A personal introduction
Hi, I’m Akshay.
I grew up in Sangli, India, and now call Boston home. I’m a husband, a son, a brother, a chess player, and someone who has learned that confidence often takes a little longer to arrive than you’d like.
My work has taken me from writing software to leading global programs. Along the way, I’ve also learned to speak up, to get comfortable being new, and to make a home far from where I began. Those parts of the story matter just as much to me.
01 Beginnings
Sangli and
a chessboard
Chess was a big part of growing up. That love followed me into college, where I captained the chess team, played as its top seed, and competed in university championships. It gave me a place to think carefully, compete seriously, and belong to a team.
I also had a practical decision to make about my future. Science and engineering offered career opportunities, so I pursued engineering in Belgaum, Karnataka. That choice took me away from Sangli and began a part of my education that went well beyond what I studied.
I didn’t have the whole path worked out. Looking back, I’m glad I didn’t need to. There was enough to learn from the step in front of me.
02 A new place, a new perspective
Finding my voice
at Bentley
Coming to Bentley for my master’s in Information Technology was a turning point. I wanted to meet people from around the world and be close to the leading edge of technology. I was the youngest in my class, with no professional experience, surrounded by people who brought years of work and perspective into the room.
I was shy. Being in that environment meant getting used to discomfort: contributing before I felt completely ready, finding my voice, and learning from people whose lives had taken very different paths from mine.
That growth didn’t happen all at once. I didn’t suddenly become the most confident person in the room. But I began to understand that I could be quiet and still have something to contribute. I could be inexperienced and still belong.
A lifelong love
Still at the board.
Chess has stayed with me long after college. A few moments from the years since, with a board between us and a game to think about.
03 The professional chapter
The work along the way
GoBiz Solutions · Fidelity · Akamai
03 The professional chapter
The work along the way
GoBiz Solutions · Fidelity · Akamai
I began as a software developer at GoBiz Solutions. At Fidelity, I joined as a systems analyst and moved through technical, project, and business program management roles, working on NetBenefits.
At Akamai, I started as an individual contributor and grew into global program management office leadership, working across security, infrastructure, and back-office programs.
The titles changed, and so did the scale of the work. My perspective widened with them: from the software itself to the people building it, the decisions around it, and the work it takes to bring different teams together.
I’m grateful for that progression. The experience of being new, asking questions, and learning from people around me still feels relevant, however much responsibility a role brings.
My professional background on LinkedIn (opens in a new tab)04 Life together
A life
with Zofia
Zofia and I met online during COVID. We became friends, went on a first date, and eventually got married.
She’s a UX designer. Together, we’ve made our home in Boston. After moving between places and learning to feel at home in unfamiliar surroundings, I’m grateful for the life we’re building here.
The friendship that brought us together is still at the heart of our relationship. I like to say—
We’re still on
our first date.
05 The people and places
Home stretches
a long way.
My mother and sister are dear to me, and they’re in India. I also have extended family in Pune, in-laws in Poland, and a brother-in-law in Toronto.
Visits to Pune and Europe help keep those connections part of my life.
That means the people who matter to me are spread across countries and time zones. Boston is home, and my sense of family reaches well beyond it. Sangli is still part of who I am, even as my life has grown around other places and people.
And the story continues
Still curious.
Still becoming.
I’m proud of the work I’ve done, and grateful for the life around it. I’m still learning, still finding reasons to step outside what feels comfortable, and still making room for the people who matter.
Building Zimare Labs gives me a place to bring that curiosity into the things I make. It’s another beginning, and I’m enjoying finding out where it takes me.
Thanks for spending a little time with my story. I’m glad you’re here.