personality. They were looking for a human being, not a candidate. That was an important reason for me to accept PSI’s offer.

What are your tasks at PSI?

I have two very interesting tasks.

First, I'm working with colleagues from the PSI AG, our mother company, on the so-called Digital Sales Service. We are already offering trainings and eLearnings via the AppStore and plan to expand that service for our customers in the future.

Another main task of mine is product management for the PSImetals Service Platform. The platform provides all necessary base functions for our product. It enables our customer and us to integrate different application and systems. 

I'm discussing with customers and colleagues their current and future needs for that service and with this information, we then create a roadmap and this is also great input for the development decisions for the next release.

With your six months at PSI, you already have a big responsibility.

You're right – the roadmap describes the development of our product. We need to offer the right solution for the needs of our customers. The decision is important for our success.

I almost went crazy when my boss asked me to present – after I’ve been six month with the company – the actual status of the roadmap at our UserGroup in front of 250 people. I was proud of his trust, but almost went crazy.

I was impressed by your professional presentation at the UserGroup.

Thank you – indeed, I’ve got lots of positive feedback. The UserGroup in Brussels was a great experience. I was amazed at how many people can speak so energetically and enthusiastically about production management for metals. Unbelievable! A big thank you to the entire organizing team that hosted this event under the Corona restrictions. I felt totally safe!

I received so much help and suggestions from colleagues, some of whom have more years of experience in the metals industry than I am old. My task was to understand this input, structure it and present it in an easily understandable form. It was a team effort.

How did you meet your husband?

It was a friendship turned into love and hence, marriage. Sachin and I know each other from our college days. We were good friends for many years, and then we started dating and finally got married. However, I never got a formal proposal from my now-husband (and not happy about it ;) )- it was a mutual decision to get married. 

What are you doing if you do not work or dance Bollywood?

My husband and I like to travel, which is not easy these days. 

I like to practice Indian culture not only by dancing but also by singing and writing. With my college choir, we used to have nice singing gigs at college fests and events. Today I have only lessons via Zoom. 

If I’m in the right mood, I even write short poems. The reflection of my life in a rhyme is reassuring for me.

Akriti, thank you very much. My best regards to your mother. I am sure she is proud of her daughters! I hope you and Sachin get to call Berlin your home and you'll present Bollywood dancing at the next PSI event.