Student Spotlight: Making an Impact in The Community
Kai Suematsu (MSSM ‘25) is looking to make an impact in the world by applying his teachings from the MSSM program
By Hannah Brelsford
Kai Suematsu (MSSM ‘25) grew up in Denver, Colorado, and completed his undergraduate degree in business from Colorado University. After graduating, he worked as a consultant at Accenture, where he became involved in technical projects that inspired him to acquire more foundational technical knowledge to enhance his work.
Before starting these projects, Kai had no technical experience. He recalled, “During these projects, I was often asked to do things I felt unprepared for.” It was at that moment that Kai realized he needed to deepen his knowledge to gain a better understanding of the tasks at hand.
The degree he sought wasn't strictly technical; he wanted something that balanced his existing business experience. That's when Kai discovered the Master of Science in Software Management (MSSM) program at the Integrated Innovation Institute (iii) at Carnegie Mellon University.
“Having the confidence to speak to some of my ideas and building off that confidence to further my technical ability is something that the MSSM degree has done wonders for.”
The Fast Facts: A Summary of Kai’s Time in the MSSM Program
Finding a New Home in Silicon Valley 🏡
- Always numerous events going on for students
- The support from the professors at the iii
- Connections with MSSM alumni
Working in Industry 💼
- Business Architecture Senior Analyst at Accenture
- Connecting the dots between his education and his working experiences
- Ready to be a solution architect
A Desire to Make a Change 🤝
- Personal goals he carries with him
- Founder of the Kobu Foundation
- Passion for making an impact
- How he plans to use his MSSM skills to make a difference
What’s Next 🎓
- Graduating from the MSSM program
- Ready to relaunch himself in the workplace to make an impact
Finding a New Home in Silicon Valley
Before arriving at the iii, Kai was concerned about finding a community. Having moved so far from his home in Colorado, he was uncertain about whether he would be able to find a new place that felt like home.
Kai's doubts about finding a community vanished as soon as he arrived in the Bay Area, home to the MSSM program. Upon reaching Silicon Valley, he downloaded event apps to discover local happenings and made it a point to attend them, eager to engage with the community. He noticed that events were consistently taking place, providing an easy way to connect with like-minded individuals who were at similar points in their lives.
His favorite events were the numerous hackathons, gatherings designed for individuals to develop a specific product that addresses a problem in the industry. These events provide students with the chance to practice their skills and create essential solutions while working under pressure. Additionally, they offer excellent networking opportunities to connect with industry professionals.
Kai loves the moments spent outside of the classroom because of the energy he experiences in those environments. For him, these experiences reflect the dedication of the students, as they choose to engage in learning during their free time. It is his classmates who have made his time at the iii truly special.
He finds his experience to be particularly special not only because of his interactions with classmates but also because of his relationships with his professors. He appreciates the individualized learning approach, noting that professors are always available whenever students reach out for help. Kai feels that “all the professors do a wonderful job of supporting students and ensuring that they feel heard.”
The moments Kai has spent with the iii community have made Silicon Valley feel like a second home, even though it is a completely different environment from anything he experienced before.
Furthermore, iii alumni have been incredibly supportive during Kai's time in Silicon Valley. He remarked, “The alumni are very approachable and genuinely want to help. They have been in the same position as I am, so it has been great to connect with so many of them.” For Kai, the alumni understand the iii program and the Silicon Valley experience better than anyone else, and the insights he has gained from their experiences have significantly aided him on his own journey.
Working in Industry
Kai is currently a Senior Analyst in Business Architecture at Accenture, where he specializes in IT and consulting services. He previously worked at Accenture before taking a leave of absence to attend graduate school. However, he decided to return to work a bit earlier than planned while still completing his education.
“I have finally been able to connect the dots on many things that I was missing before,” said Kai, reflecting on how his education at the iii complemented his work experience at Accenture. He feels that the MSSM program helped fill the gaps in his knowledge from the past.
Currently, much of his work revolves around DevOps engineering, which requires him to spend significant time at his computer solving issues at the intersection of software and IT. With all he has learned and the industry experience he has acquired, Kai is now ready to transition back to a solution architect role.
“Those in the program have really reinspired my original goal of wanting to do good impact work and wanting to apply that through tech. I’m so grateful for everyone who has been part of the program.”
A Desire to Make a Change
Kai keeps a personal goals sheet in his wallet to remind him of what he values. Much of what is written on this sheet is the work he aims to accomplish to help others.
He has always been passionate about nonprofit work, with a long-term goal of making a significant impact through social entrepreneurship. In 2019, he founded the Kobu Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating change through meal delivery and scholarship programs. Under his leadership, the foundation has provided 280,000 meals across Colorado and awarded $21,000 in scholarships to students who actively contribute to their communities.
One of Kai's personal goals is to cover the entire college tuition for one student. He recognizes the profound impact that education has had on his own life and wants to extend that opportunity to someone else.
Kai believes that the skills he has been developing in the MSSM program align with his passion for nonprofit work. In all of his endeavors, he seeks out ways that technology can positively impact the world. Through the MSSM program, he has been building on his existing knowledge to understand what initiatives are already in place and how he can contribute to making a difference in this field.
He dedicates significant time to researching new technologies and their potential applications for creating a meaningful impact. He is optimistic about artificial intelligence and its ability to make a significant difference in humanitarian efforts. He believes that AI can help address the understaffing issues commonly faced in this field and relieve the pressure on workers who are affected by these challenges.
Kai is preparing for the new technologies on the horizon. He has developed a skill set to approach the innovations expected in the next decade. Additionally, he considers the potential impact of these new technologies and asks, “How can we apply them to maximize impact?” He believes that his MSSM degree supports this forward-thinking approach to problem-solving.
What’s Next
Outside of work and school, Kai enjoys discovering new places, trying different foods, and finding hidden gems. One of his favorite aspects of living in San Jose is being able to explore the city by running. His winters in Colorado were quite different, so he has come to appreciate this new experience.
The MSSM program aims to support Kai in relaunching his career and achieving the lifelong goals he keeps in his wallet. Kai is excited about what lies ahead, as the program has inspired him to do more and make a greater impact on the world using the toolkit he has developed through the MSSM program.
“Connecting my MSSM education to nonprofit work is something that I am looking to do. I am always looking for ways that technology can support impact work and help to scale that impact work as well.”