People

“My professors are incredibly generous with their time, and the other members of my cohort are consistently engaged and curious.”

Kala Viswanathan (she/her) has always had an interest in using policy to help create a more sustainable world. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil and environmental engineering from Duke University and Stanford University, respectively. Upon graduation, she worked as an advocate for clean energy policy at the National Resources Defense Council, Kala came to appreciate the ways that businesses can act as change agents to help advance sustainability. “I started to shift my focus somewhat, which led me to consider doctoral programs at business schools,” she explains.

Kala has found that her background in engineering serves her well in the Technology and Operations Management program at HBS. “Engineering requires a problem-solving mindset,” she says. “Many of those same skills I developed in my studies are also applicable to doctoral-level research, particularly in Technology and Operations Management.”

Kala feels inspired by the community of scholars she has joined at HBS—and, more broadly, at Harvard. “The people who work alongside you in a doctoral program really shape your experience,” she says. “My professors are incredibly generous with their time, and the other members of my cohort are consistently engaged and curious.” She has been able to find communities that bolster her interests and research across the university, taking classes with peers in programs such as public policy and economics. “The entire graduate student community feels very cohesive.”

Research

Building on the professional experience she gained before joining the Technology and Operations Management program, Kala’s research focuses on the intersection of business strategy and environmental sustainability. She is currently investigating the risks and opportunities associated with climate change and researching how business can actively respond to and manage these risks.