Become a World-Class
Software Engineer

Meet the team for TechWise

• Asokan Pichai
  Program Dean
  
  Asokan is a Chief Learning Officer at TalentSprint. He is also an Industry Instructor, Instructional Designer, and Programming Guru, with a solid software development experience of over 35 years.
  
  With a PG Diploma in Computer Programming, Asokan is a subject-matter expert in Programming languages - COBOL, Clipper, C, C++, Python, Haskell, Elixir, Clojure, Java and Ruby. He has trained over 5000 software engineers, designed more than 25 courses, and conducted ‘Train the Trainer’ programs for more than 300 trainers, and nearly 100 instructional designers and developers.
  
• Sphoorthy
  Program Director
  
  Sphoorthy is an experienced professional who is leading the DEI programs supported by Google at TalentSprint. She is responsible for driving the success of these initiatives and ensuring they are effectively implemented to achieve their goals.
  
  With over 12 years of experience in program and project management, Sphoorthy's expertise lies in client servicing, stakeholder engagement, and account management.
  
  In addition to her industry expertise, Sphoorthy is deeply passionate about DEI and brings this enthusiasm to her role. She is also an accomplished student mentor, demonstrating her commitment to helping others grow and succeed. Her mentoring experience indicates that she has strong communication skills and a talent for developing people.
  
  She holds a Master's Degree in Business Management and currently drives the success of the DEI programs at TalentSprint, leveraging her skills, expertise, and passion for creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.
  
• Indira Priyadarshini
  Academics Lead
  
  Indira leads the training team of Fresh Engineering Graduates to make them industry-ready. She is an expert in handling Java, Python, and Machine learning concepts. Her 13+ years of experience in the IT and Edtech industry not only make her an SME with answers to most questions, but also an approachable, reliable, and seasoned mentor to thousands of students.
  
• Nicholas Groesch
  Lead Instructor
  
  Nicholas Groesch is the lead instructor for the TechWise program. He began his coding journey in 2019 at Northwestern University, and since then, he's worked as a tutor and instructor with Trilogy/2U, full stack developer and tech lead at the Hertz RevLab, and instructor at TalentSprint.
  
  He studied jazz, composition, music theory, and the history of philosophy at the University of North Texas spent 5 years touring the world as a pianist for The Polyphonic Spree, worked as an accompanist with the Joffrey Ballet School, taught math at his high school, built a coffee roaster and company, amongst other adventures. Nick enjoys world music, long hikes in the mountains, and the clarity of concise functions.
  
• Felipe
  Lead Instructor
  
  Felipe is a lead instructor at TechWise. Driven by a passion for programming, Felipe covers from the principles of programming to full stack and everything in between. He lives by the philosophy that “Opportunities aren’t always handed to us; sometimes, we have to create them.” When not in TechWise, he is working on a real-time state-of-the-art machine learning trading platform, yielding significant returns. Beyond his professional pursuits, Felipe will be found tinkering with Large Language Models or any other ML-related topic. Off-screen, Felipe lets his creativity shine through the melodies of piano and hand-crafts. When he wants to turn off his mind, he enjoys the company of nature.
  
• Sarah Griffin
  Student Success Manager
  
  Sarah is in charge of ensuring that TechWise students receive the support and encouragement that they need to succeed in the program and in their goals beyond TechWise. As a recent graduate of Stanford University, Sarah has spent the last 5 years developing her passion for creating social change by working and connecting with individuals.
  
  She spent a year volunteering with the AmeriCorps, where she worked with people experiencing homelessness and created a self-improvement workshop series and implemented a pilot program to connect clients with mental health resources. She also spent time working with school kids in under-served communities in South Africa, helping them gain confidence and creative thinking skills through after-school arts classes.
  
  These experiences, including her time living in the heart of Silicon Valley at Stanford, opened her eyes to the extent of systemic inequalities both abroad and in the United States, and she deeply believes that programs like TechWise are key to creating a more diverse and inclusive tech industry. In her free time, Sarah enjoys traveling, rock climbing, and spending time outdoors.
  
• Austin
  Lead Instructor
  
  Austin is a lead instructor for the TechWise team. After gaining a degree in Mathematics from Whitman College, he has been working as a private tutor since 2018 and has a lot of experience in online instruction. From there, Austin continued on to become a full-stack developer and to work as an instructor and tutor with Trilogy/2U in classes for Data Analysis and Software Development.
  
• Jennifer Youngblood
  Senior Manager - Career Services
  
  With over 20 years of experience in career coaching, program development, and operations, Jennifer brings a wealth of knowledge to her position. Her expertise lies in guiding students and hiring partners through their career journeys, all while fostering dynamic and engaging communities.
  
  Jennifer’s background spans various sectors, including the bootcamp space, private practice, nonprofit organizations, higher education, and corporate environments. This breadth of experience equips her with a unique ability to adapt to the needs of different programs and clients. Jennifer’s mission at TalentSprint is to champion individuals as they pave their paths to success and help them navigate uncertainties with confidence and seize every opportunity that comes their way.
  

Faculty from CMU School of Computer Science

• Mark Stehlik
  University Teaching Professor of Computer Science, CMU
  
  Mark is a University Teaching Professor of Computer Science (the first Teaching Professor to be so recognized at CMU), and is celebrated as an "Education Engineer" having taught or advised thousands of students over his 40 year career. He holds a prominent role as the Assistant Dean for Outreach, and is a co-founder of CMU CS Academy, a high school Computer Science curriculum that has been consumed by over 350,000 students since its launch in Spring, 2018.
  
  An optimist by nature and a pragmatist by nurture, Mark is an influential figure shaping the Computer Science educational experience.
  
• Michael Hilton
  Associate teaching professor, Software and Societal Systems Department, CMU
  
  Michael is an associate teaching professor at the Software and Societal Systems department in the School of Computer Science at CMU. As the director of the Software Engineering Minor and the Software Engineering Concentration, Michael welcomes new applications and encourages inquiries for those interested in the programs.
  
  Specialized in teaching software engineering-focused classes, Michael is dedicated to enhancing the developer experience and making a positive impact on the world of software development in the realm of research.