MISA Alumni Spotlight — Kishu Bhatnagar

It is always interesting to hear how our MISA alumni have given us plenty of advice over the years, whether it be from a simple coffee chat to meeting them virtually or in-person through a MISA networking event. This month’s alumni article will talk about Kishu Bhatnagar, who was one of MISA’s former officers who served on the E-board from 2020-to 2021 as the VP of External Affairs. Kishu currently works for VISA as an IT Service Manager and has multiple experiences taking on various internship roles that span from business analysis, project management, data analysis, and technical product support from companies like BlackBerry, NASA, and PwC.

Alan: As a recent MIS graduate, do you have any plans for the next five years?

Kishu: I want to continue my studies right after obtaining a degree in Business MIS. Ever since working at VISA, I already have a goal in mind on where I want to go in my career, which is pursuing an MBA at SJSU or any university around the Bay Area.

Alan: Can you tell us what it’s like working at VISA and also explain the culture?

Kishu: When I started working for VISA right after my graduation last year, I would describe my time working at the company as an absolute pleasure. VISA has exemplified what its culture is by focusing on work-life balance, collaboration, and innovation. Everyone I have interacted with on my team and my fellow colleagues, in general, have expressed how they have enjoyed working for the company.

Alan: What are you looking forward to in the future of the IT field?

Kishu: The IT field is constantly evolving, and it’s no surprise that things are changing rapidly. There’s a lot already going on within the technology field as we see new technologies and processes being introduced each and every day. The one I’m looking forward to the most is the continued emergence of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, blockchain, and especially the most important part of the next digital revolution: the Metaverse.

Sagar: What is your role in Visa and what do you enjoy the most about Visa?

Kishu: Visa has been a wonderful company to work for so far. Currently, I am an IT Service Manager in Visa’s Corporate IT organization. My role is to support the success of our technology and business partners and ensure that they’re able to maximize the value of IT. What I enjoy most about Visa is having the ability to choose and work in specific areas that interests me most. This gives me the flexibility to learn and master new technologies and job roles. I believe that other companies should also allow their employees to have such flexibility.

Sagar: How does Visa stand out to you when compared to other companies?

Kishu: Visa stands out compared to other companies because of the impact it’s already had and will continue to have in people’s lives. Being the leading global payments technology company and having VisaNet connecting millions of people over 200+ countries/territories, Visa is the best way to pay and get paid for all. Money is evolving daily and the way we spend is also changing with digital currencies becoming increasingly popular. Visa needed to adapt and did so with a crypto-linked card that hit $2.5B in the first quarter of usage this year. The potential is endless and the past proves that Visa will continue to find ways to lead in the payment technology space.

Sagar: What are some benefits that Visa provides to their employees?

Kishu: Aside from the great health, savings/retirement, and time-off benefits, Visa also focuses on overall well-being and giving back to the community. Employees can sign up for guided mindfulness sessions, 1:1 wellness coaching, & therapy sessions. Visa also provides employees with time off to volunteer and receive up to $10k in matching dollars for contributions to charity. For example, Visa’s Austin Campus provides onsite fitness centers, gaming /resting lounges, and great food!

Sagar: Are you a part of any programs that Visa provides?

Kishu: Visa provides plenty of programs for its employees to grow key skills and become stronger leaders. So far while working for Visa, I’ve taken the initiative of being part of Visa’s Young Professional Network. I have also represented Visa University Recruiting at the 2022 Center & Internship Fairs at UC Berkeley, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, and more.

Summary:

Having Kishu to be interviewed for this month’s alumni spotlight was truly a privilege to have, especially as a former MISA E-Board officer. Kishu provides his first-hand experience of knowing what it’s like to work in the MIS field by offering a glimpse of what will happen in the next five years. Overall, Kishu enjoys working for Visa and he strongly suggests to members to never be afraid of taking on new challenges or roles in college, as this can benefit one’s future job position.

This article was brought to you by Alan Nguyen and Sagar Kumar, members of the SJSU Alumni Committee.

Alumni Committee