December 1, 2023

Beyond the Data: Ravi Kumar, Solutions Architect

By Mitch Rudolph

Exciting news! Ravi, our Solutions Architect, has earned a well-deserved promotion, and we’ve spruced up his Beyond the Data blog to celebrate. Explore fresh insights, real-world experiences, and a touch of Ravi’s personality.

Ready to go beyond the data? Join us in celebrating Ravi’s promotion and dive into the dynamic world of data with a twist of fun! 

Tell us your name, where you’re from, and a little about you.

My name is Ravi Kumar, and I live in Bangalore, Karnataka, along with my family. I was born and raised in Patna, Bihar, which is a sacred place for Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs and is located along the banks of the river Ganges. 

I completed my primary and secondary education in Patna and pursued a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology. Usually, I start my day early with physical activities like running, jogging, or badminton.

How has your promotion impacted your learning and growth within the Solutions Architect role at phData?

My new Solution Architect role has expanded my perspective on crafting solutions and fostering growth in areas like designing comprehensive end-to-end solutions. This promotion has allowed me to dive deeper into architectural aspects.

I’ve honed my ability to balance design and development, sharpening my skills. Additionally, I’ve gained the skill of dividing and conquering multiple modules while enabling a more agile and dynamic approach to my work.

How has phData supported your learning and growth, ultimately leading to your promotion to a Solutions Architect role?

phData has supported me in all aspects of learning and growth. The positive and competitive environment at phData has helped bring out the best in me. Our core values at phData, especially community, have assisted me in solving complex problems easily using a plethora of knowledge shared by my colleagues over the company’s internal communication channels (slack). 

Having access to Udemy courses through phData has been incredibly beneficial, and it’s truly an excellent opportunity for continuous learning. The collaboration of projects has provided an additional advantage in expanding the breadth of knowledge and implementing familiar technologies. Designing and developing solutions using the latest technology gives me an upper hand when using the latest cloud-agnostic technologies.

What do you actually do on any given day as a Solutions Architect?

Typically, my day begins with contemplating the scenario and its solutions using various approaches. Present solutions to the customers and assist them in selecting the best method to solve the problem. Additionally, review the code pushed by the Data Engineers. 

I am responsible for delivering the engagement and actively contributing to the phData community by sharing the knowledge I’ve acquired. Yes, you heard that right. I do write code daily. 

Depending on the requirements, it could involve developing Python/Scala/SQL programs on AWS/Azure/Snowflake cloud platforms and setting up CI/CD pipelines for the seamless deployment of the project code.

How do you like working for a consulting company?

I have been enjoying working for a  consulting company. Working with diverse teams on short, medium, and long-term projects has helped me be dynamic and acquire broader knowledge, including hands-on multi-domain data engineering use cases. Interaction with more professionals is another thing that I enjoy over here.

What separates phData from other jobs you've had?

I have been more organized. The learning curve for myself has been steep throughout my journey in phData. The competitive environment in the organization assisted me in achieving the milestones efficiently. 

The core values (Psychological Safety, Curiosity, Grit, and Community) are followed religiously. The quality of my work is excellent, which keeps me challenging from time to time. Managing a team of Data Engineers and assisting them to achieve the best has been one of my most incredible experiences. 

phData provides Udemy access and rewards to employees completing certifications to upskill. One can reach out to anyone in phData irrespective of designation. These are the points that separate phData from other jobs for which I worked.

What is your favorite type of cuisine? And where is the best place to enjoy it?

Two of my favorite dishes include Hyderabadi biryani from Manis Dum restaurant and a refreshing Coke or lemon soda. Another favorite is Penne Arrabbiata with red sauce, a dish I enjoy at Little Italy restaurant, especially with coarse cheese.

Where's the next place you'd like to travel to, and what would be the first thing you'd do there?

In December 2023, I plan to travel from Bangalore to Rameshwaram, then to Kanyakumari, followed by a visit to Madurai before returning home. Since two of these places are on the Southeast Coast, I’m looking forward to enjoying the sunrise and sunset. Kanyakumari, the southernmost point of the Indian mainland, adds an extra layer of excitement as I aim to complete this milestone.

Outside of work, what's your life like? What do you do for fun?

I kickstart my day early with physical activities like badminton, running, or jogging. I make it a point to hang out with friends on weekends and spend quality time with family whenever possible. Travel is another passion of mine.

My travel plans are all set, with just a month before the year ends. I’m part of a global group, and we usually connect quarterly. Another programming-specific group catches up on an ad hoc basis. Additionally, I’m part of a couple of sports groups (badminton/ping pong) around my home, and there are regular family get-togethers throughout the year.

Want to work alongside Ravi?

Our team is growing! Check out our job board to see our current openings.

Data Coach is our premium analytics training program with one-on-one coaching from renowned experts.

Accelerate and automate your data projects with the phData Toolkit