I first learned about Artificial Intelligence while attending a 2019 Moogsoft seminar in Chicago and it inspired me to consider a technological future shaped by AI. Most recently in my career at Cisco as an Engineering Product Manager, I spearheaded service provider engagements centered around integrating AI and ML models into our strategies. Evangelizing the possibilities of machine learning to prepare Cisco for the future, I helped to establish a robust foundation for rapid adoption, enabled consistency and optimization in open and closed-loop operations, and successfully prepared myself and my peers for the current AI-driven LLM era.Areas where I have met additional success include:◆ AI PRODUCT SOLUTIONS: Won Cisco’s “Best of We” Award for developing Dish’s AI/ML-based automation solution that saved hundreds of millions of dollars and passed FCC regulations early before deadlines.◆ CUSTOMER SUCCESS: Won a 2023 Asia-Pacific Stevie Gold Award for Innovative Use of Technology in Customer Service and an internal leadership excellence award for driving the highest level of achievement leading Dish’s AI/ML-based Automation Program.◆ NEW BUSINESS: Created new multi-million-dollar stream of business and reduced mean time between failure by 50% leading the AIOps / MLOPs product vision and solution development for AT&T network failure detection.◆ OPTIMIZATION & EFFICIENCY: Improved issues caught to 90% and reduced time to market from 3 months to 2-3 days with 100% on-time delivery and within budget in the launch of new SaaS software.◆ CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAM LEADERSHIP: Ranked at high +90% in leadership by employees for transparency and advocacy in workforce development.Prior to my time at Cisco, I worked for large telecommunications companies such as Nokia in various global locations, as well as at the startup Starent Networks, which was later acquired due to its successful growth.While I have moved from India to Germany to Brazil to the United States and worked with diverse people and teams in 4 out of 7 continents, what remains consistent is my attitude about building and lead teams. I am known for being an open communicator who advocates strongly for team members, highlighting their greatest achievements and encouraging their promotion and success. I have stayed up late to find time to meet with all my team during their workdays across global time zones and always have my team’s back. I strive to build people’s confidence as much as clients’ confidence in products and ideas.Let’s connect and talk. Reach out to me at sarkararijit@gmail.com.