MY BEYOND THESE TOWERS STORY

When Alok Mehta ’03 PhD arrived in the United States from India in 1987 to study computer science, he had yet in his life to see a computer. Fast-forward 35 years, and today, the Business Systems Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Kemper Corporation has been nominated for the prestigious 2023 ORBIE CIO of the Year award.

As a key member of the senior leadership team for Kemper Corporation, Mehta has led multiple transformative IT initiatives including data strategy, legacy systems, modernization, and digitization. “By making data better organized, more accessible, and highly secure, my professional goal is to bring innovative solutions to complex organizational IT problems,” says Mehta.

When asked about his time as a WPI PhD student, Mehta shares, “I will always remember my days at WPI with fondness. Under the advisory of Professor George Heineman, I gained a deep understanding of software engineering as well as secured practical tools for my career as a senior IT leader. I believe one of the most important things I learned was how to take large amounts of complex technical information and succinctly simplify them by using stories. This specific storytelling skill has become instrumental in my career, where I use it daily to advance the discipline of software engineering.” Adding, “Another important aspect of the program was the opportunity to collaborate with Professor Heineman on several research papers. From earning the key building blocks of my career to collaborating on published scholarly papers, the WPI PhD program in computer science has allowed me to live my professional life to its fullest, and I am truly grateful to the university for that experience.”

Mehta lives his personal life to its fullest as well. Picking up racquetball in the late 1980s as a hobby to help him stay physically and mentally fit, he has spent that last 30-plus years competing at local, national, and international levels, and has represented India in several world racquetball championships.

“Over the years, the Illinois Racquetball Association has recognized me as athlete of the year three times, and earlier this year I won the state championships. I love to train for racquetball tournaments and love being a CIO at Kemper. Perhaps, it’s the dopamine released that motivates me to set goals and reach them – professionally and athletically,” says Mehta.