Testimonial: Anshuman Kumar (MIIPS '16)
By Jordyn Pike
Master of Integrated Innovation for Products & Services ‘16
Head of Hardware at Matic Robots
Anshuman Kumar mastered product design in the MIIPS program, transitioning from engineering to a holistic leadership role at Matic by bridging the how and why.
Time in the MIIPS Program
Anshuman Kumar’s undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering taught him how to build technically sound solutions. However, this left gaps in his knowledge. He wanted to understand the why behind solutions and what users really desired. With a desire to work in product, Anshuman wanted to gain a more holistic approach to product design and to understand both the how and the why a product solves a problem.
That desire led him to the Master of Integrated Innovation for Products and Services (MIIPS) program, which taught him that different perspectives and expertise are required to build products that succeed. He learned to put the customer first rather than rely on the technology's efficacy, to ask questions, and to be curious. MIIPS surrounded him with the right peers and faculty and opened doors to opportunities that aligned with Anshuman’s career goals.
MIIPS also gave him exposure to different types of people, and he learned to work alongside peers with complementary skillsets, leading to more holistic ways to solve problems. Additionally, he found that the program introduced him to business and design, giving him a T-shaped skill set. He has depth in engineering, but has now developed awareness of other disciplines, making him a more well-rounded professional and a better leader.
By interacting with peers from design and business disciplines, Anshuman now feels confident that he can identify excellent work in both disciplines. This new skill is valuable for team building and understanding how to build a successful product.
During his time in the MIIPS program, some of Anshuman’s favorite memories were of his participation in Tesla’s Hyperloop competition, which reinforced his love of engineering and introduced him to the world of startups. The team that worked together was composed of Anshuman’s peers in the MIIPS program, and other CMU students, and out of 1,500 teams, they placed 8th. The experience connected him with industry professionals and introduced him to Tesla, where he would work after graduation.
Working as Head of Hardware & In Startups
Anshuman credits MIIPS with giving him experience and the skills necessary to work in startups. The program helped him work beyond engineering tasks and take a more holistic approach to product design and development. He currently works at Matic, an autonomous, effective floor-cleaning robot. The robot has an integrated system for sweeping and mopping, and essentially is a mini self-driving car for your house.
Before Matic Robots reached the level they are at now, Anshuman was one of the first employees at his current company and used his MIIPS education to facilitate the organization’s growth. His role has shifted since he started as an engineer, but back then, he implemented his MIIPS learning to put customers first. He decided to pause prototyping and conducted comprehensive customer interviews to learn about their preferences and how to design a solution that suited their needs. He found that this consumer research provided direction and clarity for the product’s journey and was critical to its development.
