Roger Sam Kurian spent many years building up his career in the Information Technology (IT) Industry. Throughout this journey, he worked hard to ensure that he moved up in the industry, constantly taking extra time to gain further certifications. We sat down with Roger Kurian to discuss his journey from University to the professional world and discover what advice he has for IT students and aspiring IT professionals.
“My career started in India, where I completed my Bachelor’s at Bombay university. I was a stellar candidate and received a degree in Computer Engineering,” says Roger Kurian.
After completing his Bachelors degree, Roger Kurian began to look into his career prospects. At this time, he made a life-changing decision to further his education by pursuing a Master’s degree in the United States. He says, “I acquired a Master of Computer Science degree at the Kent State University College of Arts and Sciences. My thesis was called the benefits to management of using GQM (which stands for Goal Question Metrics), continuous GQM, and VGQM.”
With those degrees in hand, Roger Kurian began to pursue the various options available in the IT industry. He started by working a small job during his Master’s degree to introduce himself to the professional side of the IT world. “In my experience, I think it is always important to take baby steps and learn your way when building a career. So I started my career working in a small little jewelry company where they used a product called GraphicCAD Cimagraphy,” says Roger Kurian, reflecting on the early stages of his career.
At the start of his career, Roger Kurian had the opportunity to apply the technical skills he had gained throughout his education and learn new software that would become useful for his journey up the ranks in the IT industry. Roger Kurian says, “It was like an off-campus job. It was small, but it gave me good knowledge and exposure to the AutoCAD product.”
After he graduated and acquired his Master’s degree, Roger Kurian was able to further his career by becoming a programmer. “ As a programmer, I developed websites, and I did a lot of programming in C, C++, Java, JD, .NET, C#, ASP.NET, and some web services,” says Roger Kurian.
Through programming, Roger Kurian learned about the fundamentals of being an IT professional and developed an appreciation for the business side. He says, “That opened the doors to a business analyst role. A business analyst is a liaison between the business and technology side.”
With the ability to spread himself into various roles, Roger Kurian continued providing services as a business analyst. He soon began training people about the specifics of the business analyst role and how they could become successful. “I remember I did the training sessions in Agoura Hills, California, and also in New York with a company called Macro Technologies, because back then business analysis was a new role,” says Roger Kurian.
Through that role, he continued to advance his career. Soon he was able to add project and program manager to his resume, with the opportunity to work with various top firms such as Shell, Dominion Electric, and Louisville Gas and Electric (LGE).
Roger Kurian says, “My business analyst opportunities opened the doors to more project and program manager opportunities. I worked my way up, and in doing so, I learned everything it took to play all the ‘lower-level’ roles and used that knowledge to advise the person in that role. ”
Roger Kurian was able to build on his professional skills by taking the time to gain other certifications that would aid anyone looking to join the IT industry. He advises that incoming professionals take the time to learn various aspects of the IT industry, from the technology to the business side.
Roger Kurian advises, “I think Scrum right now is huge. So it’s essential to have certifications like the CSF (Certified Scrum Fundamentals), the CSM (Certified Scrum Master), the CSPO (Certified Scrum Product Owner). I was also involved in taking the PMP (Project Management Professional) certification at some point in time, I would strongly advise that as well.”
Roger Kurian emphasizes the importance of understanding finances, not just to further your career but to further yourself. He says, “I also think knowing the financial industry is useful. It gives you a broader perspective on the world or country equation regarding finance. It also helps you manage your finances better.”
The journey to becoming a professional in the IT sector can look different to each person. However, with the advice from Roger Kurian, you will be able to get ahead of the curve and figure out your specific niche in the IT sector but also have the knowledge and understanding to be flexible within your roles.
