Ingredients of Product Engineering Teams That Drive Business Success
Dr.Kalyan Kuppachi, Co-Founder and CEO, Utsuk, 0
Dr.Kalyan Kuppachi, Co-Founder and CEO, Utsuk, believes a strategy is only as effective as the team implementing it. His passion for organizational behavior inspired him to study hybrid work environments, engagement, and performance during his Doctor of Business Administration at the Indian School of Business (ISB). Dr. Kalyan is also a Post Graduate in General Management from XLRI Jamshedpur. Combining this stellar academic background with his almost three-decade-strong professional experience has enabled him to amalgamate academic understanding with real-world leadership strategies. In a recent interview with CEO Insights, Dr. Kalyan talked about his professional journey, leadership style, and more. Below are highlights from the exclusive interview.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your journey, and how did you overcome it?
The most significant challenge I faced was transitioning from being a successful corporate leader to becoming an entrepreneur and co-founding Utsuk. After spending over two decades in established organizations like Satyam, Cognizant, Accenture, Pramati, and others, the shift from operating within structured corporate environments to establishing a company from inception requires fundamentally different skills and mindset.
This transition wasn't just operational—it was deeply personal. Moving from executing strategies to building vision, culture, and sustainable business models forced me to confront long-held beliefs about leadership and control.
Continuous learning became my anchor. Pursuing my Doctorate in Business Administration at ISB challenged me to question my assumptions, cultivate a deeper sense of curiosity, and adopt a more holistic approach to continuous learning. The program to become an executive coach also enabled crucial self-assessment of my leadership patterns and blind spots.
The trusted relationships I built over the years became instrumental to Utsuk’s early success and played a role in being recognized among the top 10 CEOs from NIT Rourkela in 2025. Over time, I’ve learned to combine corporate analytical discipline with entrepreneurial agility, shaping Utsuk around the values of Collaboration, Character, and Competence.
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Tell us about Utsuk's inception, including tackling the initial challenges.
What began as an idea during one of the discussions with my co-founder Mohit has taken tangible form through deliberate unlearning and exploration. Utsuk was born from a shared desire to build a product engineering firm grounded in purpose — not just process. We envisioned a company built on values — Collaboration, Character, and Competence.These values were inspired by the ethics and principles I experienced at Pramati, which shaped my belief in building technology companies grounded in integrity and purpose.
After more than 25 years in corporate environments, I recognized a gap in how engineering teams were led and how clients were served in the technology space. We wanted Utsuk to be different— to create an environment where talented engineers could thrive and deliver meaningful outcomes, and where client partnerships were built on trust, not just timelines.
We entered knowing what every service company knows: revenue is the make-or-break challenge. But years of authentic client relationships made a difference. Business came not because we marketed hard, but because people trusted our intent.
We didn’t just want to “do tech right” — we wanted to reimagine how tech teams are led, empowered, and grown.
As a product engineering specialist, how do you make a difference for product engineering teams?
I build environments where technical talent can do their best work — not just ship fast. That starts with breaking silos, enabling deep cross-functional collaboration, and mentoring engineers to become true product leaders — not just task owners. What sets my approach apart is creating an environment where top talent thrives through meaningful collaboration and continuous growth. The key differentiator is integrating our clients as partners in this development process—our engineers co-author technical papers with industry leaders, participate in high-profile events, and contribute to open source projects with direct client involvement. This means our people aren't just executing tasks; they're building relationships with industry experts and tackling complex challenges that would be impossible in typical service models. This approach makes us incredibly attractive to top talent who want to be part of an ecosystem where innovation thrives through shared knowledge and mutual investment in success.
Also Read: Steps to Enhance Your Organization's Cyber Resilience
The difference I make isn't just in implementing better processes or tools—it's fundamentally about shifting mindsets: helping engineering teams see their work not just as code, but as a driver of business success, team health, and long-term client relationships. This transformation is guided by my core belief that "strategy is only as strong as the team that brings it to life," ensuring every technical decision supports both short-term goals and long-term vision.
What does a day in your life look like? How do you maintain a work-life balance?
My day starts early — often with a run or cycling session. It’s more than fitness — it’s how I reflect, reset, and prep for what’s ahead.
The core of my workday at Utsuk revolves around strategic leadership — from reviewing project progress with engineering teams to mentoring senior engineers as they grow into leadership roles. I work closely with clients to ensure our technical solutions align seamlessly with their business goals. A significant portion of my time is dedicated to one-on-one coaching — both internally and externally — helping leaders navigate growth and transformation.
My academic interests stay active throughout the week as well, whether through advisory sessions with Lamrin Tech Skills University or mentoring students at We Hub.
Evenings are reserved for family, especially supporting my son in his journey as an aspiring musician. Listening to his practice sessions, discussing his growth, and being part of his artistic exploration is one of the most fulfilling parts of my day.On weekends, I engage with the Hyderabad Runners Society, mentoring at community events, leading training programs, and staying socially active.
I approach work-life balance through integration rather than separation. Running is my form of active meditation, while coaching, community involvement, and family time all reinforce my professional growth. Embracing deliberate unlearning—central to Utsuk’s founding—helps me stay adaptable, question assumptions, and ensure each part of life strengthens the other.
Tell us about one of your biggest interests beyond business.
One of my core passions beyond business is sustainable community building - creating environments where people can thrive authentically while contributing to something greater than themselves. Whether I'm mentoring tech communities with my engineering teams, guiding students to unlock their potential, advocating for healthy lifestyles through running groups, or coaching individuals through personal transformations, my passion centers on building connections that endure and multiply.
I've discovered that sustainable communities aren't just about bringing people together; they're about creating an environment where authentic relationships flourish, where individuals feel empowered to overcome their limiting beliefs, and where collective growth becomes a natural outcome of personal development.
I build environments where technical talent can do their best work — not just ship fast. That starts with breaking silos, enabling deep cross-functional collaboration, and mentoring engineers to become true product leaders — not just task owners. What sets my approach apart is creating an environment where top talent thrives through meaningful collaboration and continuous growth. The key differentiator is integrating our clients as partners in this development process—our engineers co-author technical papers with industry leaders, participate in high-profile events, and contribute to open source projects with direct client involvement. This means our people aren't just executing tasks; they're building relationships with industry experts and tackling complex challenges that would be impossible in typical service models. This approach makes us incredibly attractive to top talent who want to be part of an ecosystem where innovation thrives through shared knowledge and mutual investment in success.
Also Read: Steps to Enhance Your Organization's Cyber Resilience
The difference I make isn't just in implementing better processes or tools—it's fundamentally about shifting mindsets: helping engineering teams see their work not just as code, but as a driver of business success, team health, and long-term client relationships. This transformation is guided by my core belief that "strategy is only as strong as the team that brings it to life," ensuring every technical decision supports both short-term goals and long-term vision.
What does a day in your life look like? How do you maintain a work-life balance?
My day starts early — often with a run or cycling session. It’s more than fitness — it’s how I reflect, reset, and prep for what’s ahead.
What sets my approach apart is creating an environment where top talent thrives through meaningful collaboration and continuous growth.
The core of my workday at Utsuk revolves around strategic leadership — from reviewing project progress with engineering teams to mentoring senior engineers as they grow into leadership roles. I work closely with clients to ensure our technical solutions align seamlessly with their business goals. A significant portion of my time is dedicated to one-on-one coaching — both internally and externally — helping leaders navigate growth and transformation.
My academic interests stay active throughout the week as well, whether through advisory sessions with Lamrin Tech Skills University or mentoring students at We Hub.
Evenings are reserved for family, especially supporting my son in his journey as an aspiring musician. Listening to his practice sessions, discussing his growth, and being part of his artistic exploration is one of the most fulfilling parts of my day.On weekends, I engage with the Hyderabad Runners Society, mentoring at community events, leading training programs, and staying socially active.
I approach work-life balance through integration rather than separation. Running is my form of active meditation, while coaching, community involvement, and family time all reinforce my professional growth. Embracing deliberate unlearning—central to Utsuk’s founding—helps me stay adaptable, question assumptions, and ensure each part of life strengthens the other.
Tell us about one of your biggest interests beyond business.
One of my core passions beyond business is sustainable community building - creating environments where people can thrive authentically while contributing to something greater than themselves. Whether I'm mentoring tech communities with my engineering teams, guiding students to unlock their potential, advocating for healthy lifestyles through running groups, or coaching individuals through personal transformations, my passion centers on building connections that endure and multiply.
I've discovered that sustainable communities aren't just about bringing people together; they're about creating an environment where authentic relationships flourish, where individuals feel empowered to overcome their limiting beliefs, and where collective growth becomes a natural outcome of personal development.