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At 41, while many professionals focus on career advancement, Mihirkant Upadhyaya has chosen to return to the classroom. Despite holding two masterโs degrees, a PhD and a job at Intel, he believes there is still more to learn to keep pace with the technology industryโs evolving demands, according to Business Insider.
Upadhyaya, who works as a global supply chain technical programme manager at Intel in the US, enrolled in a two-year hybrid MBA programme at the University of Washington in September 2025. His decision stems from a career transition that required him to look beyond engineering and scientific knowledge, as well as growing concerns about how artificial intelligence (AI) could reshape professional roles.
Upadhyayaโs academic journey began with a bachelorโs degree in computer engineering from Bharati Vidyapeeth, which he completed in 2007. However, he subsequently moved towards physics and nanoscience, pursuing two masterโs degrees before completing a PhD in materials science.
He earned an MS in Physics from the University of Rochester in 2008, followed by an MS in Nanoscience and Engineering from the University at Albany in 2010. He then completed his PhD in Materials Science at the same university in 2014.
His doctoral research focused on mask defect simulations in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, a technology that helps manufacturers create the tiny, intricate patterns required to produce advanced semiconductor chips. He also worked on resist outgassing studies related to EUV lithography.
During his academic years, Upadhyaya worked as a research assistant at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, where his master's research involved growing and characterising titanium dioxide nanowires and nanorods for potential applications in proton exchange membrane fuel cells.
Upadhyaya joined Intel in April 2015 as a dry etch process technology development engineer in Hillsboro, Oregon. He spent more than five years in this role, working on semiconductor manufacturing technologies.
In September 2020, he moved into an R&D supply chain engineering position, marking a shift towards responsibilities that connected technical development with supply chain operations.
By August 2022, he had progressed to a global supply chain technical programme management role, which he continues to hold.
His career trajectory illustrates how technical expertise can lead to opportunities beyond research and development. However, moving into programme management also brought a different set of professional challenges.
As Upadhyaya moved away from a predominantly technical role, he increasingly needed to understand business decisions, negotiate contracts, coordinate with different teams and manage professional relationships.
While his scientific background helped him understand the technology behind semiconductor manufacturing, managing business operations required a different perspective.
Financial analysis, executive-level communication and the ability to explain complex technical issues in business terms became increasingly important.
That realisation prompted him to reconsider what he needed for the next stage of his career. An MBA offered a way to connect his technical expertise with the commercial and managerial aspects of the industry.
Upadhyaya is pursuing an MBA in logistics, materials and supply chain management at the University of Washington, while continuing his full-time job. The two-year programme, running from September 2025 to June 2027, combines online classes three days a week with a week of in-person sessions every quarter.
Intel is covering part of the programmeโs cost, which can reach USD 100,000 (around Rs 95 lakh), according to the report. Upadhyaya estimates he will have spent around $100,000 on postgraduate education over nine years, excluding scholarships and tuition waivers.
For him, the MBA is an investment in the business knowledge needed to advance his evolving career.
AI has added another dimension to Upadhyayaโs decision to pursue further studies. As technology takes over repetitive and analytical tasks, he believes professionals must strengthen skills that complement AI.
At Intel, he observed that AI could struggle with troubleshooting customised equipment, which requires practical knowledge, contextual judgement and collaboration.
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Through his MBA, Upadhyaya hopes to improve his financial analysis, communication and decision-making skills. His experience highlights how adapting to AI also means developing the human skills needed to use technology effectively.
Upadhyayaโs journey demonstrates that professional development can take different forms at different stages of life. His doctorate helped him build a career in semiconductor research, while his subsequent responsibilities showed him the importance of understanding business beyond technical processes.
Now, at 41, he is adding management education to a background that already spans computer engineering, physics, nanoscience and materials science.
His experience also highlights an important distinction: qualifications may open doors, but continuing to learn can help professionals respond when their responsibilities change.
In a workplace being reshaped by AI, career growth may depend as much on recognising what one still needs to learn as on the expertise already acquired. For Upadhyaya, returning to college is a way to prepare for the next phase of his career rather than rely solely on past achievements.
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